Senior Technical Program Manager - Infrastructure & Application Projects - job 1 of 2

As a Senior Technical Program Manager at Axon, you'll oversee the full lifecycle of infrastructure and application programs. This involves drafting detailed project plans, collaborating with diverse cross-functional teams, managing stakeholder expectations, and ensuring that projects meet established objectives on time and within scope. Your role will also include proactive risk management and providing technical guidance to ensure processes remain efficient and effective.

For the Senior Technical Program Manager role at Axon, you’ll need a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related field; a Master's degree is preferred. Additionally, you should have over 8 years of experience in project management within a technical environment, with a strong grasp of Agile methodologies and infrastructure technologies. Certification like PMP or Scrum Master is a plus.

Axon values work-life balance for its employees, including Senior Technical Program Managers. You will have the flexibility to work from home significantly while still having the opportunity to collaborate in person at one of our R&D hubs. This balance enables you to stay connected with your team while managing your personal commitments effectively.

As a Senior Technical Program Manager at Axon, having a strong understanding of infrastructure technologies such as cloud services, networking, security, and databases is crucial. Additionally, familiarity with application development processes will be beneficial for supporting your team. Your ability to communicate complex technical information to both technical and non-technical stakeholders will also be key to your success in this role.

Axon’s work culture is dynamic, inclusive, and mission-driven, emphasizing collaboration and innovation. As a Senior Technical Program Manager, you'll find a supportive environment that values diverse perspectives, encourages continuous learning, and rewards contribution to meaningful societal objectives. This culture fosters both personal and professional growth while pursuing the collective mission to protect life.

In responding to this question, share specific examples of complex technical projects you have managed. Highlight your approach to project planning, team leadership, and problem-solving, demonstrating how you have successfully navigated challenges to deliver results that align with business objectives.

When discussing task prioritization, emphasize your methodology for evaluating project importance and urgency. You might describe the use of project management tools for tracking progress and how you engage with stakeholders to align on priorities to ensure effective resource allocation.

Effective stakeholder engagement is crucial. Highlight your proactive communication practices, such as regular updates, feedback loops, and inclusive planning sessions. Additionally, talk about your adaptability to different communication styles depending on whether stakeholders are technical or non-technical.

Discuss the importance of identifying risks early in the project planning phase. Outline your steps for risk mitigation, such as brainstorming potential issues with your team, developing contingency plans, and maintaining open lines of communication to ensure any challenges are addressed promptly.

Share a concrete example where you recognized an area for process improvement and took the initiative to implement change. Discuss the results of this implementation, including efficiencies gained, stakeholder satisfaction, and how it positively affected project outcomes.

Explain your experience with various project management methodologies like Agile, Scrum, or Waterfall. Discuss your preference based on project type, team dynamics, and specific business needs, along with examples of when you've successfully applied them.

A strong emphasis on open communication and relationship-building is key. Discuss your strategies for fostering collaboration, such as organized team-building sessions, regular joint meetings, and inclusive decision-making processes to promote unity within cross-functional teams.

Talk about your familiarity with project management tools such as Jira, Confluence, or MS Project. Explain how these tools help you manage timelines, resources, and project documentation effectively, and share any best practices you've developed around their use.

Share your conflict resolution approach. Emphasize the importance of listening to all perspectives, mediating discussions to understand underlying issues, and finding a collaborative solution that respects everyone’s viewpoints while moving the project forward.

Discuss your passion for driving successful project outcomes, your commitment to continuous learning, and your desire to foster team development. Share how these motivators align with Axon’s mission to protect life and contribute to valuable technology initiatives.