Staff Technical Program Manager, ML Platform

About the role

Snap Inc. is a technology company focused on the camera as a tool to improve human communication and expression. The Technical Program Manager (TPM) at Snap is a strategic, high-leverage leadership role for deep technical operators who thrive at the intersection of software engineering, machine learning, data analytics, and program execution. TPMs are single-threaded owners of large-scale, high-stakes, and often ambiguous programs, combining engineering depth with execution precision to drive outcomes that power Snap’s core products and infrastructure.

Unlike traditional TPM roles, Snap TPMs are hands-on contributors who write Python notebooks, build dashboards and automation tools, and partner closely with engineering leaders to shape technical roadmaps, make architectural trade-offs, and drive the operating rhythm of the business. This role is ideal for former engineers or data scientists who have evolved into program leaders without leaving their technical roots behind.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex, cross-functional programs that span multiple engineering organizations and require deep technical understanding, rigorous execution, and strategic influence.
• Operate as a single-threaded owner (STO) for critical programs, managing ambiguity, dependencies, and alignment across diverse technical teams.
• Own the full lifecycle of programs—from ideation to execution to operational excellence—delivering outcomes that support Snap’s product, infrastructure, and platform goals.
• Partner directly with engineering and product leadership to shape roadmaps, influence technical decisions, and drive accountability.
• Use hands-on data analytics (Python, SQL, dashboards, notebooks) to guide programs with data, uncover insights, and communicate clearly with senior stakeholders.
• Contribute to Snap’s technical ecosystem by building automation tools, improving internal systems, and identifying opportunities for platform-wide transformation.
• Work across both development programs (spanning multiple orgs with complex interdependencies) and platform excellence programs (focused on reliability, efficiency, and performance).
• Drive the operating rhythm of the business, ensuring engineering systems scale effectively while remaining cost-conscious and performant.
• Mentor and grow junior TPMs and engineers to scale the performance of the organization.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in a technical field such as computer science, mathematics, statistics, or equivalent years of experience.
• 11+ years of experience spanning Engineering, Data Science, or Technical Program Management leading cross-functional efforts in the software or tech industry in a data-driven environment.
• 5+ years of experience in Technical Program Management.
• A proven track record of leading large-scale, ambiguous programs across distributed teams in fast-paced, cross-functional environments, particularly in improving platform reliability, operational stability, and performance of production systems.
• Strong proficiency with Python and SQL, and experience using data to analyze systems, build tools, or inform decisions.
• Experience with data visualization tools (e.g., Grafana, Looker, Tableau), building dashboards, source control (e.g., GitHub), and ticket management (e.g., JIRA).
• Experience working directly with engineers and contributing to technical design, architectural trade-offs, and roadmap planning.
• Comfort operating with high visibility and accountability; thrive on ownership and impact.
• Demonstrated ability to quickly learn new domains, systems, and technologies.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and leadership skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• A background in software engineering, machine learning, or infrastructure systems.
• Hands-on experience with big data technologies such as Spark, Airflow, Hive, Kafka, or Flink.
• Familiarity with cloud-native infrastructure (e.g., AWS, GCP) and containerization tools like Kubernetes or Docker.
• Deep understanding of ML development workflows, model lifecycle management, or experimentation frameworks.
• Background in building internal tools or developer platforms to improve engineering velocity and system reliability.
• Experience managing production systems, reliability initiatives, or cost optimization programs.
• Exposure to high-scale consumer technology or social platforms with strong privacy, performance, or safety requirements.
• Strong storytelling and presentation skills—especially with senior engineering or executive audiences.
• Master's or PhD in a highly analytical field.

Schedule

This role follows a "default together" policy, requiring team members to work in an office 4+ days per week to foster collaboration and culture.

Pay

In the United States, work locations are assigned a pay zone which determines the salary range for the position. The successful candidate’s starting pay will be determined based on job-related skills, experience, qualifications, work location, and market conditions. The starting pay may be negotiable within the salary range for the position.

• Zone A (CA, WA, NYC): $209,000–$313,000 annually.
• Zone B: $199,000–$297,000 annually.
• Zone C: $178,000–$266,000 annually.

This position is also eligible for equity in the form of RSUs.

Benefits

• Paid parental leave.
• Comprehensive medical coverage.
• Emotional and mental health support programs.
• Compensation packages that include equity to share in Snap’s long-term success.