Sunrun Product Manager Interview Questions + Guide in 2025

Sunrun is a leading residential solar energy company that is dedicated to creating a sustainable future powered by renewable energy.

As a Product Manager at Sunrun, you will play a pivotal role in driving the development of innovative products that prioritize the customer experience while aligning with the company's mission. Your key responsibilities will involve understanding customer needs, developing product ideas, constructing compelling business cases, and launching products that enhance profitability and scalability. You will collaborate with various teams, including Business Development, Marketing, Sales, Policy, Finance, Operations, and Technology, working cross-functionally to address complex challenges and enable Sunrun's growth.

To excel in this role, you should possess a passion for Sunrun's mission, with a strong foundation in product management, particularly in the realm of distributed energy systems. You should be skilled in conducting customer research, synthesizing insights into actionable strategies, and leading product innovation. Proficiency in financial analysis, data visualization tools like SQL and Tableau, and an understanding of agile methodologies will also be crucial. An ability to communicate complex concepts to diverse audiences and a strong emotional intelligence will help you build effective relationships with team members and stakeholders alike.

This guide will help you prepare for a job interview by providing insights into the expectations for the Product Manager role at Sunrun, equipping you with the knowledge to articulate your fit for the position and demonstrate your alignment with the company's values.

The interview process for a Product Manager at Sunrun is designed to assess both technical and interpersonal skills, ensuring candidates align with the company's mission and values. The process typically unfolds in several structured stages:

1. Initial Phone Screen

The first step is a phone screen with a recruiter, which usually lasts about 30 minutes. During this conversation, the recruiter will discuss your background, relevant experiences, and motivations for wanting to work at Sunrun. This is also an opportunity for you to ask questions about the company culture and the role itself.

2. Technical Interview

Following the initial screen, candidates will participate in a technical interview, often conducted via video call. This interview focuses on assessing problem-solving abilities and may include questions related to product metrics, financial analysis, and data interpretation. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate their understanding of product management principles and how they apply to the energy sector.

3. Panel Interview

The next stage involves a panel interview with multiple team members, including cross-functional stakeholders. This interview is more collaborative and aims to evaluate how well you can work with diverse teams. Expect questions that explore your experience in product development, customer research, and your ability to lead projects from concept to launch. The panel will also assess your interpersonal skills and cultural fit within the organization.

4. Final Interview with Leadership

The final step typically includes an interview with senior leadership or the hiring manager. This session may delve deeper into your strategic thinking, leadership style, and vision for product management at Sunrun. Candidates may be asked to present a case study or a product idea, showcasing their ability to innovate and align with the company's goals.

5. Assessment Task

In some cases, candidates may be required to complete a take-home assignment, which could involve financial modeling or data analysis using tools like Excel or SQL. This task is designed to evaluate your technical skills and your ability to translate complex data into actionable insights.

As you prepare for your interview, consider the types of questions that may arise in each of these stages, focusing on your experiences and how they relate to the role of Product Manager at Sunrun.

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

Emphasize Customer-Centric Thinking

At Sunrun, a customer-first approach is paramount. Be prepared to discuss how you have previously identified customer needs and translated them into actionable product insights. Share specific examples where your understanding of customer pain points led to successful product development or enhancements. This will demonstrate your alignment with Sunrun's mission and values.

Showcase Your Cross-Functional Collaboration Skills

As a Product Manager, you will be working closely with various teams, including Business Development, Marketing, and Technology. Highlight your experience in leading cross-functional teams and how you have successfully navigated different perspectives to achieve a common goal. Be ready to discuss specific projects where collaboration was key to your success.

Prepare for Behavioral Questions

Expect behavioral questions that assess your problem-solving abilities and how you handle challenges. Use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method to structure your responses. For instance, you might be asked about a time you faced a significant obstacle in product development. Prepare stories that showcase your resilience, creativity, and ability to adapt in a fast-paced environment.

Brush Up on Technical Skills

While the role may not require deep technical expertise, familiarity with tools like SQL, Python, and data visualization software is beneficial. Be prepared to discuss how you have used these tools in previous roles to analyze data, create models, or visualize insights. If you have experience with financial analysis or techno-economic modeling, be sure to highlight that as well.

Be Ready for a Structured Interview Process

The interview process at Sunrun can be thorough and may include multiple rounds, including technical assessments and panel interviews. Approach each stage with the same level of enthusiasm and professionalism. Prepare for both technical and behavioral questions, and don’t hesitate to ask insightful questions about the team dynamics and company culture.

Maintain a Positive Attitude

Given some feedback about the interview experience, it’s essential to approach your interview with a positive and open mindset. Even if you encounter a challenging interviewer, remain composed and professional. Your ability to maintain a positive demeanor can set you apart and demonstrate your suitability for a collaborative work environment.

Align with Sunrun’s Mission

Finally, express your passion for renewable energy and Sunrun's mission to create a planet run by the sun. Be prepared to discuss why you are interested in the solar industry and how your values align with the company’s goals. This will not only show your enthusiasm but also your commitment to contributing to Sunrun's vision.

By following these tips, you can present yourself as a well-rounded candidate who is not only qualified for the role but also a great cultural fit for Sunrun. Good luck!

In this section, we’ll review the various interview questions that might be asked during a Product Manager interview at Sunrun. The interview process will likely focus on your ability to understand customer needs, develop product ideas, and collaborate across various teams. Be prepared to discuss your experience in product management, your approach to problem-solving, and your understanding of the solar energy industry.

Experience and Background

1. What interests you in the solar industry, and why do you want to work at Sunrun?

This question aims to gauge your passion for the industry and alignment with the company's mission.

How to Answer

Express your enthusiasm for renewable energy and how Sunrun's mission resonates with your values. Highlight any relevant experiences that have shaped your interest in solar energy.

Example

“I have always been passionate about sustainability and renewable energy. Sunrun’s commitment to creating a planet run by the sun aligns perfectly with my values. My previous experience in product management for energy-efficient technologies has equipped me with insights into customer needs in this sector, making me excited about the opportunity to contribute to Sunrun’s mission.”

Product Management Skills

2. Describe a product you managed from concept to launch. What challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them?

This question assesses your hands-on experience in product management and your problem-solving skills.

How to Answer

Detail the product development process, emphasizing your role and the specific challenges encountered. Discuss the strategies you employed to overcome these challenges.

Example

“I managed the launch of a smart home energy management system. One major challenge was aligning the technical team with customer expectations. I facilitated workshops to gather customer feedback and iteratively refined the product based on their insights, which ultimately led to a successful launch.”

3. How do you prioritize features when developing a product?

This question evaluates your decision-making process and ability to balance customer needs with business goals.

How to Answer

Discuss your approach to prioritization, including any frameworks or methodologies you use, such as the MoSCoW method or RICE scoring.

Example

“I prioritize features by assessing their impact on customer satisfaction and business objectives. I use the RICE scoring model to evaluate reach, impact, confidence, and effort, which helps me make data-driven decisions that align with our strategic goals.”

Customer Insights and Research

4. How do you gather and synthesize customer feedback into actionable product insights?

This question tests your ability to translate customer needs into product development.

How to Answer

Explain your methods for collecting customer feedback, such as surveys, interviews, or usability testing, and how you analyze this data to inform product decisions.

Example

“I utilize a combination of surveys and one-on-one interviews to gather customer feedback. After collecting the data, I analyze it for common themes and insights, which I then present to the team to inform our product roadmap and ensure we are addressing customer pain points effectively.”

5. Can you give an example of how you used data to influence a product decision?

This question assesses your analytical skills and ability to leverage data in product management.

How to Answer

Provide a specific example where data analysis led to a significant product decision, detailing the data sources and the outcome.

Example

“During the development of a new solar panel product, I analyzed customer usage data and market trends. The data revealed a growing demand for higher efficiency panels. I presented this analysis to the team, which led us to prioritize efficiency improvements in our product design, resulting in a successful launch that exceeded sales targets.”

Collaboration and Leadership

6. Describe a time when you had to lead a cross-functional team. What was your approach?

This question evaluates your leadership skills and ability to work collaboratively.

How to Answer

Discuss your experience leading a team, focusing on how you facilitated communication and collaboration among diverse stakeholders.

Example

“I led a cross-functional team to develop a new customer onboarding process. I organized regular check-ins to ensure everyone was aligned and encouraged open communication. By fostering a collaborative environment, we were able to streamline the onboarding process, resulting in a 20% reduction in customer complaints.”

7. How do you handle conflicts within a team?

This question assesses your interpersonal skills and conflict resolution abilities.

How to Answer

Describe your approach to conflict resolution, emphasizing your communication skills and ability to empathize with team members.

Example

“When conflicts arise, I prioritize open communication. I encourage team members to express their concerns and facilitate a discussion to find common ground. For instance, during a project, two team members disagreed on the product direction. I organized a meeting where each could present their viewpoints, leading to a compromise that satisfied both parties and kept the project on track.”