The interview process was quite demanding, involving multiple rounds, a substantial take-home project with three detailed components, and a two-hour live review session with a founder and members of the team. The assignments required deep analysis of the product, onboarding flows, growth strategy, prioritisation, and customer segmentation, followed by extended discussions where candidates were expected to rigorously defend their thinking. Overall, the process felt closer to a consulting or working engagement than a traditional interview and required a significant time commitment. The expectations placed on candidates were extremely high and appeared to be aimed at a very narrow or exceptional profile rather than a typical senior hire. One point of difficulty was some ambiguity around how the work being evaluated reflected a potential future market segment rather than the company’s current core market. This made it harder to calibrate what “good” or “successful” output looked like and raised questions about how the work would ultimately be used. Feedback throughout the process was consistently positive. I was told that I had gone the extra mile, that my work exceeded expectations, and that my approach was both thorough and professional. When I asked for clarity on why I was not offered the role, the only explanation given was that I was not considered an “AI native,” a term that was not clearly defined. The people involved were thoughtful and respectful, and I believe I would have worked well with them had they been willing to take a chance. However, candidates should be aware that the process is intense, time-heavy, and sets a very high bar that may not be clearly articulated upfront. The role has been advertised for 10+ months as of this post and remains unfilled.