Technical Project Manager (Application Development and Deployment)

CompassX Group; Irvine (CA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

CompassX, a boutique business and technology consulting firm in Southern California, is seeking a hands-on Technical Project Manager to drive delivery on a fast-paced custom software initiative. You’ll translate product goals into technical tickets, manage the backlog, plan releases, and unblock the team in a lean, delivery-focused environment.

The role is senior, individual-contributor, and requires comfort with detailed technical work and local California presence.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience as a Technical PM, Scrum Master, or Agile Delivery Lead driving custom software development (mobile, web, or API integrations).
• Ability to write technical specs and user stories and manage sprint boards.
• Comfort talking code, reviewing API endpoints, and digesting technical architecture with developers.
• Willingness to test and validate builds on physical devices and endpoints during release cycles.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily standups, sprint planning, backlog grooming, and release tracking for a dedicated software team.
• Translate product goals into technical tickets with clear acceptance criteria.
• Unblock software engineers by resolving bottlenecks and edge cases.
• Perform hands-on release validation on physical devices and endpoints.
• Provide transparent progress updates to stakeholders while keeping teams productive.

Skills

Software Delivery

Backlog Management

Technical Writing

API & Web

Stakeholder Communication

Education

Bachelors in CS/Engineering

Tools

Jira

Confluence

Job description

CompassX is a boutique business and technology consulting firm. We help Fortune 500 and high-growth clients deliver their most strategic initiatives, from enterprise transformations to digital and data-driven projects. With over 15 years of proven results, we've expanded across industries including financial services, pharmaceuticals, aerospace, consumer products, and quick service restaurants.

We are honored to be recognized as a three-time winner of Consulting Magazine's Best Boutique Firms to Work For, and previously recognized as a \"Best Place to Work\" in Southern California and one of INC.'s 5000 fastest-growing private companies in the U.S.

We are looking for a hands-on Technical Project Manager to drive delivery for a fast-paced custom software initiative. You will work with Operations to draw out the product vision and manage engineering to develop the platform. You will lead a core team through development cadences, manage the backlog, plan the releases, and clear blockers for the team.

This is a senior individual-contributor delivery role. We're looking for someone who understands the details and is less reliant on top-down governance structures.

What You’ll Do

• Drive Lean Agile Delivery: Lead daily standups, sprint planning, backlog grooming, and release tracking for a dedicated custom software engineering team
• Translate Product Goals into Technical Tickets: Turn high-level requirements into developer-ready user stories, technical tasks, or API integration specifications with clear acceptance criteria
• Unblock Software Engineers: Actively resolve bottlenecks, clarify edge cases, and maintain team productivity
• Hands-On Release Validation: Test, validate, and troubleshoot custom app builds directly on physical devices and endpoints as part of the release cycle
• Manage Dependencies & Stakeholder Updates: Keep sprint velocity predictable and provide clean, transparent progress updates to business and technology stakeholders without adding unnecessary administrative overhead

What You’ll Bring

• Proven Software Delivery Background: 8+ years of experience as a Technical PM, Scrum Master, or Agile Delivery Lead driving custom software development (mobile, web, or API integrations) - ideally in lean small-team environments rather than large enterprise PMO structures
• Backlog & Ticket Expertise: Strong ability to write technical specs and user stories and manage sprint boards
• Technical Fluency: A degree in Computer Science/Engineering or equivalent experience - you can comfortably talk code, review API endpoints, and digest technical architecture with developers
• Comfort with Physical Devices: Willingness and ability to test and validate builds on physical hardware/endpoints as part of the release process - prior exposure to mobile apps, POS systems, digital kiosks, or connected devices is a plus
• Hybrid Availability: Based in LA / OC with the flexibility to work on-site where needed
• Builder Mindset: A preference for pragmatic, tenacious, and high-speed execution over heavy processes

Our consultants say CompassX is a place where they can truly find their own path. As part of a smaller firm, they see the impact of their work, have an identity, and know their voice matters. They value the freedom to take the reins of their careers, shape their client work, and maintain a direct line to leadership.

With CompassX's focus on serving local Southern California clients, consultants not only build lasting relationships but also see the results of their work in the communities where they live.

At CompassX, you won't just follow a path - you'll create one.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.

The posted compensation range is provided as an annualized equivalent for pay transparency purposes. Final compensation will be structured as an hourly rate or other contract-based arrangement and will be determined based on factors including experience, skills, qualifications, scope of work, engagement type, market conditions, and business needs.