MockQuestions

Technical Program Manager Mock Interview

35 Questions Created By

To help you prepare for your Technical Program Manager interview, here are 35 interview questions and answer examples.

First Question

35 Technical Program Manager Interview Questions

15 Interview Questions With Sample Answers

1.   Please describe your experience managing SaaS implementations or development initiatives.

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

Software as a service is the dominant business model for many technology companies today. The sales, purchase, implementation, and maintenance activities differ from solutions that are hosted on-premises. Interviewers ask this question to determine if a technical program manager candidate has experience driving this style of technology implementation.

Written by Karrie Day on May 23rd, 2022

Remember To

Remember to outline the phases of the SaaS implementation you were responsible for in your answer. Interviewers are interested to hear if a candidate has experience managing aspects of SaaS projects such as RFP, contract negotiation, or integration. Also, be sure to specify if the teams you managed built SaaS solutions, purchased them, or both.

Written by Karrie Day on May 23rd, 2022

Answer Example

"My current company specializes in SaaS solutions. My role involves working with clients during the discovery and sales process to assess their needs and define a mix of solutions that will work for them. After those initial consultations, I work with our implementation teams to oversee the development of any integration solutions and data loads. I also help to facilitate training.

I coordinate all of the onboarding activities including working with the in-house technology teams of our client. Sometimes I go on-site with a client to ensure a successful launch, and I serve as a point of contact for initial questions and support needs. Afterward, I oversee the transition of my client to our support team."

Written by Karrie Day on May 23rd, 2022

2.   What is your level of comfort writing queries and analyzing large data sets?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

Some technical program managers will be expected to perform analysis on large data sets within their programs of responsibility. Others will be expected to ensure the quality of the work of the analysts and engineers who perform these duties. Interviewers ask this question to ensure the candidate they select has the experience necessary to provide leadership within this important aspect of solution engineering, operations, and support.

Written by Karrie Day on May 23rd, 2022

Remember To

Remember to describe your experience with various frameworks such as relational and non-relational databases. Also, be sure to mention any experience you have working with business intelligence solutions that allow for the integration and analysis of large data sets.

Written by Karrie Day on May 23rd, 2022

Answer Example

"I am very comfortable working with data. I began my IT career as an analyst, and I worked with large data sets regularly. I wrote queries, developed reports, and performed deep-dive situational analysis. I mostly worked with SQL, but I also have experience working with analyzing document data stores in a NoSQL non-relational environment.

Additionally, I have worked with a number of business intelligence solutions. I helped to identify the relevant data sets and develop the reports that my customers relied on. I have used Power BI, Tableau, and Domo."

Written by Karrie Day on May 23rd, 2022

3.   How would one of the project managers you have had responsibility for in the past describe you as a mentor?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

Technical program managers mentor, coach, and teach on an ongoing basis. Project managers in many companies rely on program managers to assist them with project-level situations and look to them to identify growth opportunities. Interviewers ask this question to get a sense of the mentoring style a candidate can be expected to demonstrate.

Written by Karrie Day on May 23rd, 2022

Remember To

Remember to offer an answer that is authentic and in alignment with how a former co-worker will describe you if you plan to use that same individual as a reference. Also, select another resource such as a junior engineer or analyst in the event you have not yet had the opportunity to mentor project managers.

Written by Karrie Day on May 23rd, 2022

Answer Example

"I think the project managers I have coached in the past would describe me as passionate about developing a dynamic and comfortable team environment. I stress the importance of ensuring that the members of their teams feel fully supported in the work that they do. I encourage them to bring conflicts to the surface and address them as soon as possible. I inspire them to challenge their teams to work with change and to incorporate agility into all that they do. I also encourage them to reward and have fun with their teams. I stress the importance of creating a culture in which the people they work with have reasons to be excited about the work they do.

The other thing I think the project managers I mentor would say about me is that I drive home the importance of getting to know the world of their customers and developing strong relationships with them. There is a lot of value to be found in applying a deep understanding of a customer's teams, business, workflows, challenges, goals, etc. I am constantly challenging the PMs I work with to learn more and teach their teams so that they can directly incorporate what they learn into the solutions they build. Getting to know their customers well goes a long way when we need to have difficult conversations, and I regularly challenge my mentees to grow in their ability to show customer empathy and think from their perspective."

Written by Karrie Day on May 23rd, 2022

4.   What is your upward communication style?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

Technical program managers are expected to provide regular updates to executives and senior stakeholders in many companies. Interviewers may ask this question to determine how a candidate will approach these important conversations.

Written by Karrie Day on May 23rd, 2022

Remember To

Remember to demonstrate a style that is clear and honest. Interviewers appreciate candidates that respect authority and show integrity in their approach. Also, be sure to demonstrate direct and succinct communication. Senior managers and executives often have limited time for updates and appreciate headline-first communication that drives further conversation as needed.

Written by Karrie Day on May 23rd, 2022

Answer Example

"In general, my communication style is direct. I use a clear and easy-to-understand approach. I offer summary-level details and I am prepared to back my assertions up with data and examples as necessary. I try not to spend extra time communicating details for items I am able to handle on my own so that my time with seniors is reserved for the valuable insight they can provide in areas that need support.

I do not typically invest time in trying to avoid difficult conversations. I face them head-on and go in prepared with solution recommendations. I take any feedback that results from these meetings and work hard to incorporate it into my approach for future initiatives. I find the combination of integrity paired with quick and consistent action creates a strong partnership over time with the senior-level stakeholders, managers, and customers I am accountable to."

Written by Karrie Day on May 23rd, 2022

5.   What experience do you have with user interaction design standards?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

User interaction or user experience-driven design is an important engineering concept for many products. Companies may employ designers with a wide array of skills including motion and visual design expertise. Interviewers ask this question to determine if a program manager is familiar with how to integrate the work of these individuals at the project level.

Written by Karrie Day on May 23rd, 2022

Remember To

Remember to mention any specific tools or methods you have personally used within any projects you worked on. Also, describe the experience you have managing projects or programs in which UX designers played a role.

Written by Karrie Day on May 23rd, 2022

Answer Example

"I am not a user experience or user interaction design expert, but I have taken several classes in this space. I took them to improve my ability to make some of the same considerations an interaction designer would make when I worked as a systems analyst. I wanted to ensure the solutions we developed were in line with the basic standards at the time. I have experience working with mock-ups and wireframes to gather user feedback prior to development.

My experience taught me the value of expertise in this area, and I have supported hiring UX experts when the user experience becomes one of the driving factors in my team's ability to meet the needs of the customer. One of my last teams was responsible for redesigning a system that served internal stakeholders within the media industry. They were creative and the system was seen as boring and difficult to use. We brought in a UX expert to help us with the visual design and data entry workflows. Her work was incredibly valuable and was received well by our users. The intuitive design she created sped up the data entry process significantly and resulted in a 20% increase in accuracy. The end product was also more visually pleasing, and that change resonated well with the users."

Written by Karrie Day on May 23rd, 2022

6.   Describe your experience partnering with internal teams involved in the enterprise delivery process such as security, DevOps, cloud, database, operations, and support.

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

Technical program managers are expected to understand the end-to-end processes involved in technology implementation. This often requires coordinating efforts between several IT groups within a company or external vendors. Interviewers ask this question to determine if a candidate has the facilitation experience necessary to drive a successful enterprise-level implementation.

Written by Karrie Day on May 23rd, 2022

Remember To

Remember to describe how similar tasks were addressed in your previous roles even if they were not within an enterprise setting. Interviewers prefer experience that matches the scale the candidate will be working with, but they may accept the conceptual application of the same duties at a smaller company.

Written by Karrie Day on May 23rd, 2022

Answer Example

"I worked on a custom solution development team within a large enterprise for 11 years. I served as an engineer and then as a project manager. In my time there, I coordinated discovery, design, testing, and delivery efforts with several groups. This included working with architecture, database administration, release management, quality assurance, network administration, and support groups."

Written by Karrie Day on May 23rd, 2022

7.   What project management tools have you used in the past?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

Candidates may be asked this question in an interview to determine if they have experience in alignment with the tools that the interviewing company uses to manage projects, teams, and budgets. Advanced understanding of these types of solutions is often considered nice to have and may set a candidate apart from a candidate without experience in this area.

Written by Karrie Day on May 23rd, 2022

Remember To

Remember to include any experience you have administrating the tools in your answer. Activities like queue administration, workflow definition, or other advanced administration experience demonstrate that your knowledge goes beyond a basic user-level understanding of the tools you have used.

Written by Karrie Day on May 23rd, 2022

Answer Example

"Prior to working with agile methodologies, I used MS Project. Most recently, I have used Wrike and Jira. I like them both and they served my needs as a project manager and a program manager. I was able to manage any additional needs I had in Excel.

I was involved in the initial implementations of both of those tools for my teams. I worked to help align the tools properly with our workflows and defined the attributes of information we needed to track. I also helped to customize the reporting at the team and program levels.

I also partnered with a SaaS company that was responsible for several integration projects with my teams. They used Monday, and I have exposure to a number of features within that system. Their implementation was a bit more simplistic than what I am used to, but it seemed to work well for their needs as a small company."

Written by Karrie Day on May 23rd, 2022

8.   What certifications do you have that would be applicable in your role as a technical program manager?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

Some technical program manager roles require specific certification such as scrum master, PMP, ITIL, Six Sigma, or certified scrum product owner. Interviewers ask this question to identify candidates with the certifications and educational background necessary for their work in the technical program manager role.

Written by Karrie Day on May 23rd, 2022

Remember To

Remember to be clear about any applicable certifications you once held that are now expired. Some companies will accept past experience in lieu of current certification, but it is critical to be clear about the status of all of your certifications. Interviewers might interpret confusion in this area as dishonesty and exclude you from additional interviews.

Written by Karrie Day on May 23rd, 2022

Answer Example

"I am a certified scrum master, and I am ITIL V4 certified. In addition to scrum, I am well educated on SAFe. We use SAFe in my current company and I am actively working toward my SAFe Agilist certification.

I have taken classes in project management, product backlog management, facilitation, and leadership. All of these knowledge areas would benefit my work as a technical program manager."

Written by Karrie Day on May 23rd, 2022

9.   What level of experience do you have managing technical projects?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

This question is asked to assess the level of responsibility a technical program manager has had in previous roles. Some organizations use the terms project management and program management interchangeably, while others utilize program managers as senior leaders that bridge multiple projects together. Interviewers use a candidate's answer to determine if they are a fit for the scale of programs they will be required to lead.

Written by Karrie Day on May 23rd, 2022

Remember To

Remember to include examples of the various types of projects you have led including SaaS, web, mobile, cloud, integration, data warehousing, etc. Also, be sure to describe your experience leading both custom development and vendor implementation initiatives. Finally, it is helpful to offer the interviewer a sense of the scale of the programs or projects you had responsibility for. This includes the budgets you were responsible for, the resources you led, and the user communities you served.

Written by Karrie Day on May 23rd, 2022

Answer Example

"I worked as an engineer developing financial solutions prior to transitioning into project management. I led our team's development efforts and I was responsible for developer assignments and quality control. I partnered with a program manager regularly to develop strategy and better understand the needs of our clients.

I currently work for an insurance company and I was hired initially as a scrum master who worked with teams that developed mobile solutions for our customers. I led various projects, including introducing the ability to submit and monitor claims online.

I was promoted to program manager 6 months ago and I manage the mobile solution portfolio that serves a population of over one million customers. There are three scrum teams that I work with regularly and they each consist of 5-7 resources including project managers, scrum masters, engineers, and product owners. I manage a capital budget of $4 million annually and I also manage the budgets for our vendor contracts for the various cloud services we rely on."

Written by Karrie Day on May 23rd, 2022

10.   Please describe your experience managing complex integration projects or programs.

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

Technical program managers may be responsible for managing a portfolio of integrated solutions that affect many user groups or business functions. Integration initiatives require specific skill sets and interviewers ask this question to ensure the candidate they select understands the work involved and how to manage it properly.

Written by Karrie Day on May 23rd, 2022

Remember To

Remember to include examples of work you performed on integration projects or programs in lead roles such as tech lead, lead engineer, consultant, architect, or senior analyst. While these roles would not necessarily perform all of the tasks of a technical program manager, they speak to a candidate's ability to understand complex integration solutions and the work necessary to deliver them.

Written by Karrie Day on May 23rd, 2022

Answer Example

"As a senior business analyst, I developed the integration requirements and helped design a solution that integrated a series of HR onboarding solutions I was responsible for. The integration data layer helped to manage functions such as applicant tracking, approvals, security badge requests, application access, security, and termination rules. I was not the project manager for these projects, but I managed the work of our analysts, contributed to the roadmap, and served as a subject matter expert on behalf of our customers.

As a program manager, I led a team that developed a cloud-based data warehouse solution that bridged together sales systems across various lines of business. I oversaw multiple projects to integrate financial and analytic solutions with the data warehouse"

Written by Karrie Day on May 23rd, 2022

11.   What budgetary activities are you responsible for in your current role?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

Managing capital and operating budgets for human resources, software purchases, hardware purchases, professional services, and maintenance agreements are all responsibilities that may fall within the scope of a technical program manager's role. Interviewers ask this question to gain insight into a candidate's level of experience managing these various budgets.

Written by Karrie Day on May 23rd, 2022

Remember To

Remember to describe the various types of budgets and the work your teams contribute to even if you are not personally responsible for their management. For example, you may not directly manage the equipment budget for the servers your team uses, or for the cloud services your team utilizes, but you may have to provide planning and usage information on a regular basis for the purposes of forecasting and accounting.

Written by Karrie Day on May 23rd, 2022

Answer Example

"In my current role as a program manager, I oversee the budgets of three cross-functional development teams responsible for a portfolio of twelve solutions. Our project managers manage the individual project budgets and approval of time for their projects, and I monitor the overall capital and operating spending. I am responsible for hardware purchases, software purchases, and SaaS solution budgets. I also monitor the money spent by the resources that support our solutions and provide other shared services such as database management, cloud services, and release management.

I meet annually with senior leaders within the business units who own the solutions we develop to determine the budget needed for the upcoming projects. I also work with my senior leaders to ensure we plan for training, team-building, and other overhead-related activities that are not always charged back to our customers. I provide these same leaders with monthly and quarterly updates."

Written by Karrie Day on May 23rd, 2022

12.   What development or engineering experience do you have?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

Some technical program manager positions require in-depth knowledge of specific engineering practices or technologies. This question is asked to assess a candidate's level of engineering expertise.

Written by Karrie Day on May 23rd, 2022

Remember To

Remember to describe any relevant technical experience such as system design, user experience design, writing queries, data analysis, integration design, or managing deployments in the event you do not have direct development experience. Some companies will accept this level of experience in lieu of engineering expertise as they speak to a candidate's ability to understand end-to-end technology solution development and support.

Written by Karrie Day on May 23rd, 2022

Answer Example

"My educational background is in management information systems. I understand the basics of information solution design and engineering, and I developed several solutions while I was in school. I found that my passion lay in working with customers to learn about their businesses and translate their needs into intelligent solutions that add value, so I began my professional career as a business systems analyst. I worked in cross-functional teams of project managers, analysts, developers, architects, and quality assurance analysts to develop custom web-based solutions for various operations groups within a large media company.

In my time as an analyst, I worked very closely with the architects and developers on our teams. I reviewed technical design documents, participated in code reviews, wrote queries to analyze large datasets, and performed research to help troubleshoot complex technical issues. I have experience as a delivery manager working to manage the customer-focused and technical aspects of large deployments. Finally, I have experience managing projects, resources, and budgets.

All of these experiences allow me to understand the end-to-end processes of technical solution discovery, planning, engineering, maintenance, and support from the various cross-functional perspectives that make up solution teams. This adds tremendous value to my work as a technical program manager because I am able to understand the detailed and important concerns of the various members of my teams and simultaneously assess them for business impact. Likewise, I am able to understand high-level business and customer scenarios and translate them into action plans that make sense in a technical setting."

Written by Karrie Day on May 23rd, 2022

13.   What solution development methodologies do you have experience with?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

Companies use a wide array of methodologies to develop technology solutions. Some follow specific traditional or agile methods such as waterfall or scrum. Others have implemented hybrid and custom approaches based on the specific needs of their teams and customers. Interviewers ask this question to determine if the depth of a candidate's experience in working with the various methods used to develop products is in line with the needs of their company.

Written by Karrie Day on May 23rd, 2022

Remember To

Remember to include the various roles you played in each methodology you describe within your answer. Each role has a specific scope of duties and candidates with a history of serving in multiple roles are likely to have the depth of knowledge necessary for success as a technical program manager.

Written by Karrie Day on May 23rd, 2022

Answer Example

"Waterfall was the methodology we used most often early in my career as an analyst. We used rapid application techniques from time to time, but only in special circumstances when we needed to quickly develop proof-of-concept type solutions.

I began working with various agile methodologies about ten years ago. I have worked on scrum and kanban teams and I have experience serving as a scrum master, product owner, and project manager. Currently, I work for a toy and entertainment company. We implemented the scaled agile framework, and the teams that engineer the solutions within my portfolio use a variety of agile methodologies. I serve as a program manager and work directly with our release train engineers."

Written by Karrie Day on May 23rd, 2022

14.   What is the concept of a minimally viable product?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

There is usually a difference between the minimal functionality necessary to launch a product and the scope of an entire project. Interviewers ask this question to ensure you know the various techniques that foster the execution of this important Scrum concept.

Written by Karrie Day on May 23rd, 2022

Remember To

Remember to describe which roles are typically responsible for deciding which stories define the scope of a minimally viable product. Several members of a scrum team often offer technical, usability, and feedback mechanism considerations that should be considered when determining MVP scope.

Written by Karrie Day on May 23rd, 2022

Answer Example

"A minimally viable product, or MVP, represents the product features that need to be completed for a product to launch initially. The initial release is usually developed for a small set of users who provide feedback that can be incorporated into future iterations. Product owners collaborate with the business and development team to determine the right mix of user stories to be included in the MVP. They also partner with the business to determine which users will be included in the initial release and how they will provide feedback.

As a technical program manager, I typically oversee the brainstorming processes involved in the selection of the scope for an MVP. I ensure the appropriate standards are followed and that the feature selection aligns with the work for other teams or products I have responsibility for. I also ensure the process is collaborative and incorporates feedback from the business and the development teams in addition to product owners."

Written by Karrie Day on May 23rd, 2022

15.   What is continuous automation and how does it add value?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

Continuous automation practices are standard in many companies, and engineering teams are constantly improving their ability to quickly and safely deliver products. Interviewers ask this question to ensure a potential technical program manager is familiar with the concept and has the ability to properly plan for and support automation practices.

Written by Karrie Day on May 23rd, 2022

Remember To

Remember to include the concepts of integration and deployment within your response. Continuous automation activities focus on the improvement of efficiency and the reduction of risk within both areas.

Written by Karrie Day on May 23rd, 2022

Answer Example

"Continuous automation is the practice of automating code integration and deployment testing procedures. For example, automation would help to identify issues when multiple developers work on the same feature within a system and merge their code. Deployments are also automated, and issues are flagged when new code is released in test or production environments.

The value of continuous automation is that it improves efficiency, consistency, and safety. Automated tests help to quickly and easily identify issues that would otherwise cause chaos if they were to be deployed. Builds are seamless and code merges are much less time-consuming."

Written by Karrie Day on May 23rd, 2022

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