The Principal Technical Program Manager (TPM), DESA is a senior, single‑threaded owner for Zillow’s most complex, cross‑organizational data and AI programs. This role combines strategic partnership, clear communication, and broad organizational influence with deep technical program leadership.
As a Principal TPM for DESA, you will drive impact at scale by:
Serving as a trusted advisor and execution partner to DESA leadership, translating strategy into clear programs, operating mechanisms, and measurable outcomes.
Owning cross‑organizational technical programs that span analytics, data engineering, data platform, experimentation, and AI enablement, and ensuring they land with clarity, accountability, and durable impact.
Acting as a critical liaison between DESA and partner organizations (such as Data Platform, Product Engineering, Tech Enablement, and central platform teams) to enable bi‑directional communication, aligned priorities, and on‑time delivery of shared goals.
This is a hands‑on, bar‑raising TPM role. You are expected to dive into technical details when needed, design and iterate on operating mechanisms, and earn trust at all levels of the organization.
You Will Get ToServe as a trusted advisor and execution partner to DESA leadership, translating strategy into clear programs, operating mechanisms, and measurable outcomes.
Lead complex, cross‑organizational data and AI programs that span analytics, data engineering, data platforms, experimentation, and AI enablement.
Design, implement, and continuously improve lightweight, scalable operating mechanisms that keep teams aligned and moving toward measurable outcomes.
Act as a critical liaison between DESA and partner organizations (for example, Data Platform, Product Engineering, Tech Enablement, and central platform teams) to drive aligned priorities and on‑time delivery of shared goals.
Dive into technical details where needed to clarify scope, identify risks and dependencies, and enable high‑quality, timely decision‑making.
Establish clear milestones, owners, and success metrics for ambiguous, cross‑functional initiatives, and drive accountability across teams and leaders.
Communicate program goals, status, and tradeoffs to both senior executives and technical audiences through clear, concise written and verbal updates.
Build strong, long‑term relationships across engineering, product, analytics, and platform teams so people seek you out to bring clarity, remove blockers, and move work forward.
You have deep experience in Technical Program Management, Product Management, or data‑focused Engineering roles, with significant time spent leading large, complex, cross‑organizational programs in a technology company.
You have operated at Principal‑level scope, driving programs that cut across multiple senior leaders, organizations, and roadmaps.
You are deeply familiar with at least two of the following domains: data platforms and data engineering (for example, Databricks or modern data stacks), analytics/data science/experimentation, or AI/ML and LLM‑enabled products or tooling.
You are a strategic and systems thinker who connects organization strategy to concrete programs and operating mechanisms, and can clearly explain the “why,” “what,” and “how.”
You are a bar‑raising program leader who has led ambiguous, cross‑functional efforts from zero‑to‑one and through scale‑up, setting clear milestones, owners, and success metrics.
You are an exceptional communicator who can write and present clearly to senior executives and technical audiences, and can appropriately own communications on behalf of senior leaders.
You design lightweight, scalable processes that solve real problems without over‑burdening teams, and you iterate based on feedback and outcomes.
You build strong, long‑term relationships with leaders and individual contributors across engineering, product, analytics, and platform teams, and people seek you out to bring clarity and unblock decisions.
Here at Zillow, we value the experience and perspective of candidates with non‑traditional backgrounds. We encourage you to apply if you have transferable skills or related experiences.
At Zillow, we’re reimagining how people move—through the real estate market and through their careers. As the most-visited real estate platform in the U.S., we help customers navigate buying, selling, financing and renting with greater ease and confidence. Whether you're working in tech, sales, operations, or design, you’ll be part of a company that's reshaping an industry and helping more people make home a reality.
Zillow is honored to be recognized among the best workplaces in the country. Zillow was named one of FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For® in 2025, and included on the PEOPLE Companies That Care® 2025 list, reflecting our commitment to creating an innovative, inclusive, and engaging culture where employees are empowered to grow.
No matter where you sit in the organization, your work will help drive innovation, support our customers, and move the industry—and your career—forward, together.
Zillow Group is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive, innovative environment with the best employees. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please contact your recruiter directly.
Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with applicable state and local law.
Los Angeles County applicants: Job duties for this position include: work safely and cooperatively with other employees, supervisors, and staff; adhere to standards of excellence despite stressful conditions; communicate effectively and respectfully with employees, supervisors, and staff to ensure exceptional customer service; and follow all federal, state, and local laws and Company policies. Criminal history may have a direct, adverse, and negative relationship with some of the material job duties of this position. These include the duties and responsibilities listed above, as well as the abilities to adhere to company policies, exercise sound judgment, effectively manage stress and work safely and respectfully with others, exhibit trustworthiness and professionalism, and safeguard business operations and the Company’s reputation. Pursuant to the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
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What We Do
Join our mission to give the people power to unlock life’s next chapter. Our homes are the heartbeat of our lives, and we believe that finding a home shouldn’t be so hard in today’s always-on world. That’s why we’re reimagining the traditional rules of real estate to make it easier than ever to move from one home to the next. Our journey began nearly 15 years ago with a handful of employees and one big idea: to make it radically easier for people to move. We began by helping people understand and track their homes with the Zestimate, our proprietary algorithm, and then with advanced technology and valuable connections with real estate professionals. Today, Zillow has become a household name. People are more likely to search for “Zillow” than “real estate,” and our name is often used as a verb. While other industries have ushered in a new era of convenience, the time for seamless and convenient real estate experience is now. This is our next chapter as a company. We’re looking for smart, passionate adventurers to join us as we reimagine the real estate transaction and change the way people buy, sell, rent and finance their homes.
