Principal Technical Program Manager, Performance
WFA Digital Insight
As remote work continues to shape the digital landscape, demand for technical program managers with expertise in performance improvement has skyrocketed. With over 126 million daily active unique visitors, Reddit is at the forefront of this shift. The company's commitment to community-driven conversations requires seamless user experiences, making this Principal Technical Program Manager role a pivotal hire. As the remote job market expands, skills in digital transformation, technical leadership, and data-driven decision making are in high demand. Candidates should be prepared to leverage their technical acumen to drive strategic change and collaboration across functions.
Job Description
## About the Role The Principal Technical Program Manager, Performance will be responsible for leading company-wide initiatives aimed at enhancing the speed, reliability, and quality of Reddit's user experience. This role will collaborate closely with senior technical leadership and engineering teams across product engineering, infrastructure, client platforms, and data science to integrate performance as a core aspect of Reddit's software development and deployment processes. Performance is a foundational element of user trust, engagement, and long-term growth. This role will help chart the path for sustained performance improvement, encompassing a broad scope to work across platforms and organizations, a focused approach to address current issues, and measurable outcomes to assess the improvement in users' lived experience. Equally important, this role will facilitate team buy-in for change, foster trust across functions, and contribute to evolving Reddit's engineering culture to prioritize performance. The Principal Technical Program Manager will be part of the TPM team within Reddit's Engineering Operations organization, operating at an executive and company scope. This involves shaping strategy across multiple organizations, creating alignment in areas of ambiguous ownership, and setting the standard for the execution of complex technical programs. Success in this role means delivering impactful programs while also influencing how teams think, collaborate, and make decisions, enabling new systems, standards, and behaviors to take root across the company.
## What You Will Do - Own and drive programs across Reddit's Performance portfolio, including mobile and web performance, client reliability, critical user journeys, observability, experimentation guardrails, release quality, and long-term performance operating mechanisms.
- Partner deeply with engineering teams as a technical peer to bring programs to completion, balance risk across systems and organizations, and ensure execution stays aligned with Reddit's long-term goals.
- Develop and implement strategies to improve performance, focusing on measurable, durable, and consistently protected enhancements to the user experience.
- Collaborate with senior technical leadership to integrate performance considerations into the decision-making process for software development and deployment.
- Engage with teams to determine root causes of performance issues, identify alternative solutions, and use technical expertise to understand the effects, impacts, and risks of proposed solutions.
- Drive project impact, execute on planning, and gain alignment with cross-functional stakeholders to ensure the success of performance improvement initiatives.
- Build execution processes and reduce inefficiencies to enhance overall scale and impact of performance programs.
- Set the bar for high-quality technical program management within Reddit, influencing the evolution of the company's engineering culture and practices.
- Contribute to the development of company-wide technical strategies and standards, particularly those related to performance and user experience.
- Foster a culture of performance-oriented development, encouraging a mindset of continuous improvement and iteration among engineering teams.
- Strong technical background, with the ability to understand and communicate complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Experience in driving performance improvement initiatives, with a track record of successfully implementing programs that enhance user experience and business outcomes.
- Excellent project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and prioritize tasks effectively.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to analyze complex data sets and develop actionable insights.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build strong relationships with engineering teams, product leaders, and other stakeholders.
- Experience working in a remote or distributed team environment, with the ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues across different time zones and locations.
- Strong understanding of software development methodologies and the ability to apply this knowledge to drive process improvements.
- Familiarity with performance monitoring and analytics tools, such as New Relic, Datadog, or similar.
- Knowledge of cloud computing platforms, such as AWS or Google Cloud, and experience with migration and deployment of applications to these platforms.
- Certification in project management or a related field, such as PMP or Scrum Master.
- Opportunities for professional growth and development, including training, mentorship, and career advancement opportunities.
- Flexible working hours and remote work options, allowing for a better work-life balance and the ability to work from anywhere.
- Comprehensive health insurance and other benefits, designed to support the well-being of employees and their families.
- Access to cutting-edge technologies and tools, enabling employees to stay up-to-date with the latest industry trends and developments.
- Generous paid time off and holiday policy, providing ample opportunity for rest and relaxation.
- Participation in Reddit's 401(k) plan, with a company match to support employees' long-term financial goals.
- Employee resource groups and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, fostering a culture of inclusivity and respect within the company.
How to Stand Out
- Highlight transferable skills: Even if you don't have direct experience as a Technical Program Manager, emphasize any relevant skills you've developed in other roles, such as project management, technical leadership, or data analysis.
- Showcase your technical expertise: Demonstrate a deep understanding of software development processes, performance improvement strategies, and technical program management best practices.
- Prepare to discuss specific examples: Be ready to provide concrete examples of times when you've driven performance improvement initiatives, managed complex technical projects, or collaborated with cross-functional teams.
- Emphasize your ability to communicate complex technical concepts: Given the need to work with both technical and non-technical stakeholders, highlight your ability to simplify complex ideas and communicate effectively.
- Research Reddit's culture and values: Show your enthusiasm for the company's mission and values, and be prepared to discuss how your own professional values align with those of Reddit.
- Practice your problem-solving skills: Be prepared for behavioral or technical questions that assess your problem-solving abilities and approach to complex challenges.
- Ask insightful questions: Prepare a list of thoughtful questions to ask the interviewer about the role, the team, and the company, demonstrating your interest and engagement.
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