Technical program managers play a crucial role in the success of technical projects. In fact, tech giants like Google rely on the skill and prowess of technical program managers to drive impactful large-scale projects. The role demands excellent planning, interpersonal, and technical skills. The stakes are high for a Google technical program manager, and the responsibilities are plenty. The salaries? Well, they’re high too and come with several benefits.
At Google, technical program managers are hired for different departments and projects. This means that the responsibilities of a TPM working on ML projects differ from those of TPMs working on Business Intelligence projects. We’ll highlight the Google technical program manager’s role and look at a typical Google TPM job description.
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Let’s go ahead and look at the Google technical program manager’s roles and responsibilities along with other important areas associated with the job.
Here’s what we’ll cover in this article:
- Roles and Responsibilities of a Google Technical Program Manager
- Google Technical Program Manager Salary Across All Levels
- Qualifications and Skills Required to Become a Google Technical Program Manager
- FAQs on Roles and Responsibilities of a Google Technical Program Manager
Roles and Responsibilities of a Google Technical Program Manager
The roles and responsibilities of a Google technical program manager are wide-ranging, covering several aspects, including product development, timelines, strategy, management, reporting, and risk mitigation.
The roles and responsibilities of a Google TPM typically involve:
Defining Project Requirements
Google’s TPMs plan the core requirements for a project. They decide the project’s trajectory, required resources, and budgets.
Solving Challenges
Technical program managers at Google identify cross-functional and cross-team challenges and devise strategies to solve these challenges and problems both at an organizational and technical level.
Designating Responsibilities
This is an extremely important responsibility of technical program managers. Allocating tasks and designating responsibilities are crucial elements that determine project success. TPMs make resource-related decisions by identifying specific skill sets of engineers. They also closely monitor and drive hiring for roles within the team to fill any skill and workforce gaps.
Getting Involved with Budgets
TPMs at Google are involved with budget allocations for technical projects. They decide what tools/software to acquire, whom to hire based on the project’s requirements, and whether certain spending is necessary.
Determining Project Timelines and Reporting
Honoring project timelines is key to timely project delivery. TPMs carefully plan timelines based on project complexity and various other factors. They also regularly monitor the progress of specific project tasks.
Building Consensus and Finding Cutting-edge Solutions
TPMs work with engineering leaders of different teams to apprise them about the impact of technical projects and build consensus on project trajectories. They also regularly take stock of various project-related tasks and review progress regularly.
Analyzing and Mitigating Risks
PMs regularly assess and identify potential project-related issues at various junctures. They also plan effective strategies to mitigate risks to ensure smooth and timely delivery of project outcomes.
Want to learn what it takes to grab a Technical Program Manager role at FAANG+ companies? Check out our post on Landing TPM jobs at FAANG+ Companies.
Google Technical Program Manager Salary Across All Levels
Google’s technical program managers enjoy hefty salaries and various other benefits. The average Google technical program manager’s salary in the US is $210,060 per year. This includes a base salary of $151,009 and an additional pay of $59,051.
The Google technical program manager’s salary is 80% higher than the average TPM salary in the US, which stands at $121,116 per year.
Let’s take a look at TPM salaries across all levels in Google.
Stock options and cash bonuses are included in the total pay and increase steadily as the band level advances.
Read our blog on Google Technical Program Manager Salary in the US to know more about TPM salaries at Google.
Qualifications and Skills Required to Become a Google Technical Program Manager
Let's take a quick look at some of the necessary skills and qualifications for the Google technical program manager role.
- A Master’s Degree in Computer Science, ML, or IT
- 8+ years of experience in driving technical projects that involved cross-functional coordination and interaction
- Proven experience in data analysis, capacity planning, strategy, and risk management
- Strong experience in project management and product lifecycle development
- Strong interpersonal skills
- Experience in budgeting and project reporting
- Knowledge of essential tools and software required to fulfill the responsibilities of the particular role
If you are preparing for an upcoming Google TPM interview, it is important that you understand the interview process and which questions to prepare for. Here are some of our blogs that you can read to uplevel your prep:
- Google Technical Program Manager interview process - to learn more about what to expect at different stages of your interview.
- Google Technical Program Manager interview questions - to understand the type of questions asked at Google’s TPM interviews.
- Google Technical Program Manager Interview Prep - for exclusive tips on how to prepare for Google’s TPM interviews.
FAQs on Roles and Responsibilities of a Google Technical Program Manager
Q1. What is the average technical program manager salary in the US?
The average technical program manager’s salary in the US is $121,116 per year.
Q2. Are TPMs required to know how to code?
Although TPMs aren’t specifically required to know how to code, sound coding knowledge can help a great deal in supervising technical and programming-related tasks.
Q3. What are some roles and responsibilities of technical program managers at Google?
Some responsibilities of Google technical program managers include conceptualization, planning project timelines, tracking project metrics, allocating resources, reporting, and risk management.
Q4. What is the salary of a technical program manager at Google?
On average, a technical program manager at Google makes $210,060 per year.
Q5. What skills are required to become a technical program manager at Google?
The TPM role is pretty multi-faceted, so you might require a few degrees. Many companies need a bachelor’s in business administration, business management, or computer science. In some cases, a master’s degree may also be required.
Gear Up for Your Next TPM Interview
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