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Tech Program Manager Jobs in Oakland, CA (NOW HIRING)

About You and The Role You will be Zipline's IT Technical Program Manager (Individual Contributor, Senior IC level) responsible for owning IT program delivery that enables new site openings, facility ...

Background in the tech and/or consumer electronics industry 3.Agency management experience Summary: The main function of a non-IT program manager is to plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such ...

Program Manager V

Oakland, CA · On-site

$160K - $205K/yr

Job Title: Senior IT Program Manager V (Critical Infrastructure & Grid Telecom) Role Overview We are seeking a highly sophisticated and technically grounded Senior IT Program Manager (Level V) to ...

This senior individual-contributor role will partner with delivery, technology, and business leaders to mentor Project Managers, assess program health, challenge delivery plans, manage cross-program ...

This senior individual-contributor role will partner with delivery, technology, and business leaders to mentor Project Managers, assess program health, challenge delivery plans, manage cross-program ...

MES Program Mgr

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$132K - $133K/yr

MES Program Manager Must have's: * 10+ years of IT program or project management experience, with a minimum of 5 years specifically managing MES implementations in Life Sciences, Biopharma, or GMP ...

New

Program Manager

San Jose, CA · On-site

$60 - $65/hr

... Technology Services). * Engage with ATS and Business teams who support the initiatives to estimate the level of effort and feasibility of delivery. * Manage product lines built on SAP * Discuss trade ...

Showing results 21-40

Tech Program Manager information

See Oakland, CA salary details

$25

$59

$90

How much do tech program manager jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 9, 2026, the average hourly pay for tech program manager in Oakland, CA is $59.24, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $45.29 and $70.38 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Tech Program Manager vs Software Project Manager?

AspectTech Program ManagerSoftware Project Manager
CredentialsTypically requires a bachelor’s degree in IT, Computer Science, or related fields; certifications like PMP or PgMP are commonUsually holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related; PMP certification is often preferred
Work EnvironmentCoordinates multiple projects across teams, often in tech companies or IT departmentsManages specific software development projects within tech or software firms
Employer & IndustryTech companies, IT departments, large enterprisesSoftware development firms, tech startups, IT divisions

The main difference is that a Tech Program Manager oversees multiple related projects and programs, focusing on strategic alignment and cross-team coordination, while a Software Project Manager manages individual software projects, focusing on delivery and execution.

How does a tech program manager typically collaborate with cross-functional teams during a project?

Tech Program Managers play a pivotal role in bridging technical and non-technical teams. They frequently coordinate with engineers, product managers, designers, and stakeholders to define project goals, set timelines, and manage dependencies. Regular meetings, clear communication, and progress tracking are key strategies they use to ensure alignment and resolve issues quickly. This collaborative environment helps deliver complex technical projects on time and within scope.

What is a Tech Program Manager?

A Tech Program Manager is a professional responsible for overseeing and coordinating technology projects and programs within an organization. They work closely with engineering teams, stakeholders, and other departments to ensure projects are completed on time, within scope, and on budget. Their role involves planning, resource allocation, risk management, and communication to align technical solutions with business goals. Tech Program Managers often bridge the gap between technical and non-technical teams, ensuring clear understanding and smooth execution of complex initiatives.

What does a tech program manager actually do?

A tech program manager oversees multiple technology projects within an organization, coordinating teams, setting timelines, and ensuring projects meet goals and deadlines. They facilitate communication between stakeholders, manage resources, and track progress using tools like Gantt charts or project management software to deliver technical initiatives successfully.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a tech program manager?

To thrive as a Tech Program Manager, you need a solid background in project management, software development processes, and a relevant degree, often supported by certifications like PMP or Agile Scrum Master. Familiarity with tools such as Jira, Asana, and project tracking systems is typically required. Exceptional communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills help in managing cross-functional teams and stakeholder expectations. These skills and qualities ensure successful program delivery, alignment with business goals, and effective risk management in complex technical environments.
What cities near Oakland, CA are hiring for Tech Program Manager jobs? Cities near Oakland, CA with the most Tech Program Manager job openings:
Infographic showing various Tech Program Manager job openings in Oakland, CA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 77% Full Time, 17% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 96% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $123,216 per year, or $59.2 per hour.

IT Program Manager - 5 Year Limited Term

San Mateo County Transit District

Millbrae, CA • On-site

$143K - $200K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 24 days ago


Job description

Salary : $143,142.00 - $200,398.00 Annually
Location : Millbrae, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 2026-00074
Division: IT
Opening Date: 07/17/2026
Closing Date: 8/23/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
General
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Sunday, August 23, 2026 (1st cutoff Sunday, August 9, 2026)
The IT Program Manager is a 5-year limited term position. It is responsible for managing the IT Project Management Office for the San Mateo County Transit District (SamTrans), the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board (Caltrain), and the San Mateo County Transportation Authority (TA).
Under general direction, plans, organizes, manages, and oversees the Division of Innovation & Technology's enterprise information technology program and project portfolio; establishes and administers portfolio governance, project intake, prioritization, resource planning, budget tracking, vendor coordination, risk management, and performance reporting; leads complex, cross-functional technology initiatives supporting transit operations, administrative business functions, customer-facing services, cybersecurity, infrastructure modernization, and enterprise applications; and performs related duties as assigned.
This position will be highly technical in nature with hands on expertise in running complex enterprise IT projects.
Essential Functions & Duties
The following are representative of the functions and duties performed. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list.
Portfolio Strategy and Governance
  • Develops, implements, and maintains an enterprise IT project portfolio management framework aligned with agency strategic goals, service delivery priorities, regulatory obligations, and budget constraints.
  • Leads project intake, business case review, prioritization, sequencing, and portfolio planning for technology initiatives.
  • Establishes and facilitates governance processes for evaluating scope, risk, funding, resource capacity, operational impact, and expected business value.
  • Recommends portfolio tradeoffs and prioritization decisions to executive leadership based on cost, urgency, risk, compliance, and service impact.
  • Maintains portfolio roadmaps for enterprise applications, infrastructure, cloud, cybersecurity, data, communications, and transit technology initiatives.

Program and Project Oversight
  • Oversees and manages multiple large, complex, and interdependent IT projects and programs from initiation through implementation and transition to operations.
  • Ensures projects are appropriately planned with defined scope, schedule, budget, milestones, dependencies, risks, staffing, procurement actions, and success metrics.
  • Monitors portfolio health and project performance using dashboards, status reports, KPI tracking, and executive briefings.
  • Identifies delivery risks, escalation points, resource conflicts, and change impacts; develops mitigation and recovery strategies.
  • Promotes consistent use of project management standards, templates, controls, and documentation practices.

Business and Stakeholder Alignment
  • Partners with business units, transit operations, maintenance, finance, procurement, HR, customer service, safety, and executive leadership to define project needs and expected outcomes.
  • Translates operational and business priorities into executable technology roadmaps and implementation plans.
  • Facilitates stakeholder meetings, steering committees, workshops, and executive decision sessions.
  • Supports organizational change management, communication planning, training coordination, and adoption readiness for new technologies and processes.

Budget, Procurement, and Vendor Management
  • Assists in development and administration of the IT capital and operating project portfolio budget.
  • Tracks project expenditures, encumbrances, forecasts, and funding utilization.
  • Coordinates procurement activities related to technology projects, including requirements development, scopes of work, RFP/RFQ support, proposal evaluation, contract administration support, and vendor onboarding.
  • Oversees vendor, consultant, and systems integrator performance to ensure compliance with contractual obligations, schedules, deliverables, and service levels.
  • Supports audit responses, funding documentation, and executive reporting related to projects and contracts.

Technology and Operational Coordination
  • Coordinates initiatives affecting enterprise applications, servers, storage, networks, cloud services, cybersecurity controls, identity and access management, business continuity, and end-user platforms.
  • Supports implementation of systems relevant to transit and public-sector operations, which may include ERP, HRIS, asset management, fare systems, dispatch/CAD-AVL, customer information systems, document management, data integration, and reporting platforms.
  • Ensures proper transition from project delivery into production support, operations, maintenance, and service management.
  • Works with technical teams to identify architecture, integration, security, support, and lifecycle implications of proposed projects.

Compliance, Risk, and Continuous Improvement
  • Promotes compliance with applicable agency policies, information security standards, privacy requirements, records management practices, accessibility expectations, and public procurement requirements.
  • Supports disaster recovery, business continuity, and operational resilience planning as related to technology initiatives.
  • Develops and refines PMO, portfolio, and governance practices to improve delivery consistency, transparency, and accountability.
  • Prepares reports, presentations, memoranda, and recommendations for executive staff, leadership committees, and, as assigned, governing board materials.

Minimum Qualifications
Sufficient experience, training and/or education to demonstrate the knowledge and ability to successfully perform the essential functions of the position. In lieu of a degree, work-related experience that demonstrates the skills and experience necessary to perform this role will be accepted. Development of the required knowledge and abilities is typically obtained through but not limited to:
  • Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in information systems, computer science, public administration, engineering, or a closely related field.
  • Five (5) years of full-time progressively responsible experience in information technology project or program management, business systems delivery, enterprise systems implementation, infrastructure modernization, or related IT work, including at least three (3) years of responsibility for managing complex cross-functional programs, project portfolios, PMO functions, or enterprise technology initiatives.
Preferred Qualifications:
  • Ten (10) years of experience working within PMO functions.
  • Experience overseeing both business application and infrastructure projects
  • Experience with ERP, cloud migration, cybersecurity initiatives, enterprise integrations, data/reporting programs, or operational technology implementations
  • Experience supporting formal procurement and vendor contract oversight
  • Able to possess a valid California Class C driver's license and a satisfactory driving record.
  • PMP, PgMP, PMI-ACP, ITIL, Scrum, or related certification is desirable

Additional Information
Knowledge of
  • Principles and practices of project, program, and portfolio management
  • PMO governance models, project intake, prioritization, resource planning, and benefits realization
  • Public-sector budgeting, capital planning, procurement, contracting, and vendor management
  • Information technology infrastructure, enterprise applications, systems integration, cloud services, cybersecurity, and service delivery
  • SDLC methodologies including Agile, hybrid, and waterfall project delivery approaches
  • Risk management, issue escalation, quality assurance, and change control practices
  • Organizational change management and business process improvement principles
  • Data analysis, reporting tools, dashboard development, and executive-level communication techniques
  • Public agency operating environments, including cross-functional stakeholder coordination and accountability requirements
  • Transit technology environments and operational dependencies, including customer-facing, operational, and administrative systems
  • Applicable safety, security, documentation, and records retention practices relevant to government operations

Ability to
  • Lead and coordinate a complex enterprise IT project portfolio with competing priorities and constrained resources
  • Analyze business needs and translate them into strategic programs, roadmaps, and delivery plans
  • Manage multiple large-scale projects simultaneously while maintaining visibility into scope, schedule, budget, risk, and dependencies
  • Establish governance disciplines and gain stakeholder alignment on priorities and sequencing
  • Communicate effectively with technical teams, executives, business managers, vendors, and external partners
  • Prepare clear, concise, and accurate reports, recommendations, presentations, and project documentation
  • Interpret contracts, statements of work, procurement documents, and vendor deliverables
  • Build effective cross-functional working relationships in a public-sector environment
  • Exercise sound judgment, diplomacy, and problem-solving in politically and operationally sensitive situations
  • Supervise, coach, and evaluate staff where assigned
  • Maintain focus on customer service, reliability, compliance, and operational continuity
  • Create Executive Management Reports, Dashboards and Debriefs

Examples of Agency-Relevant Projects
For a transit agency, this role may oversee programs such as:
  • Enterprise application modernization
  • ERP or HRIS implementation
  • Network and infrastructure refresh
  • Cloud migration and identity modernization
  • Cybersecurity risk reduction initiatives
  • Data integration and reporting platforms
  • Asset management or maintenance systems
  • Fare collection and customer information systems
  • Dispatch, scheduling, or operational technology upgrades
  • Business continuity and disaster recovery improvements

The selection process may include a panel interview, written and skills test assessments, or supplemental questions. Only those candidates who are the most qualified will continue in the selection process. Meeting the minimum qualifications does not guarantee an invitation to continue in the process.
How to Apply
  • Complete an online employment application by 11:59 p.m. of the listed closing date. Resumes and cover letters will not be accepted in lieu of fully completed applications. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that applications are completed with all relevant information (experience, education, certifications, licenses, references and/or other information).
  • The Human Resources Department will make reasonable efforts in the recruitment/examination process to accommodate applicants with disabilities upon request. If you have a need for an accommodation, please contact the Human Resources Department.
  • We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming workplace environment. We are an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. Minorities, Women, Persons with Disabilities and Veterans are encouraged to apply.

Below is a summary of the comprehensive benefits provided to District full-time employees:
Health and Welfare Benefits:
  • Healthcare Benefits -District employees are offered a choice of healthcare providers under the CalPERS Health Benefits Program. The District will contribute ninety (90) percent towards monthly premiums for full-time employees. Fifty (50) percent for part-time employees.
  • Free Dental and Vision Benefits provided - Employer Covers Premiums
  • Free Employee Assistance Benefit - Employees are entitled to 5 face-to-face sessions or telephonic or web-video consultations for problem-solving support per incident, per calendar year.
  • Flexible Spending Accounts - Pre-tax dollars to pay for qualified Health or Dependent Care expenses.

Retirement Medical Benefits:
  • Long Term Disability Insurance - After 90 days of total disability, Administrative full-time employees are eligible for 60% of monthly income covered by the District.
  • Health and Wellness - Gyms located at most work locations and discounted Weight Watcher Membership Option.

Holidays and Paid Time Off:
  • Paid Time Off - Newly hired employees accrue 6.5 hours bi-weekly when hired (if Exempt 8.25 hours). As you move up in years of service credit, the rate of the amount of PTO accrued will also increase.
  • Paid Holidays - The District provides seven paid holidays throughout the year - New Years Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day (July 4th), Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day
  • Floating Holidays - District employees can earn up to five (5) floating holidays.

Financial Planning Benefits:
  • Pension Benefits through CalPERS -You must have a minimum of 5 years of service to be eligible for this pension.
  • CalPERS PEPRA vs. Classic - All employees hired on, or after January 1, 2013, are considered PEPRA members and will contribute 8% of their salary up to the maximum IRS cut-off. All Classic members will contribute 6%
  • Deferred Compensation Options - Select to contribute to one or both of our Tax Deferred Compensation Options
  • Relianc