How to Build the Technical 'T' in TPM: Transitioning from Engineer to TPM

Q: How do I become a good Technical Program Manager?

To become a good Technical Program Manager, build out the core skills: a strong technical foundation, program management expertise, leadership abilities, and effective communication. Using these skills together helps drive business outcomes and create impact.

Q: Is TPM a good career choice?

To determine if Technical Program Management is the right career choice for you, consider your interest in technology, program management, and leadership. Assess your skills in problem-solving, decision-making, and teamwork. Research job market trends, career growth opportunities, and work-life balance to ensure it aligns with your goals.

Q: What are the key technical skills required for a Technical Program Manager (TPM)?

A strong grasp of System Design is essential for TPMs. They should also be familiar with programming languages, databases, algorithms, and data structures to effectively collaborate with engineers and technical teams.

Q: How can aspiring TPMs develop their technical expertise?

Aspiring TPMs can take relevant training courses on platforms like LinkedIn, covering Python, SQL, AI, or Machine Learning. Learning from technical peers, understanding system workflows, and practicing mock interviews can also help develop technical expertise.

Q: What resources are available for TPMs to enhance their technical knowledge?

TPMs can enhance their technical knowledge by studying system design, exploring their company's technical infrastructure, and taking structured courses like 'Grokking the System Design Interview.'

Q: How important is technical proficiency for success in a TPM role?

Technical proficiency is crucial for TPMs as it enhances communication with engineering teams and helps in managing technical risks. While TPMs may not need to code, understanding system architecture is key to their success.

Q: Can non-technical professionals transition into TPM roles?

Yes! Non-technical professionals can transition into TPM roles by taking relevant training courses, working closely with technical peers, and gradually building their technical knowledge through hands-on experience.

Q: What are some common challenges faced by TPMs in building their technical skills?

TPMs often face challenges in understanding system design intricacies and technical workflows. Overcoming these challenges requires continuous learning, mentorship, and real-world application of technical concepts.

Q: How can TPMs stay updated with emerging technologies relevant to their roles?

TPMs can stay updated by following tech blogs, attending industry conferences, and engaging with engineering teams to keep up with the latest developments in technology.

Priyanka Shinde
Apr 15, 2021
7 min read

Updated: Mar 21

The “T” in TPM is very crucial and differentiates TPMs from other types of program managers. TPM is a technical role where individuals work with multiple technical teams. The technical skills form the foundation of the TPM core skills.

If you come from an engineering background, it is often easier to transition into a TPM role. The audience for this article are primarily folks who are coming from non-technical backgrounds, hold non-technical roles in the tech industry or haven’t utilized their tech education in their past experience. Many of you requested me to post about this topic.

How Technical Should a TPM Be? Insights on Transitioning from Engineer to TPM

This is a common question that comes up. The answer depends a lot of the definition of the role within a team or company. Big "T' vs little "t" is often used to differentiate the strength of technical skills required in a role. TPM's work with technical subject matter experts on a daily basis. While most TPMs are not required to code or do programming if they are in the softwware industry, it is important to understand the technical architecture and system in order converse with technical folks easily. Being technical adept also helps build credibility with engineering teams. TPMs drive technical execution, which will suffer if a TPM is lacking on the technical axis. So, focusing on TPM Skills Development is crucial for success in this role. Of course, there are more skills required to become a successful TPM.

Here are some ways aspiring or rookie TPMs can strengthen their technical skills and expertise. Keep in mind that you have to put in a lot of hard work building the “T”. I can assure you that it will pay off in the long run. The TPM salary bands are usually higher than a non-technical program manager and there are more opportunities for career growth.

I have mentored many aspiring TPMs who navigated the path to technical program management successfully by developing technical expertise.

Take Relevant TPM Training Courses

There are many online sources like LinkedIn where you can learn some basics about new technical skills. If you are in the software industry, take a programming course like Python to understand the fundamentals or learn about SQL. You can also take specialized courses on AI or Machine Learning. Some courses can be good for building conceptual knowledge without having to learn programming. If you intend to stay in your current field, get advice on which courses are best from your technical peers. Some other resources that you can take advantage of are Programming Interviews Exposed, Decode and Conquer, Cracking the PM career, Machine Learning by Andrew Ng, Designing Data Intensive Applications.

Learn From Technical Peers

Sometimes, learning can happen best by connecting 1:1 with a peer. Engineers are often excited to share their technical knowledge with someone who is willing to learn. Ask them to explain/draw the system workflow or architecture. Ask questions if you don’t understand something. Talk to multiple folks such as engineers, TPMs or architects so that you get a different perspective from each.

Understand System Design

It is important to understand the end to end system design as it is a key part of TPM interviews. Furthermore, as you TPM an engineering program, having the knowledge of how the system works will help you do your job better and enhance your technical skills.

What is System Design?

Systems design is the process of defining the architecture, product design, modules, interfaces, and data for a system to satisfy specified requirements. Systems design could be seen as the application of systems theory to product development [1].

There are a couple of ways you can strengthen your technical judgement on designing good systems.

Dig into the systems in your existing company even if you are not in a technical role. For example, if you are a business analyst in a financial institution, learn about how the different components work together to form the end to end system to enable 1000s of parallel transactions. Or if you are a design program manager in Ads technology, explore more about the Ads ecosystem, where does your company fall into it, how does ad bidding happen etc. Starting in an area with which you have some familiarity will help you connect the dots.
Practice system design problems that are outside of your domain. Here’s a good System Design 101 article on how to structure your system design thinking. You will find many questions on Glassdoor that you can use as a way to build your muscle. Generally with any system design, you have to make sure you have thought through all the different use cases, edge cases, privacy, security, data flow etc. Practice these top 10 system design interview questions
Check out Grokking the System Design Interview course. It is one of the most comprehensive courses out there.

Practice Mock Tests/Interview Questions For TPMs

Once you have done taking courses or practicing design questions, seek help from a technical peer/friend and ask them to conduct a mock interview with you. Doing this will help you formulate your answers verbally, demonstrate your thought process and even practice drawing things out on a whiteboard. System design questions are generally open ended, so there isn’t a wrong answer. But it is important that you get comfortable in breaking down any design question and building a solution that is robust.

Building on your technical expertise is a continuous process. Even after you transition into a TPM role or have been a TPM (Technical Program Manager) for some years, there will always be times when you change industry and need to learn new domains. I hope this writeup can serve as a starting point for you to enhance your technical skills. The above is by no means 100% complete and I will share more resources/ideas as I come across them. I hope to bring on guest writers who can share their journey and tactical steps with you as well.

Check out more Tips for TPMs.

Interviewing for TPM role soon? Check out the Cracking the TPM Interview Course.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What technical skills does a technical program manager need?

Technical Program Managers (TPMs) in the software industry need to understand basic System Design which is the process of defining the architecture, product design, modules, interfaces, and data for a system to satisfy specified requirements. Systems design could be seen as the application of systems theory to product development [1].

In addition to System Design, basic understanding of programming languages, databases, algorithms, data structures is expected.

It is important to build an understanding of the domain you will be working in. For example, understanding AI and machine learning fundamentals is crucial if managing programs in the AI field.

How do I become a good technical program manager?

Build out the core skills to become a good technical program manager. Besides a strong technical foundation, build out program management skills, leadership skills and effective communication skills. Use these skills together to drive business outcomes and make impact.

Is TPM a good career choice?

To determine if TPM (Technical Program Management) is the right career choice for you, consider the following:

Interest and Passion: Assess your interest in technology, program management, and leadership.
Skills and Qualifications: Check if you have or can acquire the required technical, program management, leadership and communication skills.
Problem-Solving and Decision-Making: Evaluate your problem-solving and decision-making abilities especially under pressure.
Teamwork and Collaboration: Consider your ability to collaborate, work with diverse teams and building relationships.
Long-Term Outlook: Research the job market trends and opportunities for TPM roles and how they align with your life goals.
Work-Life Balance: Understand the demands of the job and if it aligns with your work-life balance preferences.
Career Growth: Explore the potential for career advancement within TPM or related fields.

Ultimately the choice is yours and making an informed decision based on these factors will help you determine if TPM is the right fit for your career goals and interests.

What are the key technical skills required for a Technical Program Manager (TPM)?

In the world of TPMs, having a solid grasp of System Design is like having a superpower. It involves defining how a system's architecture, modules, interfaces, and data come together to meet specific requirements. Beyond that, a TPM should dance comfortably with programming languages, databases, and understand the groove of algorithms and data structures.

How can aspiring TPMs develop their technical expertise?

Picture this as a journey. First stop: Relevant TPM Training Courses. Platforms like LinkedIn offer online courses on Python, SQL, AI, or Machine Learning. If you're feeling adventurous, dive into resources like "Programming Interviews Exposed" or "Cracking the PM Career." It's like stepping into a tech dance class, but online!

Next, grab a partner – or in this case, Learn From Technical Peers. Connect with engineers, TPMs, or architects. Ask them to show you the tech dance moves, explain system workflows, and don't be shy to ask questions. It's like learning a new dance routine; practice makes perfect.

Lastly, let's not forget the grand finale – Practice Mock Tests/Interview Questions For TPMs. Grab a friend, do a mock interview, and see how well you can waltz through those open-ended system design questions. It's like a dress rehearsal before the big performance!

What resources are available for TPMs to enhance their technical knowledge?

Start by understanding System Design – how the architecture, product design, and data flow come together. Explore your current company's systems, even if you're not in a technical role. It's like navigating through different sections of a bookstore to find hidden gems.

For more structured learning, check out resources like Grokking the System Design Interview course. It's like having a comprehensive guide to mastering the art of system design.

How important is technical proficiency for success in a TPM role?

Think of technical proficiency as the secret sauce. While TPMs might not need to code like engineers, understanding the technical architecture is key to smooth conversations with them. It's like having the right seasoning – it enhances the flavor and builds credibility.

Can non-technical professionals transition into TPM roles?

Absolutely! Start by taking Relevant TPM Training Courses to add some technical colors to your palette. Connect with Technical Peers, learn from them, and slowly embrace the technical dance.

What are some common challenges faced by TPMs in building their technical skills?

TPMs might face the challenge of understanding System Design intricacies or deciphering complex technical workflows. It's like solving a puzzle; each piece fits together, revealing the bigger picture. Embrace the challenges; they're the twists and turns in your tech adventure!

How can TPMs stay updated with emerging technologies relevant to their roles?

Staying updated is like being on the tech wave! Dive into tech blogs, attend conferences, and keep an eye on industry trends. It's like catching the latest blockbuster – stay tuned, grab your popcorn, and enjoy the tech show!

What role does continuous learning play in building the technical "T" in TPM?

Think of continuous learning as the heartbeat of the "T" in TPM. The tech world evolves, and so should you. Take on new challenges, explore different tech realms, and never stop learning. It's like adding new chapters to your favorite book – each one adds depth and richness to your TPM journey.