What Is a Technical Product Manager? Roles, Tips & Skills

A Technical Product Manager (TPM) isn’t your average product guru. They get their hands dirty with tech details that can make or break a product. In this PM guide, we’re putting the spotlight on this particular kind of product manager who doesn’t shy away from tech.

• Defining the Role: We’ll clear up exactly what it means to be in their shoes.
• Core Responsibilities: What does their daily grind include? Let’s go over those tasks and big-picture jobs they handle.
• Skillset: It takes more than just tech-savvy to do well in this role. We’ll talk about what skills are required.
• Differentiation: Finally, how do TPMs stand out from other product managers who don’t have ‘Technical’ on their business cards?

Consider this piece your no-nonsense guide to figuring out not only what makes TPMs tick but also how they circumvent complexity and come out on top.

What is a Technical Product Manager?

A Technical Product Manager, or TPM for short, is a seasoned product manager. These folks have been in the trenches – think former infrastructure engineers, developers, and yes, even those patient IT help desk warriors. 

So, what makes them stand out? They’re tech-savvy, but they’ve also mastered the product manager skillset.

Picture your engineering team on one side and business management on the other. The TPM is what bridges that gap. We’re talking about someone who ensures that new products actually make sense from a technical standpoint while still hitting all those market sweet spots.

A tech product manager trades grand blueprints for gritty details with an eye firmly set on nailing down decisions where tech prowess meets business smarts to steer products to success.

What Does a Technical Product Manager Do?

A Technical Product Manager combines tech knowledge with sharp business thinking. It’s like having one foot in the server room and the other in the boardroom, though not literally, of course.

Here’s a breakdown of what a TPM typically handles:

• Roadmap Planning: TPMs are always plotting a course for product success – and that means drawing up roadmaps that make sense. They balance what can be done with what should be done to ensure updates and feature additions remain technically feasible and make strategic sense.
• Feature Specification: When it’s time to build something new, TPMs break out their translating skills. They turn big ideas into clear-cut specs so engineers know exactly what needs doing. This way development efforts are in sync with the product vision, and of course with stakeholder expectations. 
• Project Management: A technical product manager (TPM) is the person overseeing multidisciplinary teams that transform ideas into actual products. TPMs make sure everyone knows their deadlines and what they should be doing.
• Stakeholder Communication: As you can imagine, clear communication is an important part of the TPM role. Their job entails interpreting tech-speak, taking techie jargon, and turning it into usable information that even a suit-wearing exec could get behind. Of course, it goes both ways; they also have to translate business lingo and customer pain points back to tech terms.
• Market Analysis: TPMs are glued to market trends, as they’re required to sift through industry chatter, stalk competitors’ moves, and stay ahead of tech curveballs. This is mainly so that when someone asks where the market’s headed, TPMs are already setting up shop.
• Performance Monitoring: When your product’s out there in the wild it’s great, but for a Technical Product Manager, it’s like halftime, not game over. They’re monitoring performance stats and real talk from users. Why? To make that good thing even better, keep customers happy and hooked.
• Strategic Execution: Here’s where TPMs really come into their own: mixing strategy smarts with getting things done. Here, the TPM will steer clear of tunnel vision on code or market dreams alone. Their North Star is nudging that product up the ladder, one rung at a time.

What Skills Does a Technical Product Manager Need?

What does it take to excel as a Technical Product Manager? It’s not just about having the right degree or knowing how to talk shop – you need a range of skills that bridges the gap between geek speak and business lingo:

• Technical Expertise: If you can’t tell your Java from JavaScript, it’s worth familiarizing yourself with some technical basics. It’ll help you communicate productively with engineering teams and call out issues when needed.
• Product Strategy: Know where your product is headed and ensure it’s not falling off a cliff by using market insights and tech smarts to develop a winning strategy.
• Communication: You should be able to explain complex tech without making colleagues scratch their heads in confusion. It’s one thing to possess knowledge, but another thing entirely to be able to communicate what you know in a clear and concise way.
• Leadership: TPMs are expected to get their hands dirty, guiding cross-functional teams through project cycles. This includes being able to handle feedback, too.
• Problem-Solving: Problems will always pop up. Sharp analytical skills help you solve them efficiently while keeping everyone on board happy(ish).
• Adaptability: Tech moves faster than gossip around the coffee machine. Keep pace, or better yet, stay ahead of the game by embracing change instead of fearing it.
• Decision-Making: Prepare to juggle user needs with what will actually work technically and make business sense. Product managers make important – and difficult – decisions on a daily basis.
• User-Centric Perspective: Consider the user experience at every opportunity. It doesn’t matter how cool that backend feature is – if users don’t embrace what they see upfront, it’s all for naught.

Technical Product Management vs Regular Product Management

When dissecting the difference between a Technical Product Manager (TPM) and a regular product manager, regular product managers can be thought of as big-picture experts. 

Their playground is user needs, crafting slick user experiences, and plotting strategies that should make sense to both users wearing pajamas at home and suits crunching numbers upstairs.

Now, enter TPMs. They’re like detectives in the tech world, able to diagnose exactly why something broke during last night’s update while you were sleeping. It’s not enough for them to know what features are cool or necessary; they roll up their sleeves to figure out how these bells and whistles will actually work without causing an office-wide migraine.

In realms where technology is integral to how a product functions or stands out from its peers, having someone with technical savvy can save many headaches down the road – and potentially lots of capital, too.

While all product managers juggle numerous balls simultaneously, TPMs must also understand each ball’s blueprint before tossing it into play. They’re essential when it comes time to ensure grand plans don’t crash against reality due to some overlooked “minor” technicality.

The Top 8 Tips to Make It as a Technical Product Manager

If you want to sprint ahead in your TPM career, here’s what you need:

• Stay sharp. Keep up or get left behind – it’s that simple. Tech doesn’t sleep, and neither should your quest for knowledge.
• Talk smart. Be the translator between tech and business gurus. Your job is to make them understand each other like old friends.
• Choose wisely. You can’t chase every shiny new tech feature. Prioritize what truly matters for impact and growth.
• User first. Know your users. Their problems are yours, so figure out their pain points like you’re a mind reader.
• Befriend data. Use analytics as your crystal ball into market trends and pivot your strategies accordingly.
• Network across departments. Be the person everyone wants on their team. Mingle with sales folks for street-smart insight, brainstorm with marketing for that spark of genius, and grab coffee breaks with customer support.
• Stay agile. Tech waits for no one, and neither should you. Be familiar with agile practices because being nimble isn’t optional anymore, it’s how PMs need to operate if they want to stay on target.
• Focus on impact. You’ve got limited time, so hone in on elements that will make users happy and execs give nods of approval at those fancy quarterly meetings.

The PMs Hot Take

Technical Product Managers (TPMs) are more than just tech enthusiasts. These folks have a knack for straddling both worlds, geeking out on specs while keeping their eyes on the market pulse. Balancing tech savvy with business acumen isn’t a nice-to-have; it’s our bread and butter in this game.

Conclusion

If you’re aiming to be the go-to Technical Product Manager, remember it’s a blend of tech and strategy smarts. Keep that inquisitive spark alive, stay on top of your communication game, and keep your eyes on the prize: 

Products that work and make users happy.

At Fibery, we offer a suite of solutions tailored to enhance both individual product managers’ efficiency and team synergy. Test-drive Fibery for free over a 14-day trial period.

For further professional growth and guidance within not only tech-based product management but across all realms within this discipline, check out our blog for insights and support on your career path.

FAQ

Q: What is TPM vs PM?

A Technical Product Manager (TPM) zeroes in on the technical intricacies of developing a product. They need to be tech-savvy and proficient at understanding engineers and keeping business objectives in line. 

Your standard Product Manager (PM), on the other hand, has their eyes on the prize – shaping overall product vision, nailing market fit, and ensuring that users don’t just tolerate but actually enjoy what they’re getting.

Q: What is the difference between PM and technical PM?

It boils down to where they roll up their sleeves. Think of Technical PMs as your specialists who aren’t afraid to get tangled up in code or systems architecture – they speak fluent “engineer” while still having a conversation with sales without breaking a sweat. 

Meanwhile, regular PMs are your strategists, less time worrying about bytes, and more focus placed squarely on customer delight and competitive edge.

Q: Is the technical product manager the same as the product owner?

No. While there may be some functional overlap here between them involving collaboration within Agile frameworks, we allocate different spots for them at our table.

The Technical Product Manager develops not only technology strategies but also juggles market demands. 

A Product Owner moves more toward maximizing value through relentless prioritization from within an Agile team’s backlog.

Q: What does a technical product manager do?

Ever seen someone orchestrate chaos into coherence? That’s sorta what TPMs live for. With one foot planted firmly in technological know-how land and another striding through strategic plays, that TPM ensures everything from spec sheets to system scalability sings harmoniously with long-term business ambitions.