Lead Technical Program Manager

Appfolio; Goleta (CA); On-site; USD 152,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

AppFolio is seeking a seasoned Senior Technical Program Manager for internal security initiatives. You will establish roadmaps across application and infrastructure security, partner with Engineering, SRE, and IT to scope requirements, and keep projects on schedule.

You will implement structured intake processes, identify blockers, and deliver executive-ready reports on program health and risk reduction. Strong Jira experience and cross-functional leadership are essential.

Qualifications

• Translate multi-domain security initiatives into structured roadmaps and clear deliverables.
• Facilitate alignment between security, software engineering, SRE, and IT operations teams.
• Evaluate dependencies, surface risks, and present options and trade-offs to leadership.
• Hands-on experience with project management and issue-tracking platforms (e.g., Jira).
• Strong communication skills for executive reporting and stakeholder management.

Responsibilities

• Establish, maintain, and execute strategic roadmaps for core internal security initiatives across application security, infrastructure security, vulnerability management, and threat operations.
• Partner with Engineering, SRE, IT, and Business Systems teams to scope requirements and track milestones to keep deliverables on schedule.
• Implement structured intake and prioritization processes to align security projects with business goals.
• Identify blockers and resource gaps, escalating with actionable options and trade-offs.
• Serve as the main cross-functional liaison for security initiatives, coordinating with internal partners and external vendors.
• Deliver executive-ready reporting on program health, progress, resource needs, and outcomes framed to reduce business risk.

Skills

Strategic roadmapping

Cross-functional leadership

Security program management

Executive reporting

Security communications

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or Engineering

Tools

Jira

Job description

AppFolio is more than a company. We’re a community of dreamers, big thinkers, problem solvers, active listeners, and multipliers. At every opportunity, we set the pace while delivering innovation built to carry real estate into the future. One in which every experience feels effortless, yet meaningful. Where customers are empowered to take on any opportunity. We show up as one team, connected by our values to be a force for good. Because together, we have the power to create extraordinary outcomes for our customers, our communities, and ourselves.

Your Impact

• Establish, maintain, and execute strategic roadmaps for core internal security initiatives across application security, infrastructure security, vulnerability management, and threat operations.
• Partner directly with Engineering, SRE, IT, and Business Systems teams to scope requirements, track critical project milestones, and ensure operational deliverables remain on schedule.
• Implement structured intake and prioritization processes to make security project handoffs transparent, well-resourced, and aligned with overall business goals.
• Proactively identify cross-departmental blockers, resource gaps, and dependency conflicts, escalating issues with actionable options and strategic trade-offs.
• Serve as the single point of contact and primary cross-functional liaison for security-driven initiatives, streamlining communications with internal engineering partners and external third-party vendors.
• Deliver clear, executive-ready reporting on program health, project progress, resource needs, and technical outcomes framed around business risk reduction and resilience.

Qualifications

• Able to translate complex, multi-domain security initiatives (application security, infrastructure security, vulnerability management) into structured project roadmaps and clear operational deliverables.
• Skilled at facilitating cross-functional alignment between security, software engineering, site reliability, and IT operations teams.
• Strong ability to evaluate technical dependencies, surface emerging risks early, and present clear options and trade-offs to senior leadership.
• Demonstrated competency in managing technical project workflows within tools like Jira to maintain clear accountability and visible tracking.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with the versatility to tailor messages effectively for software engineers, security practitioners, and executive leadership.

Must Have

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field (or equivalent practical technical leadership experience) required.
• Proven track record in technical program or project management within an information security or engineering organization.
• Experience managing cross-functional technical projects that intersect with software development lifecycles, CI/CD pipelines, or SRE/IT operational workflows.
• Hands-on experience utilizing project management and issue-tracking platforms (such as Jira) to manage complex backlogs, dependencies, and delivery timelines.
• Experience coordinating deliverables across multiple security disciplines or managing vendor engagements aligned with internal project schedules.
• Strong communication skills, including executive-level reporting capabilities.

Compensation & Benefits

The compensation that we reasonably expect to pay for this role is: $152,000 - $190,000 base pay. The actual compensation for this role will be determined by a variety of factors, including but not limited to the candidate’s skills, education, experience, and internal equity.

Please note that compensation is just one aspect of a comprehensive Total Rewards package. The compensation range listed here does not include additional benefits or any discretionary bonuses you may be eligible for based on your role and/or employment type.

Regular full-time employees are eligible for benefits - see here.

About AppFolio

AppFolio is the technology leader powering the future of the real estate industry. Our innovative platform and trusted partnership enable our customers to connect communities, increase operational efficiency, and grow their business. For more information about AppFolio, visit appfolio.com.

Why AppFolio

Grow | We enable a culture of high performance, where delivering results is recognized by opportunities for growth and compelling total rewards. Our challenging and meaningful work drive the growth of our business, and ourselves.

Learn | We partner with you to realize your potential by investing in you from the start. We're cultivating a team of big thinkers through coaching and mentorship with our best-in-class leaders, and giving you the time and tools to develop your skills.

Impact | We are creating a world where living in, investing in, managing, and supporting communities feels magical and effortless, freeing people to thrive. We do this by innovating with purpose while cultivating a culture of impact. We learn as much from each other as we do our customers and our communities.

Connect | We excel at hybrid work by fostering an environment that feels flexible, personal and connected, no matter where we are. We create space to fuel innovation and collaboration, and we come together to celebrate, connect, and succeed.

Paddle as One.

Learn more at appfolio.com/company/careers

Statement of Equal Opportunity

At AppFolio, we value diversity in backgrounds and perspectives and depend on it to drive our innovative culture. That’s why we’re a proud Equal Opportunity Employer, and we believe that our products, our teams, and our business are stronger because of it. This means that no matter what race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identification, national origin, age, marital status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, or veteran status, you’re always welcome at AppFolio.

Compensation Range: $152K - $190K