Forward Networks

Technical Program Manager

Forward Networks$190K — $220K *
Information Technology
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5-7 years in Technical Program Management or similar role.
  • Proven experience in managing multi-team SaaS releases.
  • Strong understanding of software development lifecycle (SDLC).
  • Technical knowledge in networking or infrastructure preferred.
  • Ability to balance technical and business perspectives.
  • Experience designing processes that promote alignment.

Responsibilities

  • Manage release processes from product definition to deployment.
  • Drive cross-functional engineering and product initiatives to successful outcomes.
  • Facilitate internal communications, including status updates to stakeholders.
  • Create and refine processes for team alignment without unnecessary bureaucracy.
  • Leverage automation and AI for improved project tracking and documentation.

Benefits

  • Health and wellness programs.
  • Flexible working hours and remote work options.
  • Professional development opportunities.
  • Collaborative and inclusive work culture.
Full Job Description
Forward is looking for a Technical Program Manager

Core accountability: Drive execution across engineering programs, including releases, cross-functional initiatives, and the communications and coordination infrastructure that keeps a scaling org aligned.

What you'll own:
  • Release management end-to-end: SDLC coordination from product definition through production deployment, dependency mapping, release cadence, risk identification, and escalation before deadlines slip
  • Cross-functional programs that span engineering, product, and the technical field: scoping, sequencing, and driving them to outcomes
  • Internal engineering communications: status reporting, exec updates, and the cadence of how engineering keeps the rest of the org informed
  • Process design that gets teams aligned without adding bureaucracy. Lightweight, followed, and retired when no longer useful
  • Automation and AI leverage: identify what should be automated, partner with engineers to implement, and use AI for status tracking, documentation, and dependency analysis

What matters:
  • Track record running multi-team SaaS releases and broader engineering programs with complex dependencies
  • Technical depth to distinguish realistic from fantasy (networking or infrastructure background a plus)
  • Translates fluently between technical teams and business stakeholders
  • Builds lightweight processes that actually get followed
  • Knows when to push back on scope or timeline vs. when to escalate
  • Comfortable being the person who asks "are we still on track?" repeatedly, and the one who reframes the question when the answer keeps being "yes" but the evidence says otherwise

What this isn't:
  • Pure project management. You need technical credibility
  • Pure engineering. You're not writing runbooks or going on-call
  • Order-taker. You'll challenge unrealistic commitments and unclear program goals
  • Customer-facing. This role is internal

The base pay range for this role is between $190,000 and $220,000. Base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location

About Forward Networks

Forward Networks is a software company that provides network assurance and verification solutions for enterprise networks. The company was founded in 2013 by David Erickson and Peyman Kazemian and is headquartered in Palo Alto, California. Forward Networks' platform uses mathematical models to analyze network behavior and identify potential issues before they occur. The company has received funding from investors such as Andreessen Horowitz and A.Capital Ventures.
Learn more about Forward Networks
Size
100 employees
Industry
Founded
2013

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