Application Guide

How to Apply for Head of Product

at Xylem

๐Ÿข About Xylem

Xylem is a Fortune 500 global water solutions company with 23,000 employees operating in over 150 countries, dedicated to addressing the world's most critical water challenges through innovative and sustainable solutions. Their subsidiary HYPACK provides leading hydrographic survey and geospatial software, making this a unique opportunity to impact water infrastructure and environmental monitoring at scale.

About This Role

As Head of Product & Platform for HYPACK, you will guide product strategy, strengthen product development execution, and shape the next phase of growth for a software platform used by hydrographic surveyors, dredging contractors, and infrastructure operators worldwide. This role is pivotal in evolving the product to incorporate new technologies, data capabilities, and user experiences to address complex marine, waterway, and infrastructure projects.

๐Ÿ’ก A Day in the Life

A typical day might start with a stand-up with your remote product team, reviewing user feedback from hydrographic surveyors, and prioritizing features for the next sprint. You'll then meet with engineering leads to discuss technical feasibility, collaborate with marketing on a product launch, and later join a customer call to understand pain points in dredging operations. The day ends with analyzing product usage data and refining the roadmap to align with Xylem's sustainability goals.

๐ŸŽฏ Who Xylem Is Looking For

  • Proven experience as a Head of Product or senior product leader in a B2B software company, ideally with exposure to geospatial, environmental, or industrial software.
  • Deep understanding of hydrographic surveying, dredging, or infrastructure operations, with ability to translate customer workflows into product requirements.
  • Strategic thinker with a track record of driving product-led growth and leading cross-functional teams in an agile environment.
  • Passionate about sustainability and water conservation, aligning with Xylem's mission to solve critical water challenges.

๐Ÿ“ Tips for Applying to Xylem

1

Tailor your resume to highlight experience with data-intensive software platforms, especially those used in field operations or environmental monitoring.

2

In your cover letter, explicitly connect your previous product achievements to Xylem's mission of sustainable water solutions and HYPACK's role in hydrographic surveying.

3

Research HYPACK's current product suite (e.g., HYPACK, HYSWEEP) and mention specific features or challenges you'd address as Head of Product.

4

Showcase any experience with remote team management, as this role is fully remote and likely involves coordinating across time zones.

5

Include metrics or case studies demonstrating how your product leadership increased user adoption, revenue, or operational efficiency in a similar domain.

โœ‰๏ธ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Your passion for sustainability and water conservation, and how it aligns with Xylem's mission.", 'Specific examples of leading product strategy for complex B2B software platforms, especially those with geospatial or environmental data.', 'Your ability to understand and empathize with technical users like hydrographic surveyors and dredging contractors.', "Your vision for evolving HYPACK's product to leverage new technologies (e.g., AI, cloud, IoT) to enhance data capabilities and user experience."]

Generate Cover Letter โ†’

๐Ÿ” Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • โ†’ Read Xylem's latest sustainability report and understand their water conservation impact metrics.
  • โ†’ Explore HYPACK's product pages, user forums, and recent press releases to grasp current features and customer pain points.
  • โ†’ Look into competitors like Teledyne CARIS or QPS to understand HYPACK's market positioning.
  • โ†’ Review case studies or testimonials from HYPACK customers in dredging, hydrography, or infrastructure to identify key use cases.

๐Ÿ’ฌ Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you approach defining the product roadmap for HYPACK given the diverse needs of hydrographic surveyors, dredging contractors, and infrastructure operators?
2 Describe a time you led a product transformation (e.g., from desktop to cloud) and how you managed stakeholder alignment.
3 How do you balance innovation with reliability in a product used for critical infrastructure projects?
4 What metrics would you use to measure the success of HYPACK's product platform?
5 How would you foster a product-led culture within a remote team and integrate with Xylem's broader sustainability goals?
Practice Interview Questions โ†’

โš ๏ธ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Submitting a generic cover letter that doesn't mention Xylem's mission or HYPACK's specific software domain.
  • Overlooking the remote nature of the roleโ€”failing to demonstrate experience with distributed teams or asynchronous communication.
  • Focusing only on general product management skills without showing domain knowledge in hydrography, geospatial data, or industrial software.

๐Ÿ“… Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

โœ“

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Xylem!