Who is a Technical Product Manager? Diving Deep into the Role

Within the product management world, over the last couple of years, the buzzword has been the Technical Product Manager (TPM). As products have grown increasingly complex, technically advanced, and targeted towards very specific end-users, most companies are in dire need of product managers to bridge the gap between the technical aspect of product development and the strategic, customer-focused aspect of the role. But what is a Technical Product Manager, and how does that differ from a traditional Product Manager?

In this article, we shall discuss what sets a Technical Product Manager apart, why the differentiation has been made, how one goes about picking up the required skill-sets, and what the role portends as far as career growth is concerned. Whether you're a product manager looking to add a new dimension to your skillset, or a company looking to hire a TPM, this guide has got it all.

What Sets a Technical Product Manager Apart?

Let's begin with the very basics: What is a Technical Product Manager? While both PMs and Technical Product Managers focus on building great products to solve user problems, the TPM role leans heavily into the technical aspects of product development.

1. Technical Acumen: It's More Than Just Understanding Buzzwords

A TPM is very knowledgeable regarding the technology stack powering the product. They speak the same language as engineers, where they can deep-dive into technical discussions on APIs, data structures, and cloud infrastructure, or just how a new feature is going to affect system performance. It is not about talking the talk-the TPMs understand the why of the technical decisions, what aligns with the product vision.

This doesn't mean that they code-much less, though some do-but they can ask the right questions, challenge assumptions, and work effectively with the engineering team. The following are examples of what such a TPM might do: lead technical deep dives during sprint planning to assess feasibility and risks; understand trade-offs involved in different architectural approaches, and how these impact the user experience.

• Translate technical concepts into business outcomes to help stakeholders understand why a particular approach is necessary.

2. Product Strategy + Technical Depth = A Powerful Combination

While classic Product Managers are very focused on user needs, market research, and setting a strategic vision for the product, TPMs do all that and go deep on how the technology supports that vision. This mix of strategic thinking and technical acumen allows the TPM to make better product decisions, especially around scalability, performance, and technical debt.

For example, if a company is developing a SaaS platform, a classic PM might focus on user needs and market positioning, while a TPM would make sure that the architecture of this platform supports future user growth without performance implications.

Why Has the Market Started Differentiating These Roles?

There is an ever-increasing trend towards differentiating TPMs from traditional PMs, and there are a few key reasons for this:

1. Increasing Product Complexity

As the products are increasingly integrated with AI, machine learning, cloud computing, and complex data systems, the need for someone to bridge product-technology has become critical. It's not good enough to be able to build only what the users want; companies need to ensure that the features built are on robust, scalable technical foundations.

TPMs are the glue that holds these pieces together. They help ensure engineering teams are building not only the right thing but also in the right way. This role is especially critical for B2B SaaS products, API-based platforms, or any product deeply integrated with external systems.

2. The Growing Need for Technical Feasibility in Decision Making

In my humble opinion, every product manager in a technical company needs to hold some degree of technical acumen. But realistically speaking, most classic PMs come from non-core technical streams such as marketing or business. And though that brings loads of value into that background, at times it causes friction while working with engineering teams.

That's the gap that came to be filled by the TPM role. The companies are looking for PMs who are basically supposed not only to understand the customer but what is technically feasible and how to balance technical debt with new feature development. It's creating balance between pushing the product ahead, yet laying its foundation solidly.

3. Faster Time to Market

Speed is everything in today's competitive landscape. With a TPM on board, there will be quicker decision-making regarding any technical constraints. Rather than waiting for engineers' feedback, quite often TPMs can assess feasibility on the fly to make fast pivots or adjustments-which often makes all the difference between being a market leader and just playing catch-up.

How to Acquire the Skills Needed to Become a Technical Product Manager

Good news: if you are a Product Manager wanting to move into a TPM role, you don't need to have a computer science major to get there. But you do have to spend some time building some depth in the technical dimension. Here's how you might start:

1. Learn to Code and System Architecture

You don't necessarily have to be a full-stack developer, but it is super helpful to know how APIs work, what microservices are, and how cloud infrastructures work. There are so many online resources like Codecademy, Coursera, or Udemy that will cover those basics.

Concentrate on:

• How APIs integrate different services and communicate with each other.
• The basis for cloud services such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud.
• Understand the basics of SQL in order to understand how database queries work, and how data is managed and retrieved.

2. Engage in Technical Discussions

Ask to be included in technical discussions with your engineering team-even if you don't understand it all at first. Be inquisitive, ask questions, and don't be afraid to say, "I don't understand." This is where the most learning will happen.

3. Read Technical Documentation

Reading the technical documentation for the different tools and platforms that your product uses can be a goldmine of insight. Knowing what's happening under the hood serves to inform better decisions on which features to focus on, and what technical debt needs attention.

4. Network with Other Technical Product Managers

Join communities or meetups where you can hear from other TPMs. Ask them about the challenges they face, what skills they use most, and how they've navigated the technical aspects of the role.

What Are the Salary Differences Between PMs and TPMs?

The technical competencies that TPMs bring with them often translate to higher salaries compared to traditional PM roles. Here is a high-level outline:

• The average increase a Technical Product Manager can expect over a Product Manager at the same level is about 10-20% based on company and region. The salary increase reflects that this brings extra technical knowledge and also the ability to drive complex technical trade-offs. Highly in demand, especially, are TPMs for companies where the product strongly depends on technical innovation-think AI startups, cloud platforms, or API-driven businesses.

For example, while a PM may earn roughly $120,000 per year, an equally qualified TPM may consider scales ranging from $130,000 to $150,000.

How Being a Technical Product Manager Helps in Your Career

Transitioning into the role of a TPM isn't just about a pay raise; it's also an incredibly powerful career move. Here's how this can serve to open more doors:

1. Fast-Track to Leadership Roles

This cocktail of product strategy and technical depth makes TPMs very strong candidates for leadership roles such as Head of Product, VP of Product or even Chief Product Officer (CPO). A lot of companies at scale want leaders who balance business and technology, so this value propagates from there.

2. Greater Credibility with Engineering Teams

If at all you had that feeling where you feel the engineering team does not take your inputs seriously, then being a TPM changes all that. It turns out that your ability to understand or contribute toward technical discussions gains you credibility and respect among the engineers, making collaboration with them much easier. Again, this is only true if the credibility is well-deserved.

3. Better Opportunities in Tech-Heavy Companies

Companies innovating on the most state-of-the-art technologies in AI, blockchain, or cloud platforms are always on the lookout for TPMs who can explain the technical complexity into customers' benefits. If your ambition is to be working in those spaces, then definitely learning the technology cannot be avoided.

4. A Deeper Understanding of Product Impact

As a Technical Product Manager, you understand how changes in product architecture influence user experience, scalability, and long-term maintainability. Such a holistic perspective makes you a better decision-maker and a stronger advocate in balancing the needs of the users with technical feasibility.

Final Words: Is Becoming a Technical Product Manager Right for You?

The Technical Product Manager is way more than a PM with a few technical skills; it's at the intersection of product strategy and technical execution. If you enjoy deep-diving into the technical details, closely working with engineers, and understanding how technology shapes user experience, this could be the perfect next step in your career.

Product complexity will continue to rise, so TPMs will only be more in demand. As a Product Manager looking to level up, get started on building those technical skills. The path's challenging, yet it's one that separates you from many mediocre product managers.