Director, Product Management - AP4M Protocol and Standards

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

Director, Product Management - AP4M Protocol and Standards

Mastercard Agent Pay for Machines (AP4M) is a multi-rail network service that enables trusted, agent-initiated payments for digital services, APIs, data and other machine-consumable resources across emerging agentic commerce experiences.

The Director, Product Management - AP4M Protocol and Standards will lead product strategy and execution for the technical foundations that support AP4M. The role will work across product, engineering, partners and industry forums to develop scalable capabilities, clear integration approaches and standards that support broad ecosystem adoption.

The Role

• Lead product strategy and development for the protocols, standards and technical capabilities that support AP4M.

• Own the product roadmap for scalable integration across payment providers, technology platforms and digital ecosystems.

• Translate market, customer and partner needs into clear product requirements, technical priorities and executable delivery plans.

• Partner with engineering and architecture teams to develop secure, scalable and interoperable solutions.

• Develop product documentation, implementation guidance and developer-facing materials that simplify partner adoption.

• Represent Mastercard in relevant industry and standards discussions, and build relationships across the broader payments and technology ecosystem.

• Collaborate with legal, compliance, risk, security, franchise and commercialization teams to bring new capabilities to market responsibly.

• Monitor developments in agentic commerce, blockchain, digital assets and emerging payment standards, and incorporate relevant insights into product planning.

All About You

• Significant product management or product development experience in payments, blockchain, digital assets, developer platforms or related technology products.

• Experience translating complex technical concepts into clear product strategies, requirements and delivery plans.

• Strong understanding of APIs, developer tools, platform integrations and technical product development.

• Ability to evaluate architectural and product tradeoffs while maintaining focus on customer value, security, scalability and commercial outcomes.

• Experience leading cross-functional delivery with engineering, architecture, legal, compliance, risk, security and commercialization teams.

• External ecosystem experience with payment providers, technology platforms, digital-asset infrastructure providers, standards bodies or developer communities.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to engage technical teams, senior executives and external partners.

• Demonstrated ability to lead through ambiguity, establish a clear point of view and deliver results in a fast-moving environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with blockchain-based payments, programmable payments or open payment standards.

• Familiarity with smart contracts, digital wallets, payment infrastructure or multi-rail payment solutions.

• Experience contributing to external standards, industry forums, foundation-led specifications or open-source ecosystems.

• Experience commercializing an emerging technology product in a regulated environment.

Mastercard is a merit-based, inclusive, equal opportunity employer that considers applicants without regard to gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, disabled or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We hire the most qualified candidate for the role. In the US or Canada, if you require accommodations or assistance to complete the online application process or during the recruitment process, please contact [email protected] and identify the type of accommodation or assistance you are requesting. Do not include any medical or health information in this email. The Reasonable Accommodations team will respond to your email promptly.

Corporate Security Responsibility

All activities involving access to Mastercard assets, information, and networks comes with an inherent risk to the organization and, therefore, it is expected that every person working for, or on behalf of, Mastercard is responsible for information security and must:

• Abide by Mastercard’s security policies and practices;

• Ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the information being accessed;

• Report any suspected information security violation or breach, and

• Complete all periodic mandatory security trainings in accordance with Mastercard’s guidelines.

In line with Mastercard’s total compensation philosophy and assuming that the job will be performed in the US, the successful candidate will be offered a competitive base salary and may be eligible for an annual bonus or commissions depending on the role. The base salary offered may vary depending on multiple factors, including but not limited to location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Mastercard benefits for full time (and certain part time) employees generally include: insurance (including medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, disability, life insurance); flexible spending account and health savings account; paid leaves (including 16 weeks of new parent leave and up to 20 days of bereavement leave); 80 hours of Paid Sick and Safe Time, 25 days of vacation time and 5 personal days, pro-rated based on date of hire; 10 annual paid U.S. observed holidays; 401k with a best-in-class company match; deferred compensation for eligible roles; fitness reimbursement or on-site fitness facilities; eligibility for tuition reimbursement; and many more. Mastercard benefits for interns generally include: 56 hours of Paid Sick and Safe Time; jury duty leave; and on-site fitness facilities in some locations.

THIS POSTING RELECTS ONE OR MORE CURRENT VACANCIES ON OUR TEAM, AND MASTERCARD INTENDS TO FILL THIS POSITION BY 01/05/2027. If the fill date has passed, Mastercard intends to fill this position as soon as possible.

Pay Ranges

San Francisco, California: $187,000 - $318,000 USD