Technical Program Manager

My client is seeking a Technical Program Manager (Contractor) to help drive execution, alignment, and production readiness across a set of interconnected API Platform and Ads API initiatives that are critical to the broader API Unification program.This role is focused on bringing structure and momentum to several foundational technical workstreams, including:TypeSpec Pants pipelineAlloy emitter frameworkPydantic supportTypeSpec Mutation PipelineGraphQL EmitterCOI / Component InterfacesThe ideal TPM will help connect these technical efforts into a coherent, outcome-driven program plan with clear milestones, ownership, dependencies, risks, and production launch criteria. This is not a “status tracking” role — we are looking for someone who can help teams define what success looks like, drive cross-functional alignment, and accelerate delivery toward meaningful production outcomes.What You’ll DoProgram Leadership and Roadmap IntegrationIntegrate API Platform workstreams into the broader API Unification roadmapBuild and maintain a unified view of milestones, dependencies, decision points, ownership, and success criteria across API Platform and Ads APIEnsure workstreams are represented as part of a broader product/program outcome, not isolated technical effortsHelp teams align on near-term milestones and longer-term production goalsOutcome and Milestone DefinitionPartner with engineering and technical leads to define:desired outcomessuccess criteria“definition of done”launch and readiness gatesfirst meaningful production/adoption milestonesConvert technical plans into outcome-based milestone plans, rather than task-based trackingClarify what is experimental versus production-supported for each workstreamCross-Team Dependency and Risk ManagementSurface and manage dependencies across API Platform, Ads API, and API Unification partner teamsTrack technical, organizational, and resourcing risksCreate lightweight mechanisms for escalating blockers and driving decisions to closureEnsure risks and blockers are visible early and consistently reviewedProduction Readiness and Launch PlanningHelp define what “production ready” means for key initiatives, especially:TypeSpec Pants pipelineAlloy emitter framework + Pydantic supportTypeSpec Mutation Pipeline + GraphQL EmitterCOI / Component InterfacesEstablish readiness criteria including documentation, support model, ownership, operational expectations, pilot scope, and adoption pathDrive a structured path to production launch, especially for COIOperating Cadence and AlignmentCreate a pragmatic cross-team operating model that improves visibility and alignment without adding unnecessary processLead regular program reviews, milestone check-ins, and decision/risk trackingEnsure engineering owners, decision-makers, and partner teams remain aligned on scope, tradeoffs, and timingKey Areas of Focus1) API Unification Program IntegrationDrive incorporation of API Platform workstreams into the broader API Unification roadmap with shared milestones, dependencies, decision points, and success criteria.2) TypeSpec Pants PipelineHelp establish a clear path for the TypeSpec Pants pipeline to become a dependable, documented, production-ready foundation for TypeSpec-based API workflows.3) Alloy Emitter Framework + Pydantic SupportDrive clarity around the intended role, acceptance criteria, adoption path, and readiness model for generating Python/Pydantic models from TypeSpec.4) TypeSpec Mutation Pipeline + GraphQL EmitterHelp align teams on the customer/problem being solved, scope of use cases, delivery milestones, and dependencies required to turn this into a usable capability for API Unification and Ads API.5) COI / Component InterfacesBring structure, urgency, and accountability to the COI effort so it can move from architectural development to a clearly scoped and supported production launch.Expected DeliverablesThis contractor TPM will be expected to help produce and maintain outputs such as:Integrated Workstream Mapownershipdependenciesstatustarget outcomesOutcome-Based Milestone Planshipped capabilitiesreadiness gateskey decisionsDecision and Risk Registeropen decisionsblockersriskscross-team dependenciesCOI Production Launch Planlaunch definitionpilot scopereadiness checklistownershiptimelineadoption expectationsAPI Unification Integration Planclear mapping of how API Platform efforts support broader API Unification goalsWhat Success Looks LikeA successful TPM in this role will help ensure that:API Platform workstreams are clearly represented in the API Unification roadmapMilestones are tied to outcomes, not just engineering activityDependencies between API Platform, Ads API, and partner teams are explicitEngineering owners and decision-makers are clearRisks and blockers are surfaced early and tracked consistentlyTeams can clearly answer:What outcome are we trying to achieve?Who benefits from it?What does “done” mean?What is the first meaningful production milestone?COI has a credible, actionable path to production launchTeams have shared clarity on what is production-supported versus experimentalQualificationsRequired8+ years of experience in Technical Program Management, preferably supporting platform, infrastructure, developer tooling, or API-related programsProven ability to drive execution across complex, ambiguous, highly technical cross-team initiativesExperience building milestone plans, managing dependencies, and driving risk/decision tracking across multiple engineering teamsStrong ability to translate technical work into clear business/program outcomesExperience driving production readiness, launch planning, and operational alignmentExcellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to work effectively with senior engineers, tech leads, and engineering managersStrong organizational skills with a bias toward clarity, accountability, and executionPreferredExperience working with API platforms, developer infrastructure, schema/code generation systems, or platform architecture programsFamiliarity with concepts such as:API lifecycle/toolingGraphQLcode generation pipelinesbuild systemsproduction launch readinessExperience supporting open-ended architectural efforts and helping shape them into concrete, phased delivery plansComfort operating in environments where technical direction is still evolving and outcomes need to be sharpened through collaborationIdeal Candidate ProfileThe ideal contractor TPM is:highly structured but lightweight in processcomfortable working with deeply technical engineering teamsable to identify ambiguity and turn it into clear plans and decisionsstrong at cross-team coordination without becoming purely administrativefocused on outcomes, launch readiness, and visible executionskilled at creating a single operating view across multiple related workstreams