What Is a Technical Project Manager? (How to Become One)

Nearly every industry requires employees with project management skills. In business, a project manager leads a team and makes sure that each member is aware of the goals and objectives of the team, their role, and the project output.

A technical project manager works primarily with information technology (IT) or other technical support teams, leading projects from start to finish. Technical project managers need basic organizational and time management skills that any project manager has, along with technical knowledge of IT.

Learn more about what a technical project manager is and how to become one.

What is a technical project manager?  

A technical project manager is someone who has technical expertise in IT, manages IT projects, and leads technical teams within an organization. Because it requires both technical and management skills, you can think of technical project management as a hybrid role. 

If you have a keen interest in technology, want to see projects through to completion, enjoy motivating and encouraging others, and can work well under pressure, a technical project management (PM) career path may be right for you. 

Technical project manager vs. project manager 

These two roles are similar but differ in several ways. Explore how technical project managers and project managers compare.

Technical project manager jobs

In your job search, you may come across technical project manager positions at different levels of seniority, including entry-level, junior, senior, and principal roles. You may also see more specialized roles that require technical expertise, such as Agile project manager, Scrum Master, and DevOps project manager. 

While crossover exists among these roles, you’ll need to keep in mind specific differences as you consider your career in technical project management. For example, a DevOps manager adapts the Waterfall or linear PM methodology (emphasizing one final product) to Agile methods (iterative cycles, each with a deliverable) so the team can correct software issues throughout the project development process. 

Technical project manager salary

The median salary for technical project managers across the country is $43.59 CAD. According to the Government of Canada Job Bank, the median hourly wage for a technical project manager ranges between $35.90 CAD and $57.51 CAD [1].  

Did you know that nearly every Canadian industry has seen an increase in AI-related job postings*? You can stay ahead of the curve and build job-ready skills by enrolling in Google's Project Management Professional Certificate, recently updated with practical AI training.

What do technical project managers do? 

Professionals in this role specifically manage projects that involve a high level of technical expertise and act as the lead subject matter expert in their company when it comes to technology. As a technical project manager, you may also be in charge of:

• Analyzing and forecasting potential risks to the project

• Improving project planning and resource management

• Managing a budget

• Performing market research

How to become a technical project manager 

1. Obtain professional credentials. 

Technical project managers should have a bachelor’s degree, at minimum. Typical areas of study include various technology-related fields, such as computer science, software engineering, IT, cybersecurity, or management information systems. 

In addition, you’ll want to consider getting a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from the Project Management Institute. Organizations around the world recognize this credential, which demonstrates your full understanding of project management terms, concepts, and methodologies, as well as your commitment to systematic processes. 

2. Sharpen your skills. 

Remember that technical project managers have expertise in both technological and project management. You’ll need to sharpen your skills in both areas. 

As a project manager, you’ll need general skills such as recruiting and training new talent, managing a team and organization, as well as specific skills in schedule planning, using project management software, Gantt charts, and Kanban boards, and implementing different methodologies. 

In terms of your technological expertise, look into the kind of projects you want to manage and what employers are looking for to find out what skills you need. For example, as a technical project manager in the gaming industry, you will likely need experience in gaming, knowledge of cloud services like Amazon Web Services, experience with Agile or Lean software development, and more. 

3. Gain technical and project management experience. 

Your next step is to apply your credentials and skills to actual projects to gain relevant experience in technical project management. Reach out to your network to find volunteer or contract opportunities to serve as a project manager. You can also design and run your own project. 

4. Build your technical project manager resume or CV.

As you gain experience, obtain credentials, and build skills for technical project management, it’s a good idea to assemble a strong resume or CV that you can adapt to different job applications. 

Start by researching technical project manager careers on job sites such as Glassdoor and Indeed to get a feel for the professional landscape and the available opportunities. Align your qualifications to each technical project manager job description, and describe them in a compelling way on your resume.   

5. Practice answering technical project manager interview questions. 

Prepare to answer common technical project manager interview questions even before you apply for jobs and land interviewers. That way, you can gain an understanding of what employers are looking for, get into the habit of describing your qualifications in detail, and address the technical side of project management.

Consider these possible interview questions:

• What inspires you to manage projects from a technical standpoint?

• How much experience do you have in technical project management? 

• How have you applied your technical expertise to managing projects in the past?

6. Apply for technical project manager jobs.

Once you have a solid resume or CV template and have practiced a variety of interview questions, return to the job sites and do another search for technical project manager listings. You aim to draw upon all the insights you’ve gathered from steps one through four to narrow down the jobs that best match your career goals. 

Ask yourself these questions: 

• What are the required qualifications, and how do they align with my experience, skills, and credentials?

• What kind of projects and tasks would I complete in each position, and how do these align with my interests and passions? 

As you apply for jobs and garner interest from potential employers, be sure to prepare thoroughly for each interview and brush up on your interviewing skills. 

Begin your journey as a technical project manager

Many industries require the skills of a technical project manager, making it a long-term and rewarding career. Taking online courses can be a great way to learn about technical project management, build skills, and discover career opportunities. 

The Google Project Management: Professional Certificate can help you gain the skills needed to succeed as a project manager, such as strategic thinking, project planning, and risk management.