Lead Product Manager (Token)

Confidential; New York (NY); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Circle seeks a Lead Product Manager, Token to define and lead exploration of utility token opportunities for the Arc ecosystem. You will shape token economics, governance, and feature design of a potential native token within Arc.

You will work across Product, Business, Engineering, Data, Treasury, Legal and Policy teams to explore token design mechanisms, governance evolution, and community engagement.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in crypto research, token design or governance operations.
• Crypto experience is required.

Responsibilities

• Design token and governance architecture for Arc and ecosystem parties.
• Model token distributions, validator rewards, staking mechanisms and incentives.
• Define onchain and offchain governance processes, from proposals to councils.
• Collaborate with Product, Legal, Policy and Treasury teams for regulatory and financial alignment.
• Educate and engage developers, institutions and users through documentation and forums.
• Benchmark governance systems and token designs to inform Circle's approach.

Skills

Crypto experience

Token design

Protocol economics

Governance operations

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication skills

Onchain governance

Staking economics

Job description

About the Role

Circle is seeking a Lead Product Manager, Token within the Arc product team to define and lead the exploration of utility token opportunities for the Arc ecosystem. This individual will help Circle shape the economic model, governance framework, and feature design of a potential native token on the Arc network.

You will work cross-functionally with Product, Business, Engineering, Data, Treasury, Legal, and Policy teams as we explore potential token design mechanisms from validator and staking models to community participation, incentive structures, and governance evolution.

This role sits at the intersection of economics, onchain governance, and ecosystem design, and is central to Circle's vision for a new financial internet.

Key Responsibilities

Design a potential token and governance architecture: Develop and contribute to a potential token design, tokenomics and phased roadmap for Arc and related ecosystem parties.

Model economic systems and incentive structures: Create simulations and scenario analyses to evaluate token distributions, validator rewards, staking mechanisms, and incentive structures that drive usage of the Arc network.

Operationalize governance frameworks: Define systems, tooling, and processes for onchain and offchain governance - from proposal frameworks to validator councils and community engagement.

Collaborate cross-functionally: Partner with Circle's Product, Legal, Policy, and Treasury teams to ensure regulatory alignment and financial soundness.

Engage the broader community: Develop documentation, playbooks, and forums to educate and activate participants - from developers to institutions to users.

Benchmark and research: Continuously analyze market-leading governance systems, token designs, and economic mechanisms to inform Circle's approach.

Requirements

5+ years of experience across crypto research, token design, protocol economics, or governance operations.

Crypto experience is required

Bonus Skills

• Deep understanding of tokenomics, game theory, and token governance.
• Strong analytical skills; experience running financial or economic models for token ecosystems.
• Proven ability to manage complex, cross-functional workstreams - influencing without authority.
• Ability to distill technical concepts into clear frameworks and communications.
• Strategic mindset with bias toward execution and measurable ecosystem outcomes.
• Experience with onchain protocols or staking economics strongly preferred.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.