How You'll Help Us Keep Climbing (Overview & Key Responsibilities)
At Delta Air Lines, connection is at the heart of everything we do and guides our every action. We strive to welcome and care for all our customers during their travels with us and aim to deliver an elevated experience. Delta is focused on sustaining a strong IT operation, growing our capabilities, and maximizing optimization across each of our tech hubs to elevate the travel experience for our customers and empower our 90,000 Delta people.
We’re committed to fostering innovation, and we’re excited to invite you to be part of our journey as we shape the future of technology at the world’s best airline!
We are looking for a Technical Program Manager to lead the planning, execution, and delivery of strategic In-Flight Entertainment and Connectivity (IFE&C) platform development. This role is responsible for driving cross-functional technical programs spanning software development, systems integration, connectivity platforms, hardware enablement, and operational deployment. Responsibilities include managing program deliverables from requirements definition through architecture, development, testing, implementation, release, and support transition.
The Technical Program Manager will serve as the primary bridge between engineering, product, operations, business stakeholders, and external vendors, ensuring delivery of scalable, reliable, and secure technology solutions. This role is responsible for managing dependencies, technical risks, release schedules, budgets, scope changes, and program communications while driving alignment across multiple teams. Success in this role requires strong technical acumen, program leadership skills, and the ability to influence cross-functional teams to deliver complex technology initiatives in accordance with Delta methodologies and software development best practices.
Essential Responsibilities
- Lead complex technical programs involving In-Flight Entertainment and Connectivity (IFE&C) platforms, software development, hardware integration, and aircraft technology deployments
- Partner with engineering, product, operations, certification, and vendor teams to plan and execute program objectives
- Develop and maintain integrated program plans, schedules, milestones, dependencies, budgets, and deliverables while tracking progress against program objectives
- Support Agile software development activities, working closely with technical leaders, developers, testers, business analysts, and stakeholders to support successful program delivery
- Coordinate activities across software, hardware, connectivity, and aircraft integration teams to ensure successful program delivery
- Support aircraft certification, testing, validation, and deployment activities in coordination with engineering, certification, and operational teams
- Identify, manage, and communicate program risks, issues, dependencies, and mitigation plans
- Drive alignment across cross-functional teams and ensure clear ownership of deliverables and commitments
- Provide regular status reports to stakeholders, sponsors, and leadership on program progress, risks, and key decisions
- Facilitate program reviews, governance meetings, and executive communications
- Manage scope changes and ensure program objectives remain aligned with business priorities
- Create and maintain project management deliverables including project plans, budgets, resource plans, risk registers, implementation plans, and status reports
- Ensure project team's adherence to established Delta project methodologies and standards
- Effectively coordinate with technology, business, operations, and vendor teams to support successful program execution
- Support deployment planning, operational readiness, and transition activities
- Continuously identify opportunities to improve program execution, team collaboration, and delivery processes
What You Need To Succeed (Minimum Qualifications)
- Thorough knowledge and experience with project and program management processes and tools, with emphasis on software development methodologies, systems integration, and technology delivery
- Bachelor’s degree with 5+ years of related work experience in technology, technical program management, or project management, OR MBA with 3+ years of related work experience in technology, technical program management, or project management, OR 7+ years of relevant work experience
- Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional technical initiatives within a matrixed organization
- Previous experience as a Technical Program Manager, Program Manager, Project Manager, Team Lead, or similar technical leadership role
- Ability to develop program plans, manage priorities, and proactively address risks, dependencies, issues, and schedule impacts
- Proven successful history of enterprise-level implementations, integrations, or complex technology deployments
- Experience working with Agile and traditional project delivery methodologies
- Ability to communicate effectively with technical teams, business stakeholders, and executive leadership
- Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills
- Proven ability to influence stakeholders, build alignment, and drive accountability without direct authority
- Experience using project and program management tools such as Jira, Azure DevOps, Confluence, Smartsheet, Microsoft Project, or similar platforms
- Strong PowerPoint, presentation, and written communication skills
- Consistently prioritizes safety and security of self, others, and personal data.
- Embraces diverse people, thinking, and styles.
- Possesses a high school diploma, GED, or high school equivalency.
- Is at least 18 years of age and has authorization to work in the United States.
- Willing to travel up to 25% of the time
What Will Give You a Competitive Edge (Preferred Qualifications)
- Experience coordinating efforts across engineering, operations, IT, aircraft certification, and vendor organizations
- Experience supporting aircraft systems, aviation technologies, connectivity solutions, or other regulated technology environments
- Experience managing third-party suppliers, technology vendors, or strategic implementation partners
- Familiarity with aircraft certification, testing, validation, or operational deployment activities
- Process improvement, business transformation, or organizational change management experience
- Quality assurance, testing, validation, or operational readiness experience
- PMP or other project/program management certifications
Benefits And Perks To Help You Keep Climbing
Our culture is rooted in a shared dedication to living our values – Care, Integrity, Resilience and Servant Leadership – every day, in everything we do. At Delta, our people are our success. At the heart of what we offer is our focus on Sharing Success with Delta employees. Exploring a career at Delta gives you a chance to see the world while earning great compensation and benefits to help you keep climbing along the way:
- Competitive salary, industry-leading profit sharing program, and performance incentives
- 401(k) with generous company contributions up to 9%
- New hires are eligible for up to 2-weeks of vacation. This is earned for use in the following vacation year (April 1 – March 31)
- In addition to vacation, new hires are eligible for up to 56 hours of paid personal time within a 12-month period
- 10 paid holidays per calendar year
- Birthing parents are eligible for 12-weeks of paid maternity/parental leave
- Non-birthing parents are eligible for 2-weeks of paid parental leave
- Comprehensive health benefits including medical, dental, vision, short/long term disability and life insurance benefits
- Family care assistance through fertility support, surrogacy and adoption assistance, lactation support, subsidized back-up care, and programs that help with loved ones in all stages
- Holistic Wellbeing programs to support physical, emotional, social, and financial health, including access to an employee assistance program offering support for you and anyone in your household, free financial coaching, and extensive resources supporting mental health
- Domestic and International space-available flight privileges for employees and eligible family members
- Career development programs to achieve your long-term career goals
- World-wide partnerships to engage in community service and innovative goals created to focus on sustainability and reducing our carbon footprint
- Business Resource Groups created to connect employees with common interests to promote inclusion, provide perspective and help implement strategies
- Recognition rewards and awards through the platform Unstoppable Together
- Access to over 500 discounts, specialty savings and voluntary benefits through Deltaperks such as car and hotel rentals and auto, home, and pet insurance, legal services, and childcare
