Technical Program Manager Jobs in Illinois
Technical Program Manager jobs in Illinois are in strong and consistent demand, concentrated in enterprise software, financial technology, healthcare IT, defense contracting, and cloud infrastructure across seniority levels from associate program manager through senior director of technical programs. The heaviest hiring is in Chicago, where firms like Morningstar, Motorola Solutions, and United Airlines maintain large technology operations, with additional volume in Naperville and Schaumburg driven by legacy enterprise and telecom employers. The most sought-after specialties in Illinois are platform engineering program management, cloud migration delivery, and AI product operations. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
Find JobsOverview
Open roles25
Top employerCaterpillar
Top cityChicago, IL
Cities hiring13
Work type60% Hybrid
Top industryBanking
Showing 5 of 25+ Technical Program Manager jobs
Technical Program Manager
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Added 3d ago
Shield AI
Technical Program Manager
New Delhi, Illinois
Added 3d ago
Senior Manager, Technical Program Management
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Added 6d ago
Information Technology Senior Management Forum
Senior Manager, Technical Program Management
Riverwoods, Illinois
Added 6d ago
Senior Manager, Technical Program Management
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Added 6d ago
Capital One
Senior Manager, Technical Program Management
Riverwoods, Illinois
Added 6d ago
M
Senior Technical Program Manager, Hardware Systems
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M
Added 1w ago
MatrixSpace
Senior Technical Program Manager, Hardware Systems
Hoffman Estates, Illinois
Added 1w ago
Technical Program Manager
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Added 1w ago
Kraft Heinz
Technical Program Manager
Chicago, Illinois
Added 1w ago
Added 3d ago
Technical Program Manager
Shield AI·New Delhi, Illinois
Job functions:
Master's degree
1,001-5,000 employees
Job Description
Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include Hivemind autonomy software, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation and synthetic reality technologies. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Shield AI’s technology actively supports operations worldwide. For more information, visit www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube.
We are looking for an exceptional Sr Staff Technical Program Manager to lead the integration of Shield AI’s Hivemind autonomy stack onto next-generation aircraft platforms, guiding programs from concept through production and operational deployment.
You will drive alignment across hardware and software development activities, ensuring aircraft, autonomy software, and operational teams remain synchronized throughout the full product lifecycle. This role requires close coordination with distributed engineering teams across multiple offices globally.
The ideal candidate combines strong technical program management fundamentals with hands-on experience coordinating complex hardware/software integration efforts and customer facing program management. You will drive schedule, cost, technical performance, integration readiness, and operational outcomes while helping define the future of autonomous aviation.
What you'll do:
Lead Hivemind Enterprise Delivery
- Serve as the program manager responsible for the successful delivery of Hivemind Enterprise software to Armed Services and OEM customers.
- Serve as the program manager responsible for the successful integration of Shield AI’s Hivemind autonomy software onto next-generation aircraft platforms.
Drive Hardware & Software Alignment
- Operate as an embedded partner to aircraft engineering teams ensuring software development aligns with hardware integration, manufacturing, lab availability, and flight test schedules.
Establish Clear Objectives
- Work closely with product managers, engineering leads, operations, and executive leadership to define clear program objectives tied to mission impact, customer success, strategic growth, financial outcomes, and technical performance.
Program & Project Management
- Own development and execution of integrated project plans including scope, schedules, milestones, dependencies, budgets, and resource allocation. Continuously evaluate and rebalance customer priorities, technical risks, cost constraints, and schedule demands throughout the program.
Drive Timely, High-Quality Decisions
- Facilitate rigorous, fast, and effective technical and programmatic decision-making across cross-functional teams. While not expected to design systems directly, you will possess sufficient technical depth to identify risks, challenge assumptions, and drive alignment.
Integration & Flight Test Readiness
- Coordinate system integration activities across labs, ground test, and flight test operations. Drive readiness reviews, integration milestones, and closure of technical dependencies required to support successful aircraft integration and operational deployment.
- Identify potential bottlenecks, critical path risks, and schedule delays, and drive mitigation strategies to achieve program milestones and delivery commitments. Conduct critical path analyses and support program execution through Gate Reviews, Program Management Reviews (PMRs), and Estimates at Completion (EACs).
Communicate with Excellence
- Drive a consistent cadence of well-organized, effective meetings, including preparation, facilitation, action tracking, and follow-up.
- Ensure stakeholders (external and internal) remain aligned on status, milestones, priorities, risks, integration readiness, and technical challenges.
Drive Technical Execution
- Support the development and refinement of technical and operational documentation, engineering change orders, work instructions, service bulletins, operational procedures, and integration documentation.
Empower Teams & Remove Obstacles
- Create an environment where teams have the clarity, tools, accountability, and support needed to execute effectively. Escalate issues quickly, streamline processes, eliminate blockers, and foster a culture of ownership, urgency, and continuous improvement.
Deliver Outcomes
- Drive accurate and timely tracking and reporting of program financials, resources, schedules, integration status, and customer deliverables.
Support Growth & Strategic Initiatives
- Support business development activities related to current and future autonomy integration programs, including proposals, requests for information (RFIs), requests for proposals (RFPs), technical evaluations, and strategic customer engagements.
Required qualifications:
- Typically requires a minimum of 10 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 9 years and a Master’s degree
- Experience leading complex cross-functional engineering programs from concept through production and operational deployment.
- Experience in military aviation
- Strong technical understanding of software-enabled systems, autonomy, aerospace systems, or complex integrated products.
- Demonstrated success managing program execution across scope, schedule, budget, risk, and technical performance in fast-paced environments.
- Experience with Program Management Reviews (PMRs), gate reviews, and estimates.
- Exceptional customer communication and stakeholder management skills with the ability to lead through influence across distributed teams.
- Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills in fast-paced environments.
- Demonstrated ownership, accountability, and ability to drive execution with high standards and collaboration.
- Ability to travel up to 30%.
Preferred qualifications:
- Experience integrating autonomy or software systems onto defense platforms.
- Experience in software development, autonomy development, or systems engineering.
- Experience managing clean-sheet defense or technology development programs.
- PMP and/or Certified Scrum Master (CSM) certification.
- Familiarity with MoD contracting, defense acquisition, or national security programs.
- Experience balancing aggressive timelines with complex engineering constraints.
Total package details for U.S. based positions:
- Regular employee positions: Salary within range listed above + Bonus + Benefits + Equity
- Temporary employee positions: Hourly within range listed above + temporary benefits package (applicable after 60 days
of employment)
- Interns/Military Fellows/Part-time not eligible for bonus, benefits or equity
Total package details for International positions which are roles based outside of the United States (where applicable):
- International premium, hardship differential, cost of living differential, living quarters allowance, foreign service transfer
allowance, equity, international benefits, visa assistance, and relocation assistance.
Salary compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, licenses and certifications, and specific work location. All offers are contingent on a cleared background and possible reference check.
Shield AI is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.
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.
Shield AI
Technical Program Manager
New Delhi, Illinois
Added 3d ago1,001-5,000 employees
Job functions:
Master's degree
Job Description
Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include Hivemind autonomy software, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation and synthetic reality technologies. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Shield AI’s technology actively supports operations worldwide. For more information, visit www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube.
We are looking for an exceptional Sr Staff Technical Program Manager to lead the integration of Shield AI’s Hivemind autonomy stack onto next-generation aircraft platforms, guiding programs from concept through production and operational deployment.
You will drive alignment across hardware and software development activities, ensuring aircraft, autonomy software, and operational teams remain synchronized throughout the full product lifecycle. This role requires close coordination with distributed engineering teams across multiple offices globally.
The ideal candidate combines strong technical program management fundamentals with hands-on experience coordinating complex hardware/software integration efforts and customer facing program management. You will drive schedule, cost, technical performance, integration readiness, and operational outcomes while helping define the future of autonomous aviation.
What you'll do:
Lead Hivemind Enterprise Delivery
- Serve as the program manager responsible for the successful delivery of Hivemind Enterprise software to Armed Services and OEM customers.
- Serve as the program manager responsible for the successful integration of Shield AI’s Hivemind autonomy software onto next-generation aircraft platforms.
Drive Hardware & Software Alignment
- Operate as an embedded partner to aircraft engineering teams ensuring software development aligns with hardware integration, manufacturing, lab availability, and flight test schedules.
Establish Clear Objectives
- Work closely with product managers, engineering leads, operations, and executive leadership to define clear program objectives tied to mission impact, customer success, strategic growth, financial outcomes, and technical performance.
Program & Project Management
- Own development and execution of integrated project plans including scope, schedules, milestones, dependencies, budgets, and resource allocation. Continuously evaluate and rebalance customer priorities, technical risks, cost constraints, and schedule demands throughout the program.
Drive Timely, High-Quality Decisions
- Facilitate rigorous, fast, and effective technical and programmatic decision-making across cross-functional teams. While not expected to design systems directly, you will possess sufficient technical depth to identify risks, challenge assumptions, and drive alignment.
Integration & Flight Test Readiness
- Coordinate system integration activities across labs, ground test, and flight test operations. Drive readiness reviews, integration milestones, and closure of technical dependencies required to support successful aircraft integration and operational deployment.
- Identify potential bottlenecks, critical path risks, and schedule delays, and drive mitigation strategies to achieve program milestones and delivery commitments. Conduct critical path analyses and support program execution through Gate Reviews, Program Management Reviews (PMRs), and Estimates at Completion (EACs).
Communicate with Excellence
- Drive a consistent cadence of well-organized, effective meetings, including preparation, facilitation, action tracking, and follow-up.
- Ensure stakeholders (external and internal) remain aligned on status, milestones, priorities, risks, integration readiness, and technical challenges.
Drive Technical Execution
- Support the development and refinement of technical and operational documentation, engineering change orders, work instructions, service bulletins, operational procedures, and integration documentation.
Empower Teams & Remove Obstacles
- Create an environment where teams have the clarity, tools, accountability, and support needed to execute effectively. Escalate issues quickly, streamline processes, eliminate blockers, and foster a culture of ownership, urgency, and continuous improvement.
Deliver Outcomes
- Drive accurate and timely tracking and reporting of program financials, resources, schedules, integration status, and customer deliverables.
Support Growth & Strategic Initiatives
- Support business development activities related to current and future autonomy integration programs, including proposals, requests for information (RFIs), requests for proposals (RFPs), technical evaluations, and strategic customer engagements.
Required qualifications:
- Typically requires a minimum of 10 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 9 years and a Master’s degree
- Experience leading complex cross-functional engineering programs from concept through production and operational deployment.
- Experience in military aviation
- Strong technical understanding of software-enabled systems, autonomy, aerospace systems, or complex integrated products.
- Demonstrated success managing program execution across scope, schedule, budget, risk, and technical performance in fast-paced environments.
- Experience with Program Management Reviews (PMRs), gate reviews, and estimates.
- Exceptional customer communication and stakeholder management skills with the ability to lead through influence across distributed teams.
- Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills in fast-paced environments.
- Demonstrated ownership, accountability, and ability to drive execution with high standards and collaboration.
- Ability to travel up to 30%.
Preferred qualifications:
- Experience integrating autonomy or software systems onto defense platforms.
- Experience in software development, autonomy development, or systems engineering.
- Experience managing clean-sheet defense or technology development programs.
- PMP and/or Certified Scrum Master (CSM) certification.
- Familiarity with MoD contracting, defense acquisition, or national security programs.
- Experience balancing aggressive timelines with complex engineering constraints.
Total package details for U.S. based positions:
- Regular employee positions: Salary within range listed above + Bonus + Benefits + Equity
- Temporary employee positions: Hourly within range listed above + temporary benefits package (applicable after 60 days
of employment)
- Interns/Military Fellows/Part-time not eligible for bonus, benefits or equity
Total package details for International positions which are roles based outside of the United States (where applicable):
- International premium, hardship differential, cost of living differential, living quarters allowance, foreign service transfer
allowance, equity, international benefits, visa assistance, and relocation assistance.
Salary compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, licenses and certifications, and specific work location. All offers are contingent on a cleared background and possible reference check.
Shield AI is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.
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.
See All 25 Technical Program Manager Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find JobsTechnical Program Manager Jobs by City in Illinois
Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Riverwoods
2 jobsLisle
1 jobAurora
1 jobPeoria
1 jobBatavia
1 jobMossville
1 jobNew Delhi
1 jobOak Brook
1 jobShelbyville
1 jobWillowbrook
1 jobCity of Chicago
1 jobHoffman Estates
1 jobTechnical Program Manager Job Market in Illinois
A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Banking & Financial Services
What Illinois Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in technical program manager jobs across Illinois.
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, or a related technical discipline
- Demonstrated experience managing cross-functional technology programs from initiation through delivery
- Proficiency with program tracking tools such as Jira, Confluence, or Azure DevOps
- PMP, PgMP, or SAFe certification preferred by most Illinois enterprise and regulated-industry employers
- Strong stakeholder communication skills across engineering, product, and executive audiences
- Experience working in Agile or hybrid delivery environments at scale
Technical Program Manager Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a technical program manager in Illinois?
Technical program manager is not a state-licensed role in Illinois, so there is no Illinois-specific exam or registration required. Most Illinois employers expect a bachelor's degree in a technical field alongside hands-on experience coordinating engineering or product delivery. Earning a PMP or PgMP through the Project Management Institute strengthens candidacy significantly, particularly for regulated industries like healthcare IT and financial services that are prevalent across the Chicago metro and its suburbs.
How much do technical program managers make in Illinois?
Technical program managers in Illinois earn a median of about $171,730 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $105,350 for the lowest 10% to over $273,500 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire technical program managers in Illinois?
Employers hiring technical program managers in Illinois right now include Caterpillar, Aon, and Meta, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Illinois's concentration of Fortune 500 headquarters, major defense contractors, and large regional health systems creates steady, year-round demand for the role across multiple sectors.
Which Illinois cities have the most technical program manager jobs?
Chicago, Riverwoods, and Illinois account for the most technical program manager openings in Illinois. Chicago drives the largest share through its density of enterprise technology, fintech, and consulting firms, while Naperville and Schaumburg generate consistent volume from long-established corporate campuses in telecommunications, manufacturing technology, and healthcare IT that have maintained significant engineering headcount for decades.
Are there remote technical program manager jobs in Illinois?
Yes, and more than most fields. About 90% of technical program manager openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, reflecting how central the role is to distributed engineering teams. Program management tasks such as planning, stakeholder alignment, and status reporting are well suited to remote execution, though roles requiring vendor site visits or on-site program governance in defense and manufacturing tend to stay in-person.
How can I get hired as a technical program manager in Illinois with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is transitioning from an adjacent technical role such as software engineer, business analyst, or QA lead into a coordinator or associate program manager position. Large Illinois employers including Motorola Solutions, Allstate, and Advocate Health run rotational technology programs and early-career associate PM tracks that do not require prior PM titles. Building a PMP or Google Project Management Certificate credential while contributing to internal project work in a current technical role is the concrete step that opens the most Illinois doors.
Where can I find and apply to technical program manager jobs in Illinois?
You can find and apply to technical program manager jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings updated in real time. Search the listings to find roles that match your experience level and preferred location, then apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 25 Technical Program Manager Jobs in Illinois
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