Data Science Jobs: What is a Cloud Product Manager?

There are a lot of different routes a data science graduate may take. One of the most rapidly in-demand positions is that of Cloud product manager. Cloud computing is intrinsically connected to data science. Organizations are accumulating massive amounts of data which necessitates storage in the Cloud. It’s a feedback loop; the ability to store more and more data encourages the creation of more products that are digitally-integrated (for example, smart technology that brings more devices into the Internet of Things), and then the amount of data they collect increases to the point where it is most conveniently stored on the Cloud. And thus the fervent need for Cloud product managers.

The path to becoming a Cloud product manager is not clear cut. Some of the basic requirements for a Cloud product manager include product management experience, the ability to communicate complex technical topics clearly to a wide range of audiences, and an understanding of data science.

Data science is a multi-faceted, interdisciplinary practice. Pursuing an advanced degree in the subject is necessary to obtain a solid foundation and to understand the human-element of data usage. The University of Virginia’s School of Data Science offers an online Masters of Science in Data Science (MSDS) program that is an excellent place to gather the skills and knowledge needed to become a sought-after Cloud product manager.

Types of jobs in Cloud product management

The Cloud product manager role focuses on strategy, execution, and user understanding. The people in this role manage products and services (both existing and new) and conduct research to determine viability of a product. Cloud product managers need to have an advanced understanding of data science. This understanding will help them improve existing products and create entirely new ones.

The Cloud product manager plays a pivotal role in defining product requirements and go-to-market strategies. They work with a cross functional team to create a roadmap, define features, and ensure the company they are working for is delivering the best Cloud experience possible.

There are several different types of jobs in Cloud product management, however they mostly come down to two distinct types:

1. The Cloud product manager works on Cloud-platform-based products like Netflix, Facebook or Spotify. These companies are normally Software as a Service (SaaS) or Platform as a Service (PaaS) organizations.
2. The Cloud product manager works on products where the Cloud service is the product. This is generally for Cloud computing comping companies like Salesforce, Amazon Web Services or Google Cloud.

For the first type (products that are hosted on the Cloud), the Cloud product manager’s job will be similar to other product managers, with added factors to consider, such as load time, streaming, and downtime. They will also have to possess an understanding of which Cloud the product is hosted on and how to integrate databases.

For the second type (the Cloud product managers where the Cloud is the product), the users will be the organizations that host their products on the Cloud. In these types of roles, Cloud product managers will be dealing with Cloud infrastructure and be expected to ensure there is a very minimal (almost zero) amount of downtime, they will need to consider capacity, as well as data server location and logistics.

Skills needed to be a Cloud product manager

Effective Cloud product managers will have to learn a series of hard skills, including data understanding. An understanding of data science allows the Cloud product manager to monitor how users engage with the product, and where the drop-off points are. It also gives them a better understanding of the product they are working on.

Other hard skills needed to be a Cloud product manager include technical knowledge. The product team, developers and engineers, will be using technology to solve problems and Cloud product managers will need to have a good understanding of the technology’s workings to clearly communicate with the people working on the project. Cloud product managers will also have to have user experience design skills, as well as financial understanding and business sense – as a successful product roadmap should lead to profitability.

There are also soft skills that a Cloud product manager needs. The role requires a level of empathy to be effective. Cloud product managers need to be empathetic to their users and how they will react to changes in the product. They will also need to have a high emotional intelligence, the ability to think strategically, a talent for making fast decisions, and expert prioritization skills.

One of the most important skills a Cloud product manager must have is effective, clear communication. The Cloud product manager will frequently be required to convey priorities between people and teams, they will need to explain quickly and efficiently why certain decisions are made, and will need to make sure that all teams are on the same page at all times.

Cloud product managers do not necessarily have to know how to code, as they will not be building the product themselves, but it is a useful skill to put on a resume. It will definitely help the product manager communicate better with developers as they will be speaking the same language.

UVA’s Online Master’s in Data Science program has courses in programming, data mining and statistical inference, providing future Cloud product managers with important skills to not only understand the technology behind a product, but to express what they need done clearly. In addition, one of the outcomes of this course is the development of project management and team building skills that will be vital to the role of the Cloud product manager.

How to get a job as a Cloud product manager?

Product managers are generally mid-level roles, meaning three to five years of professional experience is required before becoming one, and it is not a role a graduate would step into straight out of college.

The career path for a product manager normally starts out with a junior role in business, operations, or engineering, moving onto a project manager or program manager, and eventually product manager. Cloud product managers often start out at Cloud computing companies to gain experience.

When hiring for Cloud product management roles, tech companies and the hiring manager are looking for candidates with a background in computer science, or data science. Managing Cloud product teams requires an in-depth understanding of data science, because the product is essentially the storage and arrangement of data.

The interview process will involve a round of interviews where the candidate will be quizzed on their analytical ability, their customer empathy, their business savvy, and their technical understanding. UVA Masters of Science in Data Science graduates have gone on to work at several Cloud computing companies, and they are among IBM, Twitter and Amazon employees.

Expected salary for Cloud product managers

Product managers are ranked fourth on Glassdoor’s 50 Best Jobs in America 2020 list. The reason for that being the work is well paid, it feels meaningful, and offers good career progression options. Of the top four jobs on the list, product managers have the highest median base salary with $117,713.

Cloud product managers can expect to earn slightly more than that when starting out. The salaries will naturally vary depending which city the Cloud product manager ends up working in, and which company they end up working for.

Nevertheless, according to data from Glassdoor, as of November 2020, the expected salary for entry-level Cloud product managers at Google is $55,000, however the average salary is $165,000 and the top end of the salary range is $254,000. The median salary estimate for a senior product manager working at Oracle is $131,000, going up as high as $206,000. Similarly, at Amazon Web Services the average salary for a senior product manager is $149,000, reaching as high as $268,000 per year.

However, your earning power is not capped as there are lucrative career paths that open up after being a Cloud product manager. Other roles open to Cloud product managers are director of product management, VP of product management, and chief product officer.

As a matter of fact, according to an article in Entrepreneur magazine, the role of product manager best prepares people to be a CEO. It states that the job is a great training ground for chief executives as the jobs are similar—coordinating various groups and leveraging the skills of others to produce a great product.

Prepare for a career as a Cloud product manager with the UVA online master of science in data science program

There are many data science fields that UVA’s online Master’s in Data Science (MSDS) program prepares its students for, including Cloud product management. Graduates of the course have a thorough understanding of how data science is properly used and applied.

Besides being taught to model, analyze, and extract information from data, MSDS students gain the ability to recognize which problems can be solved using data science and analytics, and which problems cannot. The course also teaches students how to explain or clarify problems using data science, and effectively communicate these findings to a diverse range of audiences. These are all skills essential to a Cloud product manager.

Learn more about UVA’s master’s program in data science today.