Staff Technical Program Manager, Infrastructure

Location: Los Angeles, Canada | Palo Alto, Canada | Seattle, India

Department: Engineering

Employment Type: Full time

About Snap Inc

Snap Inc is a technology company. We believe the camera presents the greatest opportunity to improve the way people live and communicate. Snap contributes to human progress by empowering people to express themselves, live in the moment, learn about the world, and have fun together.

About the Role

Snap Inc is a camera company that believes the camera and AR present the greatest opportunity to improve the way people live and communicate. We're creating a camera for AR that takes you beyond the screen and into the real world. Snapchat, Lens Studio, and Spectacles power human progress by empowering people to express themselves, live in the moment, learn about the world, and have fun together. As a Staff Technical Program Manager, Infrastructure in Engineering, you'll be a strategic, high-leverage leader at the intersection of software engineering, infrastructure scalability, and AR innovation. Unlike traditional TPM roles, you'll be a hands-on technical operator—writing Python notebooks, building dashboards, and driving the operating rhythm for programs that ensure our camera-first infrastructure scales to billions of daily Snaps and AR interactions. You'll thrive in Snap's fast-paced, creative culture, owning ambiguous, high-stakes initiatives that keep our platforms reliable, performant, and ready for the next wave of AR glasses and Lens creativity. In this role, you'll serve as a single-threaded owner for large-scale infrastructure programs spanning multiple orgs, partnering with engineering leaders to shape roadmaps for real-time camera processing, AR model deployment, and production system reliability. You'll leverage deep technical fluency to make architectural trade-offs, optimize costs, and deliver outcomes that enable seamless AR experiences across Snapchat and Spectacles. Hands-on with data, you'll analyze system performance using Python/SQL, create Grafana dashboards for visibility, and build automation to boost engineering velocity—ensuring our infrastructure supports Snap's mission of fun, expressive communication at global scale. Our interview process tests your ability to think like an engineer and act like an owner: starting with a technical screen, followed by a HackerRank data analytics assessment (Python/SQL), and culminating in a virtual onsite with program leadership presentations and 1:1s with senior leaders. Join us to drive infrastructure excellence that powers Snap's creative, camera-driven future. We practice a 'default together' policy, expecting 4+ days/week in office to build our vibrant culture faster.

What You'll Do

• Lead complex, cross-functional programs spanning multiple engineering organizations, requiring deep technical understanding to power Snapchat's camera innovations and AR experiences
• Operate as a single-threaded owner (STO) for critical infrastructure programs, managing ambiguity, dependencies, and alignment across diverse technical teams
• Own the full lifecycle of programs—from ideation to execution to operational excellence—delivering outcomes that support Snap’s products, infrastructure, and AR platform goals
• Partner directly with engineering and product leadership to shape roadmaps, influence technical decisions, and drive accountability for scalable camera and AR systems
• Use hands-on data analytics (Python, SQL, dashboards, notebooks) to guide programs, uncover insights on system performance, and communicate clearly with senior stakeholders
• Contribute to Snap’s technical ecosystem by building automation tools, improving internal systems, and identifying opportunities for platform-wide transformation in AR and real-time processing
• Drive development programs across orgs with complex interdependencies and platform excellence programs focused on reliability, efficiency, and performance for high-scale AR features
• Ensure engineering systems scale effectively for Snap's creative culture, remaining cost-conscious and performant to enable live-in-the-moment experiences
• Mentor and grow junior TPMs and Engineers to scale the performance of infrastructure teams supporting Snapchat and Spectacles
• Navigate high-visibility programs that enhance the reliability of AR Lenses and camera-driven features in fast-paced, ambiguous environments

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a technical field such as computer science, mathematics, statistics, or equivalent practical experience
• 11+ years of experience spanning Engineering, Data Science, or Technical Program Management leading cross-functional efforts in the software or tech industry in a data-driven environment
• 6+ years of experience in Technical Program Management
• Proven track record of leading large-scale, ambiguous programs across distributed teams in fast-paced environments, especially improving platform reliability, operational stability, and performance of production systems
• Strong proficiency with Python and SQL, with experience using data to analyze systems, build tools, or inform decisions
• Experience with data visualization tools (e.g., Grafana, Looker, Tableau), source control (e.g., GitHub), and ticket management (e.g., JIRA)
• Experience working directly with engineers on technical design, architectural trade-offs, and roadmap planning

Preferred Qualifications

• Background in software engineering, machine learning, or infrastructure systems
• Hands-on experience with big data technologies such as Spark, Airflow, Hive, Kafka, or Flink
• Familiarity with cloud-native infrastructure (e.g., AWS, GCP) and containerization tools like Kubernetes or Docker
• Experience managing production systems, reliability initiatives, or cost optimization programs
• Master's or PhD in a highly analytical field
• Exposure to high-scale consumer technology or social platforms with strong privacy, performance, or safety requirements

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Python programming
• SQL querying and analysis
• Data visualization (Grafana, Looker, Tableau)
• Source control with GitHub
• JIRA or similar ticket management
• Technical design and architecture trade-offs
• Cross-functional program leadership
• Hands-on dashboard and automation tool building
• Big data technologies (Spark, Kafka, etc.)
• Cloud infrastructure (AWS, GCP, Kubernetes)
• First-principles thinking in ambiguous environments
• Excellent communication and storytelling
• Strategic influence with senior leaders
• Rapid learning of new domains and technologies
• Organizational and execution precision
• Mentoring and leadership skills
• Cost optimization and reliability engineering

Our Benefits

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) matching and retirement savings plans
• Generous paid time off and flexible vacation policy
• Parental leave and family planning benefits
• Stock options and employee stock purchase program
• Fitness reimbursements and wellness programs
• Learning and development stipend for courses and conferences
• Free snacks, meals, and commuter benefits
• Mental health support and employee assistance programs

Compensation

$209,000-$313,000 annually

This position is eligible for equity in the form of RSUs.

"Default Together" Policy: At Snap Inc, we practice a "default together" approach and expect team members to work in an office 4+ days per week.

Snap is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.