Principal Tech Portfolio Manager (all genders)

About the role

This role focuses on managing Zalando's technical portfolio, ensuring that engineering investments align with the company's strategic goals. The individual will be responsible for running the tech portfolio management system, connecting strategy with execution, and driving prioritization decisions. This involves working with various teams to ensure that technical initiatives are well-planned and executed.

A key aspect of the position is maintaining transparency across the portfolio, including tracking metrics and providing executive-level reports. The Principal Tech Portfolio Manager will partner closely with Engineering, Product, Finance, and Business units to achieve these objectives. The role also requires applying AI understanding to portfolio management and technology planning.

Success in this position means effectively managing portfolios across multiple engineering teams and business units, operating directly with senior technology leaders. It involves handling portfolio intake, prioritization, dependency tracking, and budget management, ultimately producing clear, data-driven materials for senior leadership to support decision-making.

The listed salary range for this full-time remote position is between $60,000 and $97,500 USD annually.

Skills that matter here

• technical portfolio management: This role requires extensive experience in managing technical portfolios, including intake, prioritization, and reporting.
• technical program management: Experience in technical program management is relevant for overseeing complex technical initiatives and aligning them with strategic goals.
• enterprise portfolio management: The position involves managing portfolios across multiple engineering teams and business units, which aligns with enterprise-level portfolio practices.
• product operations: Understanding product operations helps in connecting technical investments with product strategy and execution.
• strategy & operations: This role connects strategic planning with operational execution, requiring a strong background in strategy and operations.
• AI acumen: The role involves applying AI understanding to portfolio management and technology planning processes.

Who this role suits

• You have a background of 8+ years in technical portfolio management or a related field within complex technology environments.
• You are comfortable operating with high autonomy and can translate ambiguous problems into clear structures and outcomes.
• You are skilled at producing clear, data-driven materials for senior leadership, including decision papers and executive updates.
• You are able to respectfully challenge senior stakeholders when data or logic dictates.

From the employer

What We’d Love You To Do (And Love Doing)

• Run the tech portfolio management system
• Connect strategy, planning, and execution
• Drive prioritization and trade-off decisions
• Own portfolio transparency, metrics, and executive reporting
• Partner across Engineering, Product, Finance, and Business
• Apply AI acumen to portfolio management and technology planning

We’d Love To Meet You If

• You bring 8+ years of experience in technical portfolio management, technical program management, enterprise portfolio management, product operations, strategy & operations, or a related role in a complex technology environment such as e-commerce, marketplaces, SaaS, cloud platforms, infrastructure, retail media, fintech, or large-scale digital products.
• You have managed portfolios across multiple engineering teams, product domains, or business units, and have operated directly with senior technology leaders.
• You have proven experience with portfolio intake, prioritization, sequencing, dependency tracking, capacity modelling, budget or investment tracking, and portfolio health reporting.
• You produce clear, structured senior-leadership materials, including decision papers, portfolio narratives, business cases, executive updates, and steering documents that combine data, judgment, and recommendations.
• You operate with high autonomy and strong judgment, turning ambiguous problems into clear structures, mechanisms, stakeholder alignment, and outcomes with limited guidance.
• You are comfortable challenging senior stakeholders respectfully when the data or logic requires it.