Unlocking the Role of a Technical Product Manager
In the ever-evolving world of product management, a new breed of professionals has emerged: the technical product manager. But what sets them apart from traditional product managers, and what skills do they need to succeed?
Defining the Technical Product Manager
A technical product manager is a product management professional with a strong technical background and expertise in engineering and design. They are responsible for defining product goals and vision, creating and owning the product roadmap, and working closely with cross-functional teams to bring products to life.
Key Differences between Technical and Traditional Product Managers
While traditional product managers focus on market research, customer needs, and business cases, technical product managers delve into the technical aspects of product development. They must excel at working with engineers, architects, and designers to create products that meet both technical and business requirements.
| Technical Product Manager | Traditional Product Manager |
| — | — |
| Involved in leading, conducting, and participating in sprint ceremonies | Writing product requirements and specifications |
| Estimating stories, maintaining technical debt | Backlog refinement, creating and updating market requirements documents |
| Creating and updating product requirement documents (PRDs) | Business degree, knowledge of market research and competitor analysis |
| Engineering or computer science degree, software development methodology and certifications | Customer-facing, ability to create a business case and perform value benefit analysis |
Responsibilities of a Technical Product Manager
A technical product manager’s responsibilities include:
- Defining product goals and vision
- Creating and owning the product roadmap
- Working with cross-functional teams
- Understanding and proselytizing agile methodologies and practices
- Creating and owning the product backlog and PRD
- Authoring epics, features, and user stories
- Working closely with scrum teams
- Understanding the software development lifecycle (SDLC)
How Technical Product Managers Spend Their Time
A typical day in the life of a technical product manager is divided into three categories:
- Meetings and interactions (40-50%)
- Managing tasks and tools (35-40%)
- Miscellaneous tasks for upcoming deliverables (10-25%)
Preparing for a Technical Product Manager Interview
To land a technical product manager role, you’ll need to demonstrate relevant experience, strategy and decision-making skills, and soft skills such as problem-solving, conflict management, and time management. Be prepared to answer questions about your experience working with technology architecture and technical design teams, engineering development teams, and UX design teams.
Conclusion
The technical product manager role requires a unique blend of technical expertise, business acumen, and interpersonal skills. By understanding the responsibilities and requirements of this role, you can better prepare yourself for a career in technical product management and unlock new opportunities in this exciting field.