Associate Product Specialist, Product Management, Launch Program 2027 - United States

Mastercard; O’Fallon (MO); On-site; USD 83,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Mastercard is looking for an Associate Product Specialist to join the Launch Program 2027 in the United States, including Arlington, VA and O’Fallon, MO. The role offers mentorship, hands-on projects, and cross-functional collaboration within Product Management as you gain exposure to scalable, customer-centric products.

You will learn to develop business cases, support go-to-market activities, and apply AI and analytics to drive product decisions in a global payments ecosystem.

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in a Bachelor's or accelerated Master's degree with anticipated graduation date between Dec 2026 - June 2027.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Demonstrates a high level of adaptability and flexibility in a fast-paced environment, with a strong ability to collaborate effectively across teams and stakeholders.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented, with strong planning and time management skills to prioritize work and deliver results efficiently.
• Able to balance multiple priorities while maintaining a structured and proactive approach to achieving objectives.
• Curiosity about emerging technologies and understanding how AI can create customer and business value.
• Foundational knowledge of AI, data, APIs, and modern technology platforms.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver product solutions that meet customer and business needs.
• Analyze data, customer feedback, and market trends to identify opportunities and support decision-making.
• Apply problem-solving and critical thinking skills to address business challenges and improve user experiences.
• Use project management and organizational skills to support product planning, delivery, and execution.
• Build and communicate recommendations through presentations, reports, and stakeholder discussions.
• Leverage customer insights and performance metrics to measure impact and drive continuous improvement.
• Explore emerging technologies, including AI and data-driven capabilities, to enhance products and business outcomes.
• Develop knowledge of digital products, technology, and the global payments ecosystem.

Skills

Strong communication

Adaptability

Collaboration

Organizational skills

Time management

Prioritization

Curiosity about AI

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's or accelerated Master's degree

Tools

APIs

AI basics

Modern tech platforms

Job description

Our Purpose

Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we're helping build a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.

Title and Summary

Associate Product Specialist, Product Management, Launch Program 2027 - United States

Why join Mastercard's Launch Program?

Over the course of this 18-month program, you'll build specialized expertise through hands-on experience, structured learning, and mentorship from industry leaders. You'll work on real business challenges, applying your skills to projects that create meaningful impact.

About the team

In Product Management, you will have the chance to learn how to develop business cases for new product opportunities, develop scalable customer-centric products, and see those projects through go-to-market. When joining one of our highly collaborative product teams, you will have the opportunity to build and manage great products. We are looking for passionate and talented professionals who share our vision for developing scalable customer-centric products with agility and excellence.

What you'll do

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver product solutions that meet customer and business needs.
• Analyze data, customer feedback, and market trends to identify opportunities and support decision-making.
• Apply problem-solving and critical thinking skills to address business challenges and improve user experiences.
• Use project management and organizational skills to support product planning, delivery, and execution.
• Build and communicate recommendations through presentations, reports, and stakeholder discussions.
• Leverage customer insights and performance metrics to measure impact and drive continuous improvement.
• Explore emerging technologies, including AI and data-driven capabilities, to enhance products and business outcomes.
• Develop knowledge of digital products, technology, and the global payments ecosystem.

Projects other Associate Product Specialist Launchers have worked on:

Samantha developed a competitive analysis of a business intelligence product to understand market offerings and how Mastercard's product compared. Her analysis helped the team identify which features to accelerate on their roadmap.

William developed a model framework to define bundled pricing deals combining our Identity Solutions capabilities. His model was leveraged to launch a new pricing bundle with resellers and streamline the sales lifecycle for future deals

Maria worked with stakeholders and customers to understand the analytics needed for our application, then developed the roadmap for incorporating a 3rd-party data analytics tool into the app experience.

What we're looking for

• Currently enrolled in a Bachelor's or accelerated Master's degree with an anticipated graduation date between Dec 2026 -June 2027
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Demonstrates a high level of adaptability and flexibility in a fast-paced environment, with a strong ability to collaborate effectively across teams and stakeholders.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented, with strong planning and time management skills to prioritize work and deliver results efficiently.
• Able to balance multiple priorities while maintaining a structured and proactive approach to achieving objectives.
• Curiosity about emerging technologies and understanding how AI can create customer and business value.
• Foundational knowledge of AI, data, APIs, and modern technology platforms.

This role is not eligible for Mastercard's work authorization sponsorship. As such, candidates must be eligible to work in the United States, now as well as in the future, without employer sponsorship. For example, students or recent graduates in the United States on an F1 visa (including those with CPT or OPT authorization) are not eligible for this role.

Base Salary

• Arlington, Virginia: $95,000 USD
• O'Fallon, Missouri: $83,000 USD

Mastercard is a merit-based, inclusive, equal opportunity employer that considers applicants without regard to gender, gender identity,