Vaibhav
Feb 03, 2025
2,092
13 mins
Table of Content:
We are witnessing the massive growth of specific industries like IT companies, Telecommunication firms, Health care, renewable energy, e-commerce industries, and Software development firms. Many are looking for job opportunities in any one industry mentioned above. Luckily, one job role is common in all these industries, yes that is technical project manager.
Technical Program Manager (TPM) is a vital role you can find in many industries. It is a common point of intersection between technical teams and business. Their actions ensure the projects work between standards and are completed on time.
If you are curious about becoming a manager, I will share some vital information here. This blog covers TPM roles, including responsibilities, required skills, career paths, and salary expectations.
If someone with a technical background is comfortable working on projects, they prefer project executive roles, or if they are good at managing, they choose the role of manager. A (TPM) manages and coordinates the teams involved in complex technical projects. TPMs ensure the successful delivery of projects by coordinating different teams, such as engineering teams, product-oriented teams, quality teams, and other stakeholders. TPMs possess a blend of technical expertise and project management skills, allowing them to navigate the project’s technical and managerial aspects.
From the planning to the execution of the technical project, the TPM looks over the project using their technical knowledge. They completely follow the development, implementation processes, and product details with deep understanding and technical expertise.
Enroll in PMP Certification in Hyderabad to gain essential project management skills and boost your career opportunities.
Generally, the (TPM) plays a role during technical projects. During these projects, TPMs perform the following actions:
The roles begin with developing detailed project plans, fixing timelines, allocating resources effectively, and overseeing project progress.
TPMs must identify the stakeholders involved in the project, categorize them based on their involvement, and take necessary actions to improve management.
Through an efficient analysis of the project environment and its effects, TPM must identify potential project risks. They must also come up with strategies to avoid the risks.
Tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) and providing regular updates on project status. TPMs fix the KPIs for any technical projects.
The project management process must be adequate to improve the project management process involved. Identifying opportunities to optimize workflows and establish best practices for project management.
The TPM role is evolving relatively with industrial changes, so the roles are based on specialization. I have been working as a product and Infrastructure TPM. There are some other types of roles involved in many industries. Some major roles are:
I was a Product TPM in an IT company; a product TPM's role involves many other industries like global tech companies and product-based companies. The role of product TPM is to supervise the organization’s launch and development of new products.
Since the production includes different teams, cross-functional team collaboration throughout the product lifecycle is needed. The partnership ensures product quality and organizational overview to ensure timely delivery. Microsoft, Capgemini, and Samsung are leading companies with this role.
The major companies that deal with any organization's infrastructure management, network systems, data centers, servers, and other technical components have an infrastructure TPM role. Infrastructure TPM works towards improving performance through process optimization.
A deep technical understanding helps greatly improve the process. The companies like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft have the role of Infrastructure TPM. This infrastructure TPM works towards the implementation of new hardware or software systems, upgrading the existing, and also making sure that operation goes well,
Data TPM is a role that looks at the execution of data projects. Handling data projects requires deep technical knowledge to manage and use data pipelines and analytics solutions to ensure the projects match the business objectives.
They play a significant role in completing projects within the planned time and budget. Companies like Meta, Apple, and Netflix use Data TPM in their organizations.
Research and Development can be found in most companies. The research and development team is vital for performing complex research and development processes. This process results in new technologies or product improvements for the organization. Without technical knowledge, research and development can’t function.
Intel, Pfizer, Medtronic, and Abbott Laboratories have the Research and Development TPM role.
These are some types found in organizations. These managers work according to the organization’s needs and expertise.
IT Program Managers are known for utilizing technical knowledge to blend the process involved in a project with the organizational expectations. They communicate and manage between the technical development team and management.
Look out for some vital qualities required for TPMs:
The role’s primary advantage is that the function is based on technical knowledge, so expertise in the domain is vital for TPMs. Identifying the issues leading technical projects is not possible without this skill.
If the TPM is working on a software development project, then expertise in software development processes, tools used for development, and agile or scrum methodologies are mandatory.
To lead the project and handle the members involved, comprehensive knowledge of the processes involved is essential. Abilities like developing project plans, fixing timelines, and proper resource allocation require management skills and technical knowledge.
Resource allocation skills, identifying potential risks, and developing mitigation steps are mandatory in any technical project management.
The project managers must communicate between the organization, development team, and other project teams. Conveying technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders requires excellent communication skills.
Hearing the requirements accurately and conveying the concepts precisely to the technical and non-technical team members only results in project success. Without proper communication, errors, time delays, and overall project success may be affected.
Projects involve various teams working together for the output. Only with inspiring and proper guidance will teams achieve their goals. The technical project manager must act effectively to avoid team misunderstandings and communication gaps.
In case of any misunderstandings during the projects between development and testing teams, the project manager should act immediately to resolve the conflicts within teams. This action can improve the project output.
The ability to make use of data involved in the project to make decisions, analyze complex problems, and develop solutions is needed. The technical project manager should make the Data-Driven Decision to reach the decided output.
The TPM should look for data from similar projects in the IT industry to identify the risks involved. With the prior decisions and strategies, project handling can be more manageable.
Acting according to the changes required is essential because unexpected risks may occur during the project. Adjusting plans and strategies accordingly to mitigate the risk and make the project requirements stay as planned is essential.
Agility in adoption can be a great skill because the project may not stay as planned, and changes may occur in time. Without addressing them, projects will not be completed.
Stakeholder management requires analyzing, and keeping stakeholders engaged in projects. Effective stakeholder management is crucial and involves several key components:
Identification
Analysis
Engagement
Relationship Building
Acquire these skills during the project handling or through the certification process. Learn what a Software Program Manager does in any project through the certification process.
If you plan to switch your career in it, these are the requirements:
1. Educational Qualification:
Ensure a bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, business administration, or management to begin the Specialized Program Manager role.
This qualification will help you gain technical knowledge in the domain you want to enter.
2. Experience
Should have several years of experience managing projects from planning to implementation.
3. Project Management Skills
Primary skills like technical expertise, project management, excellent communication, and team management are essential for overseeing the complete project.
4. Continuous Updation
Remaining updated on industrial trends is more important. Adopting critical methodologies like agile and scrum in the organization can increase productivity. Staying updated will increase the credibility of the role in the organization.
Related Blog: Guide to PMP Certification Process
There is no doubt about career growth opportunities for Technical Project Manager. Here are some reasons for the credibility of the role in project management.
Various industries involve the role in improving organizations' quality and productivity. Different industries are:
TPMs manage software and hardware development projects and ensure that projects are delivered on time. Top IT companies implemented the TPM role in their organizations.
TPMs are involved in the product development process required to improve patient care. R&D TPM can also be used in the healthcare industry.
Data TPMs manage the complexities of data models in finance-related industries.
Product TPMs manage complex technical projects and work with cross-functional teams. This action is to ensure projects stay on track and project quality remains high with effective management.
The salary packages of the TPMs are high because of the complex project management they handle. It varies based on the candidate's experience and seniority role.
2-10 years in the role of Technical Program Manager salary can be up to ₹27 lakhs per year.
7–14 years of an experienced candidate in the role of Senior product development manager can earn up to ₹42 lakhs per year.
15+ years of experienced candidate in role of Principal product development manager salary can be ₹55 lakhs per year.
17+ years of experienced candidate in role of Head Technology Delivery Manager’s salary can be ₹60 lakhs per year.
Develop expertise and improve the role of increasing the salary package in any industry. This also shows the Product Development Manager jobs and roles across various industries.
Read More: How to Get PMP Certification
The PMP certification can help you reach your dream job role as a Technical Program Manager by enhancing your skills and knowledge in project management. Learn methodologies and processes involved in the project and identify effective ways to handle them. The PMP course, devised based on industrial standards, can help improve communication strategies and leadership skills. Since the PMP certification is approved globally, you can enhance your credibility and open up career advancement opportunities.
Overall, learn TPMs vital skills and techniques necessary for successfully managing complex technical programs through certification. Open your gates to get a technical product manager job at reputed organizations.
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