As a Product Manager at Verkada, your daily responsibilities will span the entire product lifecycle, from initial hardware ideation to long-term software feature optimization.

You will own the product roadmap for your specific product line (e.g., Cameras, Access Control, Sensors, or Platform). This involves conducting deep market research, gathering feedback from sales teams and enterprise customers, and translating these insights into highly detailed product requirement documents (PRDs). You will work hand-in-hand with hardware engineers to define device specifications, industrial design, and component selection, while simultaneously collaborating with cloud and mobile software teams to build the user-facing interfaces on Verkada's Command platform.

Additionally, you will drive cross-functional alignment across engineering, firmware, manufacturing, product marketing, and sales. Because Verkada operates on a direct-sales model with rapid deployment cycles, you must actively support the sales engineering teams, assist in unblocking large enterprise deals, and continuously monitor product telemetry to identify and resolve post-launch software bugs or hardware reliability issues.

To be competitive for a Product Manager role at Verkada, you must demonstrate a strong technical foundation combined with exceptional execution capabilities.

• Must-have skills & experience:

  • A strong technical background, often demonstrated by a degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a highly quantitative field.
  • Hands-on experience writing code (specifically in Python or Java) and a deep understanding of system architecture.
  • Prior experience shipping highly technical products, ideally involving hardware, IoT, computer vision, or complex enterprise SaaS platforms.
  • Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to present complex technical concepts clearly to both engineers and non-technical executives.
  • Proven track record of operating in high-pressure, fast-paced environments with extreme ownership.

• Nice-to-have skills & experience:

  • Experience in the physical security, video surveillance, or access control industries.
  • Direct experience managing hardware development lifecycles, factory introductions (NPI), and global supply chains.
  • Advanced degrees such as an MS in Engineering or an MBA from a top-tier institution.

Q: How technical is the Verkada Product Manager interview compared to other tech companies? A: It is significantly more technical than the industry average. You will be evaluated on your system design knowledge, past technical decisions, and you may be required to complete a coding interview in Python or Java. Verkada values PMs who can stand toe-to-toe with senior engineers.

Q: What is the company's culture like for Product Managers? A: The culture is highly execution-oriented, intense, and fast-paced. There is a strong emphasis on in-office collaboration, rapid shipping cycles, and direct accountability. PMs are expected to act as mini-CEOs of their product lines and take full responsibility for their successes and failures.

Q: How should I prepare for the past project presentation? A: Choose a highly complex, technical product that you owned end-to-end. Prepare a clean slide deck that clearly outlines the customer problem, the system architecture, the technical trade-offs you made, the launch strategy, and the measurable business impact. Be ready for intense, granular questioning on any detail of your presentation.

Q: Is there a hybrid or remote work option for this role? A: Verkada strongly prioritizes in-person collaboration. Product management roles are typically based out of their headquarters in San Mateo, CA, and require a consistent in-office presence to work closely with hardware labs and engineering teams.

To stand out in the Verkada interview loop, keep these insider tips in mind:

Master the details of your resume: If you list a metric or a technology on your resume, expect the interviewer to ask you exactly how it was calculated, how the database was structured, or why that specific technology was chosen. Do not include anything you cannot defend in deep technical detail.

Expect direct communication: The communication style at Verkada is highly efficient, direct, and sometimes blunt. Do not take it personally if an interviewer cuts you off or pushes back hard on your answers. Remain calm, logical, and structured in your responses.

Understand the Verkada ecosystem: Before your interview, thoroughly research Verkada's entire product line. Understand how the cameras, access control, environmental sensors, and Command software platform integrate to create a unified physical security solution. Be ready to discuss how you would expand or improve this ecosystem.

Brush up on network and hardware basics: Even if you are a software-focused PM, make sure you understand basic networking concepts (IP routing, bandwidth constraints, PoE) and hardware manufacturing concepts, as these are foundational to Verkada's business.

The Product Manager position at Verkada is a highly rewarding yet intensely demanding role. It offers the rare opportunity to build and scale products that cross the boundary between physical hardware and cutting-edge cloud software. By proving your technical depth, execution capabilities, and operational resilience throughout the interview loop, you can secure a position with massive ownership and direct impact on global physical security.

To maximize your chances of success, focus your preparation on mastering your past product presentation, practicing core system design concepts, brushing up on your Python or Java coding skills, and deeply understanding Verkada's unique IoT business model. Approach each interview stage with confidence, structure, and an uncompromising attention to technical detail.

The salary data above outlines the competitive compensation packages offered to Product Managers at Verkada. When evaluating an offer, consider that total compensation is heavily driven by base salary, equity, and performance-based bonuses, reflecting the company's high-performance culture. For more detailed insights, interview reviews, and preparation resources, you can explore additional candidate experiences on Dataford.