Technical Program Manager

About Tailscale 

Tailscale is building the new Internet by delivering software that makes it easy to securely interconnect people and their devices, no matter where they are. From hobbyists to multinational corporations, teams of every size use Tailscale each day to protect their networks, share access to internal tools, and more. We're building a future for the Internet that's easy, sensible, and safe, like it used to be. Founded in 2019 and fully distributed, we're backed by Accel, CRV, Insight, Heavybit, and Uncork Capital.

Job Description

We’re seeking a talented and motivated full-time Technical Program Manager to join our team. You’ll work across teams to guide development work.

Because we’re an early-stage and fully remote company, we’re looking for an individual who can work independently to align the teams involved in building the product. Ability to think on one’s feet, enjoy collaborating with highly technical teams, and be comfortable working asynchronously is essential.

Key Responsibilities

You will work as part of the Engineering team to:

• Manage large scale technical programs from inception through delivery, coordinating between Engineering, Design, and Product (EPD) to schedule and guide development of features in the Tailscale product and (over)communicate what’s planned to a remote-first team.
• Define clear success criteria, track KPIs and ensure programs deliver measurable outcomes aligned with strategic goals. 
• Recommend and implement improvements based on program retrospectives, stakeholder feedback, research, and industry trends. 
• Identify process gaps within EPD and develop just the right amount of process to fill the gap: not too much, not too little.
• Partner with stakeholders to define requirements, align priorities, and drive delivery across engineering, product, support, and GtM. 
• Champion continuous improvement initiatives to scale agility, visibility, and velocity across programs. 
• Assist in strategic planning through coordination with Engineering teams, iterating on planning processes including capacity, interrupts, and tech debt planning. 
• Establish and maintain program-level governance, including anticipating and mitigating risk & issues, managing dependencies, and driving resolution through collaborative problem-solving. 
• Manage large complex multi-team technical programs in partnership with external customers.

What We Are Looking For

• 5+ years of experience as a Technical Program Manager (TPM) within Engineering, coordinating large, complex, multi-team technical programs. 
• Experience as a TPM in a startup environment: Ability to thrive in a fast paced environment with a high level of ambiguity and constant change.
• Experience with networking security software concepts and terminology (NAT traversal, DERPs, DNS, ACLs) and authentication (SSO, OIDC). 
• Familiarity with WireGuard protocol and Zero Trust Networking
• Experience diving deep into technical details while maintaining a high-level view of program status. 
• Experience building trust with engineering teams and driving technical changes through influence. 
• A proven track record for being detail-oriented with a demonstrated ability to self-motivate and follow through on initiatives.
• Ability to give and process constructive feedback, as well as work independently
• Ability to communicate openly, supporting and championing innovation and inclusivity, in both written and verbal communication
• Proficiency in Agile methodologies and project management tools, such as Jira, Notion, and GitHub

You should include these in your application

• Your resume
• Any available white papers, case studies, or other publicly available material where your role as a TPM was essential in bringing the project to fruition.

As a company, we strive to maintain fair and equitable compensation practices within our team across all roles and all levels. Tailscale's compensation package includes base salary, equity, and comprehensive benefits. The salary range displayed on each job posting represents the target range for a new hire's base salary. Individual offers may vary based on experience and skill set.

US Pay Ranges$130,000—$163,000 USD

Frequently cited statistics show that people who identify with historically marginalized groups are likely to apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the qualifications. We encourage you to help us break that statistic!

What We Offer

• An inclusive, flexible environment where you can be