# Principal Technical Program Manager

**Company:** [Rippling](https://hotfix.jobs/companies/rippling)
**Location:** San Francisco, CA
**Role:** Technical Program Management
**Experience:** 7+ years
**Skills:** Technical Program Management, Roadmap Planning, dependency management, risk mitigation, Cross-Functional Leadership, metrics definition, Change Management, Stakeholder Communication
**Posted:** 2026-07-16

> Principal TPM driving complex cross-functional product development and geographic expansion at Rippling. Partners with Product/Engineering leadership to own execution plans, mitigate technical risks and dependencies, establish TPM processes, and ensure predictable delivery of engineering initiatives.

## Job Description

## What You'll Do

### Technical Strategy & Planning
- Drive strategic, cross-functional planning and prioritization, partnering with Product and Engineering leadership to develop comprehensive program plans, including roadmap definition, dependency mapping, and resourcing models.
- Drive the process of translating high-level business and product requirements into actionable, concrete engineering tasks, milestones, and technical specifications.
- Contribute to the definition and tracking of effective technical metrics, driving improvements that optimize engineering operating performance and system health.

### Technical Execution & Delivery
- Lead and facilitate regular program-level meetings and reviews with Product and Engineering leadership to ensure projects achieve successful outcomes.
- Proactively monitor program health, tracking status, risks, issues, and complex technical dependencies across engineering teams.
- Deep dive into technical issues to facilitate resolution, and drive appropriate executive-level escalations and program-level change management processes as-needed.
- Take personal ownership of engineering roadblocks and technical delays, escalating issues appropriately and driving them to timely closure by working directly with engineering leads.

### Process & Communication
- Manage high-level program communications, ensuring all stakeholders—from delivery teams to executive management—are consistently informed of roadmap changes, release plans, and delivery status, with a clear explanation of technical trade-offs and risks.
- Establish, document, and champion the adoption of new program frameworks, tools, and best practices across the R&D organization.
- Act as an agent of change, helping to establish and strengthen the Technical Program Management function across the company.

## Qualifications
- 7+ years of experience as TPM, Engineering Lead, Manager, or equivalent working directly with software engineering teams.
- Proven track record to communicate technical issues effectively to technical and non-technical partners at different levels of the organization.
- Proven ability to build and implement detailed plans accounting for ambiguity, dependencies, and technical complexity in a fast-moving environment.
- Demonstrated excellence in the practice of technical program management, especially in establishing TPM processes from scratch.
- Highly skilled in pragmatically identifying, tracking and reporting on cross team dependencies and collaboratively addressing them effectively with providing/receiving teams.
- Demonstrated attention to detail and a hands-on disposition.
- Excellent problem solving and troubleshooting skills.
- Proven ability to handle multiple competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Outstanding ability to effectively communicate across all levels of the organization from engineers to executives.
- Four-year Computer Science, Engineering, Business or related degree, or equivalent work experience.

## Additional Information
This role will receive a competitive salary + benefits + equity. The salary for US-based employees will be aligned with one of the ranges below based on location. A variety of factors are considered when determining someone’s compensation–including a candidate’s professional background, experience, and location.

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