Google Technical Program Manager Interview
Detailed, specific guidance on the Google Technical Program Manager interview process - with a breakdown of different stages and interview questions asked at each stage
The role of a Google Technical Program Manager
A Technical Program Manager(TPM) at Google plays a critical role in helping drive company strategy, aligning teams, collaborating with cross-functional stakeholders, and delivering on multiple complex projects for the company. Given the rapid expansion of companies in the digital space, it has become imperative for companies, especially ones with a large digital footprint, to hire TPMs.
Google is a technology giant with products across the hardware and software domain. Google needs TPMs who can lead and manage technical projects and help achieve its product development and growth targets. Consider reviewing the Meta Technical Program Manager guides for a broader perspective.
Role
Google TPMs put on different hats depending upon the teams/programs they are assigned to. Some of the different teams at Google where Technical Program Managers have to lend their services are:
- Apps Services
- Google Cloud
- Cloud Capacity Planning
- Business Application Platform
- Cloud Engineering Productivity
- Enterprise Legal Matters
- Unified Fulfillment Optimisation
- Network Engineering Deployment
Here's a generic description of the roles and responsibilities of a TPM at Google
- Provide the required hands-on software development and project management, cross-functional coordination, and inter/intra team communications to deliver outstanding program outcomes.
- Work closely with software engineers, QA, product managers and other engineering teams to get high-quality products and features through the software project lifecycle (build, test and release on time).
- Manage project schedules, identify possible issues and clearly communicate them to project stakeholders.
- Take responsibility for release schedules and milestones, keeping up a high velocity in a fast-paced environment.
- Lead several technical programs for the Google Cloud Business, setting priorities for products and engineering, leading cross-functional teams to take products to market, ensuring success metrics are informing future efforts, and quickly fine tuning the program as needed. Check out the Tesla Technical Program Manager and Stripe Technical Program Manager guides for additional insights.
Skills/Qualifications required for Google Technical Program Manager Role
- Bachelor’s degree in a technical field or equivalent practical experience.
- Experience in software program management and/or engineering management.
- Experience in Software Engineering, Software Infrastructure Engineering, Security, Big Data and Analytics, or Cloud Networking.
- Experience in problem solving within fast-paced and constantly changing environments.
- Experience working cross-functionally in a highly integrated team composed of both technical and non-technical members.
- Experience in communicating technical concepts to non-technical audiences.
- Strong spoken and written communication skills.
Google Technical Program Manager(TPM) salary
- Entry level salary :USD 165,000.
- Senior positions :USD 376,000.
- Median salary :USD 233,000 with base component being USD 143,000, stock component being USD 64,000 and bonus being USD 25,000.
Google Technical Program Manager Interview Guide
The interview process for the Google Technical Program Manager role consists of 3 stages as under:
- Initial Screen(30 minutes)
- Phone Screen(about 1 hour)
- Onsite round(5-6 hours)
Here's a detailed look at the entire Google TPM interview process, starting with the initial screen
We've got the same guide also available to watch as a short video if you prefer consuming content that way.
Relevant Guides
Initial Screen - Google TPM Interview
Overview
The initial screen for the Google Technical Program Manager role is a 30-minute telephonic interview with the recruiter. This interview call is aimed at assessing your cultural and experiential fit for the role at the company. The interviewer is likely to ask questions regarding your background and previous work experience in the relevant domain, and may also discuss previous projects you have handled. If you are a fresher, be thoroughly prepared with your CV. Keep a crisp and convincing answer ready for questions such as "why do you think you are best for the role?" or "why should we hire you?" Since Google TPM has many roles/teams, the recruiter screen also tries to match you with the best teams/roles based on your skill sets and experience.
Talk to a Google recruiter and get feedback on your resume!
→ Resume ReviewWatch these videos
Phone Screen - Google Technical Program Manager Interview
Overview
The next round is the phone screen which is a telephonic interview with the company's hiring manager. For the Google TPM role, this interview is roughly 1 hour duration and consists of 3 sections of 20 minutes each.
The first section is a test of your program management skills. By asking questions related to your background and previous work experience, the interviewer tries to assess your program management expertise.
In the second section of your phone screen, the interviewer asks technical questions to assess your ability as a TPM. Candidates have often reported to have been asked questions on system design and architecture design. So, prepare these topics well. Also, brush up on your coding.
The third section is the behavioural interview.
The behavioural interview for the Google Technical Program Manager role will be a test of the behavioural aspects of your personality. There may be some questions related to motivation for the job and some situational questions. While you're prepping to become a technical program manager, it is important to prepare for these behavioural questions.
Tips
- Practice a lot of system design/architecture design questions.
- Be confident in your answers.
- Ask clarifying questions when in doubt.
Interview Questions
Most asked interview questions in the Phone Screen
Program Sense Section
- Tell us briefly how you go about executing a project.
- Have you handled multiple teams within a program?
- Can you share an experience where you worked on improving a system without being asked by the customer?
- There is an internal customer/consumer of your service who is not benefiting from your service improvements. How will you convince them to use your service?
Technical Section for Google TPM Interview:
- Define a complex system and it's system design.
- What is a hypervisor?
- Design Uber frontend
- What is Java construct?
- What is a field in Java?
- You are trying to make music content available to customers for the first time. How would you go about it?
- How would you design a database schema for a certain configuration manager?
- What is your favorite app and how would you improve it?
- Customer requirement is to "display an ebook after 60 seconds from purchase"- What you should do in order to support that requirement?
Behavioural Interview Section for Google TPM Role:
- What is the toughest decision you faced and how did you overcome it?
- Tell us about a time when you disagreed with the entire team and why?
- How did you manage when a project deadline was missed?
Here's a short video guide for Google Phone Screen interview
Read these articles
Onsite Round - Google Technical Program Manager Interview
Overview
The on-site interview is a full day event. It comprises 5-6 interviews each lasting about 1 hour. The on-site can essentially be perceived to be an extended version of the phone interview. The interview panel consists of Google employees currently working there in various capacities such as Product Manager, Technical Program manager, Software Developer, Software development manager, a bar raiser, and the hiring manager. Don't miss our LinkedIn Technical Program Manager and AWS Technical Program Manager guides for further preparation.
Each of these interview scores is going to be counted to assess your overall performance (except the bar raiser). A bar raiser is an interviewer from a different business unit. The interviewer of the bar raiser round will be a more senior executive than the level you are applying for and holds the final call regarding your selection. Bar raisers make sure that candidates who get selected are at least better than 50% of the current employees of the company.
Interview Questions
Most asked questions in the onsite round for Google Technical Program Manager Role:
- What was the most complex design project you've worked on?
- Say you’re working on a project and it comes to your notice that the company has changed its goals, how do you adapt?
- Design the front end of a travel booking platform.
- When pursuing a project goal, how do you deal with failure?
The onsite round is the most complex of all the rounds and you can expect questions that are technical, such as systems design interview questions and coding questions, some program management questions, and also some behavioural questions.
Here's a short video guide for Program Management interview which is one of the interviews in onsite interviews