Staff Technical Programme Manager job at Sunbury-on-Thames Full Time NEW

Entity:

Technology

Job Family Group:

IT&S Group

Job Description:

Job Description

Our purpose is to bring together people, energy and markets to power and navigate a changing world. In a time of constant change and possibility we need new talent to pursue commercial opportunities, fuelled by world-class insight and expertise. We’re always striving for more innovative digital solutions, sustainable outcomes and closer collaboration across our company and beyond, and you could be part of that too.

About the Role:

We are seeking a Staff Technical Program Manager (TPM) with exceptional technical depth to drive the delivery of complex software and AI-powered solutions. This role goes beyond traditional program management. You will operate as a technical leader, partnering closely with software engineers, architects, and data/AI teams to deliver scalable, high-impact systems. You will play a critical role in orchestrating large, multi-functional engineering initiatives, influencing system design decisions, and ensuring technical execution aligns with strategic outcomes. This is an ideal role for experienced TPMs with strong software engineering backgrounds or senior engineers who have transitioned into technical program leadership.

Please note that roles based out of SJS or Sunbury will move to Timber Square, Southwark, from Q4 2027

Key Accountabilities:

Technical Program Leadership

• Lead end-to-end delivery of complex, multi-team engineering programs, including distributed systems, platforms, and AI/ML solutions.

• Own program execution across architecture, design, development, testing, and deployment phases.

• Drive alignment on technical strategy, trade-offs, and delivery turning points.

• Manage dependencies across engineering teams, platforms, and external integrations.

Deep Technical Engagement

• Act as a technical leader, not just a coordinator and engage directly in:

System design discussions

Architecture reviews and design critiques

API contracts and service boundaries

• Understand and challenge technical decisions with engineers and architects.

• Translate complex technical concepts into program-level strategies and execution plans.

• Identify and mitigate risks related to scalability, performance, reliability, and security.

AI & Software Delivery Excellence

• Drive programs involving AI/ML systems, including model integration, data pipelines, and inference services.

• Ensure alignment between software engineering practices and AI lifecycle needs (data, experimentation, deployment, monitoring)

• Coordinate delivery of end-to-end solutions combining traditional software and AI components.

Multi-functional Leadership

• Collaborate closely with:

Software engineers and engineering managers

Architects and principal engineers

Product managers and technical product owners

Data scientists and ML engineers

DevOps, SRE, and platform teams

• Act as the central point of coordination for large technical initiatives across multiple domains.

Execution & Operational Excellence

• Define and track program goals, targets, and success metrics.

• Drive planning cycles (roadmaps, quarterly planning, sprint execution alignment)

• Establish scalable delivery frameworks, processes, and procedures.

• Ensure visibility through clear reporting, dashboards, and partner communication.

• Remove bottlenecks and proactively resolve program risks.

Technical Governance & Quality

• Establish standards for system quality, observability, and reliability.

• Ensure strong engineering practices including testing strategies, CI/CD, and release management.

• Promote technical excellence and continuous improvement across teams.

Partner Influence & Communication

• Communicate complex technical programs clearly to both technical and non-technical partners.

• Influence senior leadership decisions through data-driven insights and technical reasoning.

• Provide structured updates on progress, risks, and outcomes.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent experience)

• Proven experience in software engineering, technical program management, or related roles

• Strong software engineering background with hands-on experience in building complex systems

• Deep understanding of:

Distributed systems and microservices architectures

APIs and platform design

Cloud infrastructure (AWS, Azure, GCP)

DevOps, CI/CD pipelines, and system reliability

• Proven experience leading large-scale, cross-team technical programs

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience delivering AI/ML-based products or platforms.

• Familiarity with the AI/ML lifecycle (model training, deployment, monitoring, MLOps).

• Experience working in platform engineering, developer tooling, or internal infrastructure teams.

• Prior experience as a senior software engineer, architect, or engineering lead

• Experience in highly regulated or complex domains (e.g., FinTech, healthcare, insurance)

Key Skills

• Strong technical depth and architectural understanding.

• System-level thinking and problem-solving.

• Program and delivery management at scale.

• Risk management and dependency resolution.

• Exceptional partner management and communication.

• Ability to influence without direct authority.

• High ownership and execution attitude.

What Sets This Role Apart (vs. a Typical TPM)

• Deep Engineering Fluency: Ability to actively participate in design and architecture discussions

• Technical Judgment: Capability to evaluate trade-offs and guide engineering decisions

• AI & Advanced Systems Exposure: Involvement in modern AI-driven and distributed systems

• Strategic Technical Leadership: Acts as a force multiplier for engineering teams, not just a coordinator

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