Technical Program Manager
Whatnot · Los Angeles, CA
- On site
- Full-time
- $250,000 / year
- Los Angeles, CA
Job highlights
- Drive critical technical and operational initiatives.
- Define and execute engineering roadmaps.
- Improve engineering processes and execution.
- Leverage AI tools for efficiency gains.
- Manage complex, high-visibility programs.
About the role
About Whatnot
Whatnot is the largest livestream shopping platform in North America and Europe to buy, sell, and discover the things you love. Whether it's trading cards, fashion, electronics, or live plants, our sellers are building real businesses across hundreds of categories. We're building live commerce at a scale that's never been done in the West, and there's no playbook to copy. The people here are shaping how an entirely new industry develops.
As a remote co-located team, we're inspired by our values and anchored in hubs across the US, UK, Ireland, Poland, Germany, and Australia. We move fast, stay close to our users, and focus on the work that drives the most impact.
We're one of the fastest growing marketplaces and were recently named the #1 Best Startup Employer in America by Forbes. Check out the latest Whatnot updates on our news and engineering blogs and join us as we enable anyone to turn their passion into a business and bring people together through commerce.
Role
We are looking for a strong Technical Program Manager who will work across our Engineering and Product teams to drive high-impact initiatives and help scale how we build and operate at Whatnot. From product to infrastructure to AI, you will play a key role working with engineering and product leadership on programs improving execution, alignment, and velocity across the organization.
- Drive the engineering roadmap, strategy, and execution of critical cross-functional initiatives
- Define requirements and technical roadmap with engineering, product, and cross-functional teams to launch programs at lightning speed
- Design and improve engineering processes, planning rhythms, and execution frameworks
- Clearly communicate roadmap, progress, and insights to key teams and stakeholders
- Do whatever it takes to ensure engineering teams are operating effectively — unblock them and keep them moving at a rapid pace
- Take ownership of any major blocker to the company's success
- Drive strategic initiatives across the company as needed
You
People who do well at Whatnot tend to be comfortable figuring things out as they go, biased toward action, and genuinely curious about what they're building. They care more about outcomes than credit and stay close to the product and the people using it.
As our next Technical Program Manager you should have 5+ years of relevant experience, plus:
- Experience leading complex, multi-disciplinary, and highly visible technical and operational initiatives across an organization
- Ability to thrive in ambiguous environments, identify system and design tradeoffs, and make decisions with limited information in high-pressure situations
- Demonstrated hands-on fluency with AI tools (e.g. Claude Code, Cursor) to reduce manual overhead, automate program workflows, and drive measurable efficiency gains
- Proven ability to collect, synthesize, and interpret data to inform decisions and drive clarity
- Experience with hypothesis-driven product and engineering development
- Entrepreneurial drive to achieve stretch goals in an innovative, fast-paced environment
Compensation
For Full-Time (Salary) US-based applicants: $190,000/year to $250,000/year + benefits + stock options
The salary range may be inclusive of several levels that would be applicable to the position. Final salary will be based on a number of factors including, level, relevant prior experience, skills and expertise. This range is only inclusive of base salary, not benefits (more details below) or equity in the form of stock options.
Benefits
- Generous Holiday and Time off Policy
- Health Insurance options including Medical, Dental, Vision
- Work From Home Support
- Home office setup allowance
- Monthly allowance for cell phone and internet
- Care benefits
- Monthly allowance for wellness
- Annual allowance towards Childcare
- Lifetime benefit for family planning, such as adoption or fertility expenses
- Retirement; 401k offering for Traditional and Roth accounts in the US (employer match up to 4% of base salary) and Pension plans internationally
- Monthly allowance to dogfood the app
- Parental Leave: 16 weeks of paid parental leave + one month gradual return to work
EOE
Whatnot is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value diversity, and we do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, parental status, disability status, or any other status protected by local law. We believe that our work is better and our company culture is improved when we encourage, support, and respect the different skills and experiences represented within our workforce.
Key skills/competency
- Technical Program Management
- Roadmap Strategy
- Cross-functional Initiatives
- Engineering Process Improvement
- AI Tools Fluency
- Data Analysis
- Hypothesis-driven Development
- Agile Methodologies
- Risk Management
- Stakeholder Communication
Skills & topics
- Technical Program Manager
- TPM
- Program Management
- Tech Lead
- Engineering Manager
- Product Management
- AI
- Livestream Shopping
- E-commerce
- SaaS
- Startup
- Remote Work
- Agile
- Scrum
- Roadmap
- Strategy
- Execution
- Data Analysis
- Process Improvement
- Cross-functional Collaboration
How to get hired
- Tailor your resume: Highlight your experience in leading complex technical initiatives and your fluency with AI tools. Quantify achievements using data.
- Craft a compelling cover letter: Express your entrepreneurial drive and ability to thrive in ambiguous, fast-paced environments. Showcase your understanding of Whatnot's mission.
- Prepare for technical questions: Be ready to discuss your experience with AI tools, data analysis, and hypothesis-driven development.
- Understand the culture: Emphasize your bias for action, curiosity, and focus on outcomes.
- Network effectively: Connect with current employees on LinkedIn to gain insights into the team and culture.
Technical preparation
Behavioral questions
Frequently asked questions
- What is the salary range for a Technical Program Manager at Whatnot?
- The base salary range for a Technical Program Manager at Whatnot in the US is $190,000 to $250,000 per year. This range is exclusive of benefits and stock options. The final salary will depend on factors like experience level and expertise.
- Does Whatnot offer remote work for Technical Program Managers?
- Yes, Whatnot operates as a remote co-located team with hubs in various countries. This Technical Program Manager role is open to US-based applicants and supports a work-from-home arrangement.
- What benefits does Whatnot provide for a Technical Program Manager?
- Whatnot offers a comprehensive benefits package including generous holiday/time off, health insurance (Medical, Dental, Vision), home office setup allowance, monthly stipends for cell phone and internet, wellness and childcare allowances, lifetime family planning benefits, 401k with employer match, and 16 weeks of paid parental leave.
- What kind of technical experience is required for the Technical Program Manager role?
- The ideal candidate has 5+ years of relevant experience, including leading complex, multi-disciplinary technical and operational initiatives. Hands-on fluency with AI tools (e.g., Claude Code, Cursor) for automation and efficiency is also highly valued, alongside experience with data analysis and hypothesis-driven development.
- How does Whatnot support employee development and growth?
- Whatnot encourages employees to develop a deep understanding of their product by using the platform as both a buyer and seller, with a budget to facilitate this. The company culture fosters learning and provides opportunities to shape a new industry.
- What is Whatnot's stance on diversity and inclusion for Technical Program Managers?
- Whatnot is a proud Equal Opportunity Employer committed to diversity. They do not discriminate based on protected characteristics and believe a diverse workforce improves their work and culture.
- What are the key responsibilities of a Technical Program Manager at Whatnot?
- Key responsibilities include driving the engineering roadmap and strategy, defining requirements with cross-functional teams, designing and improving engineering processes, communicating progress to stakeholders, and unblocking engineering teams to ensure effective operations and rapid pace.