PG&E Product Manager Interview Questions + Guide in 2025

PG&E is a leading utility company committed to delivering safe, reliable, and sustainable energy solutions while advancing climate commitments.

As a Product Manager at PG&E, you will play a pivotal role in leading the strategy and execution of the Distributed Energy Resource Management System (DERMS). Your key responsibilities will include scaling PG&E’s DERMS offerings, developing user-friendly solutions that meet customer needs, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure seamless implementation of new technologies. You will also analyze customer data to drive product development and strategy alignment across various business units. Ideal candidates will possess a strong foundation in project management, exceptional communication skills, and experience with emerging technologies in the energy sector. A passion for sustainability and a proactive approach to problem-solving are essential traits that align with PG&E’s mission to create a clean, resilient energy system.

This guide will equip you with valuable insights and tailored strategies to excel in your interview process, ensuring you present your qualifications and alignment with PG&E's values effectively.

The interview process for a Product Manager role at PG&E is structured to assess both technical and behavioral competencies, ensuring candidates align with the company's values and operational needs. The process typically unfolds in several key stages:

1. Initial Phone Screening

The first step involves a phone screening conducted by a recruiter. This conversation usually lasts around 30 minutes and focuses on gathering basic information about your background, education, and work experience. The recruiter will also assess your fit for PG&E's culture and values, which include safety, reliability, and innovation.

2. Technical Interview

Following the initial screening, candidates will participate in a technical interview, which may be conducted via video conferencing. This interview focuses on your technical skills relevant to the role, particularly in areas such as SQL and Python. You may be asked to solve problems or discuss your experience with data management and analytics, as well as your familiarity with product metrics and algorithms.

3. Behavioral Interview

Candidates will then move on to a behavioral interview, often conducted in a panel format. This stage typically includes multiple interviewers from different departments, allowing for a comprehensive evaluation of your interpersonal skills and ability to work in a matrixed environment. Expect situational questions that require you to demonstrate how you've handled challenges in past roles, particularly in project management and cross-functional collaboration.

4. Final Interview with Hiring Manager

The final stage usually involves a one-on-one interview with the hiring manager. This interview dives deeper into your experience and how it aligns with PG&E's goals, particularly regarding the Distributed Energy Resource Management System (DERMS). You may be asked to discuss your approach to product strategy, stakeholder engagement, and how you would drive the adoption of new technologies within the organization.

Throughout the process, candidates are encouraged to showcase their problem-solving abilities, leadership skills, and understanding of the energy sector, particularly in relation to PG&E's mission and values.

Next, let's explore the specific interview questions that candidates have encountered during this process.

Here are some tips to help you excel in your interview.

Understand PG&E's Mission and Values

Familiarize yourself with PG&E's True North Strategy and how it aligns with their commitment to sustainability and innovation in the energy sector. Be prepared to discuss how your personal values resonate with PG&E's focus on safety, reliability, affordability, and environmental responsibility. This understanding will not only help you answer questions more effectively but also demonstrate your genuine interest in the company.

Prepare for Behavioral Questions

Expect a significant focus on behavioral interview questions that assess your past experiences and how they relate to the role. Use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method to structure your responses. Highlight specific examples that showcase your ability to lead cross-functional teams, manage complex projects, and drive consensus among diverse stakeholders. Be ready to discuss challenges you've faced and how you overcame them, particularly in a matrixed environment.

Brush Up on Technical Knowledge

While the role may not require extensive coding, you should be comfortable discussing technical concepts related to Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) and the technologies that support them. Familiarize yourself with relevant protocols and frameworks, such as IEEE 2030.5 and Open ADR. Additionally, be prepared to discuss your experience with data analysis and how it informs product strategy and decision-making.

Showcase Your Project Management Skills

Given the emphasis on project management in the role, be ready to discuss your experience with various project management methodologies, including Agile and Lean. Highlight specific projects where you successfully led initiatives from conception to execution, detailing how you managed timelines, resources, and stakeholder expectations. Demonstrating your ability to adapt to different project environments will be crucial.

Communicate Effectively

Strong communication skills are essential for this role, especially when interacting with both technical and non-technical stakeholders. Practice articulating complex ideas clearly and concisely. Be prepared to discuss how you have effectively communicated project updates, challenges, and successes to various audiences, including leadership and cross-functional teams.

Emphasize Your Collaborative Approach

PG&E values collaboration across its teams, so be prepared to discuss how you have fostered teamwork in previous roles. Share examples of how you have built relationships with stakeholders, navigated conflicts, and encouraged a culture of open communication. Highlight your ability to work in a hybrid environment and how you maintain engagement and productivity in remote settings.

Be Ready for Situational Questions

Expect situational questions that assess your problem-solving abilities and how you would handle specific scenarios relevant to the role. Think through potential challenges you might face as a Product Manager at PG&E and how you would approach them. This could include managing customer expectations, addressing regulatory requirements, or implementing new technologies.

Follow Up with Questions

Prepare thoughtful questions to ask your interviewers that demonstrate your interest in the role and the company. Inquire about the team dynamics, current projects, and how success is measured in the position. This not only shows your enthusiasm but also helps you gauge if the company culture aligns with your values and work style.

By following these tips and preparing thoroughly, you'll position yourself as a strong candidate for the Product Manager role at PG&E. Good luck!

In this section, we’ll review the various interview questions that might be asked during a Product Manager interview at PG&E. The interview process will likely focus on your ability to manage complex projects, your understanding of customer needs, and your experience with product strategy and execution. Be prepared to discuss your past experiences, particularly in relation to the energy sector and technology implementation.

Experience and Background

1. Describe a time when you had to lead a cross-functional team to achieve a project goal. What challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them?

This question assesses your leadership skills and ability to navigate complex team dynamics.

How to Answer

Use the STAR method to structure your response, focusing on the situation, task, action, and result. Highlight specific challenges and how your leadership contributed to overcoming them.

Example

“In my previous role, I led a cross-functional team to implement a new customer management system. We faced resistance from some team members who were accustomed to the old system. I organized workshops to address their concerns and demonstrate the benefits of the new system, which ultimately led to a successful implementation and improved customer satisfaction scores.”

Product Strategy and Execution

2. How do you prioritize features when developing a product roadmap?

This question evaluates your strategic thinking and prioritization skills.

How to Answer

Discuss your approach to prioritization, including how you balance customer needs, business goals, and technical feasibility. Mention any frameworks you use, such as RICE or MoSCoW.

Example

“I prioritize features by assessing their impact on customer satisfaction and alignment with business objectives. I use the RICE framework to score each feature based on reach, impact, confidence, and effort, which helps me make data-informed decisions on what to prioritize in the roadmap.”

3. Can you give an example of a product you managed from conception to launch? What was your role in that process?

This question seeks to understand your hands-on experience in product management.

How to Answer

Outline your specific responsibilities throughout the product lifecycle, emphasizing collaboration with stakeholders and any challenges you faced.

Example

“I managed the development of a new energy management app from conception to launch. I conducted market research to identify customer needs, collaborated with the engineering team to define technical requirements, and led user testing sessions to gather feedback. The app launched successfully and exceeded our user acquisition targets by 20% in the first quarter.”

Customer Engagement and Needs

4. How do you gather and incorporate customer feedback into your product development process?

This question assesses your customer-centric approach.

How to Answer

Explain your methods for collecting feedback, such as surveys, interviews, or usability testing, and how you integrate that feedback into product iterations.

Example

“I regularly conduct user interviews and surveys to gather feedback on our products. I also analyze usage data to identify pain points. This feedback is then prioritized in our product backlog, ensuring that we address customer needs in our development cycles.”

5. Describe a time when you had to manage conflicting stakeholder interests. How did you handle it?

This question evaluates your negotiation and conflict resolution skills.

How to Answer

Discuss a specific instance where you navigated conflicting interests, focusing on your communication and negotiation strategies.

Example

“When working on a project to enhance our customer portal, the marketing team wanted to prioritize branding features, while the engineering team focused on functionality. I facilitated a meeting where both sides could present their perspectives. By aligning our goals with customer needs, we reached a compromise that included essential branding elements without sacrificing functionality.”

Technical Knowledge

6. What experience do you have with data analysis and how do you use it to inform product decisions?

This question gauges your analytical skills and understanding of data-driven decision-making.

How to Answer

Highlight your experience with data analysis tools and how you leverage data to guide product strategy.

Example

“I have extensive experience using SQL and Excel for data analysis. In my last role, I analyzed customer usage patterns to identify features that were underutilized. This analysis informed our decision to enhance those features, resulting in a 15% increase in user engagement.”

7. How familiar are you with Distributed Energy Resources (DER) and their impact on product management in the utility sector?

This question assesses your industry knowledge and relevance to the role.

How to Answer

Discuss your understanding of DERs and their implications for product management, particularly in relation to customer engagement and regulatory considerations.

Example

“I have a solid understanding of DERs, including solar PV and battery storage technologies. I’ve worked on projects that integrated these resources into our product offerings, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards while maximizing customer benefits. This experience has equipped me to effectively manage products that leverage DER capabilities.”

Behavioral Questions

8. Tell me about a time when you had to adapt to significant changes in a project. How did you manage the transition?

This question evaluates your adaptability and resilience.

How to Answer

Provide a specific example of a project where you had to pivot due to unforeseen circumstances, detailing your approach to managing the change.

Example

“During a project to launch a new service, we faced unexpected regulatory changes that required us to alter our approach. I quickly organized a team meeting to reassess our strategy, reallocated resources, and communicated transparently with stakeholders about the changes. This proactive approach allowed us to stay on track and successfully launch the service within the revised timeline.”