How do you become a technical project manager?

Every company, whether large or small, has several projects running at the same time. It is impossible for managers to take care of every single project and manage them all efficiently.

This is why companies hire project managers. A project manager takes care of the day-to-day tasks that contribute to the success of the projects. They take responsibility for liaising between customers and the company and maintain all project-related communication internally and externally.

In addition to project management expertise, technical project managers must have knowledge of hardware and software installation, troubleshooting techniques, website maintenance, upgrading, and application and program development.

If these tasks sound appealing, you probably want to learn more about this career path. In this article, you'll learn more about the duties and job description of a technical project manager. So, let's get started.

Responsibilities of a technical project manager

Let's first discuss the tasks of a technical project manager.  

• Management - You are responsible for overseeing a project from its inception to its completion.
• Following guidelines - You need to ensure that the project is strictly within the company's budget, scope and timeline. You need to recognize both the client's needs and the company's goals to ensure that both are aligned.
• Coordination - You will be responsible for coordinating team leaders and technical specialists in all project phases. You will also carry out the individual project phases, communicate with all parties involved and coordinate the work of the department heads to ensure that the project runs smoothly.
• Always one step ahead - you also need to anticipate the future requirements of a project and keep an eye on all new developments in this area.
• Delegating - You are responsible for brainstorming and planning projects and assigning project tasks to different team members.
• Reporting - You are also responsible for preparing regular reports on the project results.
• Negotiations - The final important task is to oversee the procurement of resources needed during a project and negotiate the prices of these resources with suppliers and vendors.

Qualifications required for the profession of project manager

As a rule, a technical project manager works in the IT sector. You therefore have the opportunity to obtain a degree in computer science, engineering or other related subjects. You should be proficient in at least one of the main web development languages such as Python or Ruby.

If you want to go one step further with your university degree, you can earn a Master's degree, which will give you an advantage on the job market. An MBA is generally preferred, but as it takes two years to complete, many professionals do it part-time. Importantly, this is completely optional and you can find work without years of study.
Bootcamps are also a quick way to start your career as they teach a lot of information in a short amount of time.
Certifications are not a requirement in this field either, but with the increasing competition, further certification can't hurt. If you are seeking certification, the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification through the Project Management Institute (PMI) is a good option. If you want to work in a technical company, you should opt for agile certifications such as Certified Scrum Master.

A technical project manager will probably not be the first job you get after graduation; you need to work towards it. In this case, your previous work experience is also very important.  Knowledge of computer systems, production environments, development work and other IT-related profiles are particularly important. In addition, you need to ensure that your previous work experience demonstrates qualities that allow you to showcase your skills in leadership, management, teamwork and dealing with customers.

Skills that technical project managers need

To get a job in project management, you need some important hard and soft skills. 

As already mentioned, you will need to learn at least one programming language such as Python or Ruby to be suitable for this field. It is also important that you are good with numbers and enjoy math. You must be able to initiate projects, i.e. make pitches, prepare documents and plans, conduct exploratory talks or simply find a business area that has not yet been widely explored.

You need to be able to design a project roadmap that meets both the client's and your company's objectives while staying within budget and other constraints. This will require you to formulate schedules, estimates, briefings, meeting plans and work instructions.

You should acquire basic wireframing, copywriting, design and programming skills. You should also be familiar with some agile tools such as Kanban, Scrum or XP.  

Some soft skills you will need for this role are:  

• Excellent analytical skills
• The ability to work under pressure and with strict deadlines.
• Competent decision-making skills.
• Excellent business acumen.
• Strong leadership qualities.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent organization.
• Teamwork and problem-solving skills.  

Salary of a technical project manager

We understand that we are all curious about how much we can earn in our potential careers. Salaries are important, so here are the average salaries of project managers:

• Switzerland: from CHF 90,800.00 to CHF 126,000.00 
• Germany: from EUR 44'600,00 to EUR 99'700,00
• Austria: from EUR 45'000,00 to EUR 77'700,00

Technical project management Career growth  

Another great aspect of technical project management is that you can progress into other roles as you gain experience. Some titles you can achieve after some time in this field are Project Manager, Senior Project Manager (IT) and Technical Program Manager. In these positions, you can take on more responsibility and earn more money. So if you are looking for a field with growth opportunities, technical project management is a good choice.

If we look at the earnings of technical project managers based on their skills, we can see that team leadership, agile software development and strategic project management are skills that can help you increase your salary.

On the other hand, if you only have basic technical analysis and project management skills, you will probably earn a lower amount compared to the average salary rates. However, you will still make a good living.