Product Manager · Austin, TX

I'm Cass. Product manager at the intersection of AI/ML and public sector consulting.

I've built AI products at Meta, developer tools for the U.S. Army, and an AI startup from scratch. Currently pursuing an MIT MicroMasters in Data Science and open to senior PM opportunities.

Meta · VMware · Antler VC · MIT · DoD Secret Clearance
2B+
Users protected at Meta
25
ML models shipped
93%
Security review time cut
$4.8M
Client value delivered
$9M
Downside risk avoided
17
Teams mentored

The short version

I've spent 7+ years building products at the intersection of AI/ML and public sector consulting. I joined Meta as one of the first 6 hires on the Misinformation team, partnering with engineering to evolve 25 AI models, launching three AI threat analysis tools, and scaling the Related Articles ML product to 2B+ users.

From there, I consulted on crisis response operations for Eric Ries's COVID coalition and led digital strategy for a Congressional campaign. Then I went forward-deployed to the U.S. Army Software Factory at VMware, shipping developer tools (DoD Secret clearance), and cutting security review times by 93%.

Most recently, I founded an AI startup through Antler VC. I co-architected a production LLM/RAG system, won the Antler hackathon (1st of 80 teams), and grew a 130-person waitlist in four weeks. I wound it down when the co-founder search didn't yield a full-time technical match for fundraising.

Currently pursuing an MIT MicroMasters in Data Science and looking for a PM role in public sector, trust and safety, fraud detection, or AI.
AI/ML & Data Science MIT MicroMasters in Data Science. SQL, Python, Claude Code, LLM/RAG architectures, AI evals. Shipped 25 ML models at Meta (2B+ users).
Public Sector & Defense Tech Consulting DoD Secret Clearance. Developer tools for the U.S. Army. Crisis response and civic tech consulting. Platform integrity at global scale.
0-to-1 Product Building Founder (Buckled, Antler VC). Fintech platform from scratch (NDWA Labs).

Where I've built

From AI products at scale to developer tools for the U.S. Army to founding an AI startup.

Buckled.io / Antler VC
Product Manager & Founder
2024 - 2025
AI/ML 0-to-1 LLM/RAG B2B SaaS

Selected for the Antler VC Founder-in-Residence program. Recruited an engineering team, led 60+ customer interviews, and co-architected a production LLM/RAG system achieving ~85% accuracy. Developed a $3B go-to-market strategy and grew a 130-person waitlist in four weeks. Wound down after co-founder search did not yield a full-time technical match for fundraising.

1st / 80
Antler Hackathon
~85%
LLM accuracy
130
Waitlist in 4 weeks
$3B
TAM identified
VMware / U.S. Army Software Factory
Senior Product Manager
2022 - 2024
Developer Tools DoD Secret Clearance Enterprise B2B Regulated

Led a forward-deployed product team for VMware's enterprise B2B SaaS portfolio at the U.S. Army Software Factory. Interviewed 30+ Army developers, secured buy-in to staff a dedicated developer experience team, and shipped tablet-based applications for edge hardware. Mentored 17 product teams on Lean practices through demos, trainings, and workshops.

93%
Review time cut (30d to 48h)
$4.8M
Client value delivered
17
Teams mentored
2x
Workflow speed
NDWA Labs
Director of Product, Alia Benefits
2021
Fintech 0-to-1 Risk Management Gig Economy

Joined a 10-person product org to launch a fintech platform for domestic workers. Identified a critical business model flaw, pivoted team focus to the existing Alia Cares product, increased user adoption by 75%, and recommended sunsetting the unviable product to avoid $9M in downside risk.

75%
User adoption increase
$9M
Downside risk avoided
Independent
Product Manager, Consulting
2019 - 2021
Crisis Response Civic Tech Product Analytics

Developed measurable programs and reporting for Eric Ries's COVID-response coalition, integrating Scrum for an executive team and unlocking $30M in funding. Devised product strategy and analytics for a Congressional re-election campaign, doubling the volunteer base.

$30M
Funding unlocked
2x
Volunteer base grown
75%
Task completion rate
Meta
Project Manager (AI/ML Products)
2017 - 2019
Trust & Safety ML at Scale Platform Integrity AI Evals

Joined as one of the first 6 hires on Meta's misinformation team, which scaled to 300+ personnel. Partnered with engineering to evolve 25 AI models, reducing misinformation by 30% across 2B+ users. Launched three AI threat analysis tools, cutting escalation resolution time from 7 days to 24 hours. Delivered the global expansion of the Related Articles ML product from 1B to 2B+ users.

2B+
Users protected
30%
Misinformation reduced
86%
Escalation time cut
25
AI models improved

Things I think about

I write about the craft of building products with AI, with teams, and in regulated environments.

Guidance for leaders on designing products with team input to build products that are bolder and more loved by users.

"We are each inherently biased to favor our areas of expertise. When you loop in the entire team, it balances out our natural blind spots."

Guidance for teams looking to build lean AI products from zero to one.

"When you use the double diamond, you unlock the team to build no matter the context."

What product managers should know when tackling their first ML product.

"Experimentation is the language of ML products."

Co-authored handbook for software teams incorporating data science/AI/ML practitioners into their workflows.

"Data scientists and now agents can be looped into balanced team conversations."

The impact of investing in design and research for internal enterprise products.

"We adopted the Lean UX mindset and rigorously focused on improving developer experience. The result? Dropped deployment time by 78%, saving over $2.4M."

Guidance for Product Managers looking to build lean, agile products for developers.

"The clearer your vision, the easier it will be for you and the team to say no."


Things I believe about building products

When you loop in the entire team, it balances out our natural blind spots. The best products come from structured collaboration, not a single visionary.
Investing in design and research for internal products pays off just as much as it does for customer-facing ones.
When you use the double diamond, you unlock the team to build no matter the context.
Experimentation is the language of ML products. You move fast, but you measure twice.
Focus on your users' needs and your vision. When you're on an internal-facing team, everyone will look to you to solve long-standing issues. Don't get carried away.
The clearer your vision, the easier it will be for you and the team to say no.

What I'm up to

Studying

MIT MicroMasters in Data Science. Currently deep in statistical inference and probabilistic modeling.

Building

Recently built an AI agent evaluator for the Miro Canvas Hackathon that scores agents against Anthropic's autonomy framework. Placed 5th in popular vote.

Looking for

Senior or Staff PM roles in AI/ML, defense tech, or high-stakes product environments. Open to remote, onsite, or hybrid. Based in Austin, TX.


Get in touch

I'm open to senior PM opportunities in AI/ML, public sector, trust and safety, or fraud detection. Happy to connect.