Staff Technical Program Manager

As a Staff Technical Program Manager at Databricks, you will be responsible for overseeing processes within our engineering organization, driving operations, and liaising with cloud providers. Your focus will be on creating scalable and secure solutions while ensuring product reliability and uptime. You will also lead cross-functional teams, set engineering goals, and manage projects with diverse dependencies.

To qualify for the Staff Technical Program Manager position at Databricks, candidates should possess at least 5 years of experience in technical program or project management, along with a Bachelor’s degree in a related field. Familiarity with SQL, experience with Jira, and a proven track record of managing cross-functional projects is highly valued.

Databricks actively fosters an environment of growth and advancement for Staff Technical Program Managers. Through ongoing training and development opportunities, access to mentorship programs, and inclusion in challenging projects, employees are encouraged to expand their expertise and progress in their careers.

The work culture at Databricks is vibrant and collaborative, focusing on innovation and inclusivity. Staff Technical Program Managers enjoy a dynamic environment where brainstorming and relationship-building are key components, fostering a strong sense of teamwork across various functions.

The application process for the Staff Technical Program Manager role at Databricks starts with submitting your resume and cover letter, followed by a series of interviews designed to assess your technical abilities and fit within our team culture. This structured approach helps ensure a strong alignment between your skills and our company values.

When answering this question, it's important to highlight specific tools you have used, such as Jira or Trello. Discuss how you utilized these tools to track project progress, manage team responsibilities, and facilitate communication, ultimately ensuring project success and meeting deadlines.

Demonstrate your problem-solving skills by outlining your approach to managing ambiguity, such as seeking clarity through stakeholder discussions, breaking projects into manageable tasks, and implementing a flexible framework that allows for adjustments based on new information or feedback.

You might want to discuss practices such as regular check-ins, using collaboration tools to keep everyone informed, and encouraging an open-door policy for team members to voice concerns and share updates. The emphasis should be on building a culture of transparent communication.

Explain your prioritization framework, such as using the Eisenhower Matrix or other methodologies that fit your style. Describe how you evaluate project impact, deadlines, and resource availability to align your team's efforts efficiently.

Be sure to choose an example that highlights your leadership skills, strategic planning, and ability to align stakeholders. Discuss the objectives, your implementation strategy, challenges faced, and how you overcame them while achieving project goals.

Discuss your proactive approach to identifying potential risks at the start of projects, how you assess their impact, and the mitigation strategies you develop to minimize potential disruptions to project timelines and deliverables.

Illustrate your process for collaborating closely with engineering teams to define technical requirements, your methods for tracking compliance, and how you integrate feedback loops into the project timeline to address any deviations promptly.

Talk about your technique for clarifying project scope, including gathering initial requirements, engaging stakeholders for insights, and employing a structured scope management plan that allows for scope validation and adjustments throughout the project lifecycle.

This is an opportunity to express your collaborative nature. Explain how you facilitate discussions among team members for input, ensure technical considerations are well understood, and make decisions that integrate both perspectives for optimal outcomes.

Reflect on personal drivers like a passion for technology, the satisfaction gained from problem-solving, or a desire to create impactful solutions that benefit users. Sharing a sincere motivation can resonate well with interviewers and convey your enthusiasm for the role.