Sr. Technical Project Manager

Chicago, United States | Posted on 06/05/2026

We are seeking a high-energy, pragmatic, and cloud‑fluent Technical Project Manager / Scrum Master for a high-impact, 6‑month contract (with strong potential for extension). Our client is entering Phase 2 of an enterprise‑wide initiative to scale their centralized data repository—the “source of truth” across the enterprise that will eventually fuel corporate reporting, insights, and advanced AI initiatives. This role bridges the gap between technical execution and project coordination.

You will sit directly over two small, agile data engineering pods (4–5 developers total) and a Senior System Architect to guide, shepherd, remove roadblocks, and keep deliverables strictly on track.

If you are a “scrappy,” roll‑up‑your‑sleeves driver who thrives in fast‑paced, high‑collaboration environments and prefers rapid, huddle‑based problem‑solving over lengthy email chains, you will fit right in.

• Agile/Scrum Leadership – Facilitate daily stand‑ups, end‑of‑day scrum check‑ins, and manage structured 2‑week sprint cycles across two parallel data engineering pods.
• Execution & Delivery – Shepherd the ingestion and pipelining of new enterprise data sources (e.g., integrating SAP, Salesforce) into the centralized cloud data foundation.
• Data Domain Scaling – Coordinate the deepening and optimization of established data domains (e.g., customer, inventory, pricing) with a heavy focus on data quality, cleansing, and governance.
• Stakeholder Coordination – Serve as the tactical liaison between the core engineering pods, system architecture, and 5–6 cross‑functional business stakeholders or subject‑matter experts.
• Risk & Dependency Management – Proactively identify technical roadblocks, map system dependencies, and deliver actionable, data‑driven recommendations and status updates to the internal leadership triad (Data Architecture, Insights & Intelligence, and Business Leadership).
• Culture Alignment – Drive a culture of immediate resolution—jumping in a room or sending a quick chat to resolve issues dynamically rather than drawing out decisions over email.

• The Scrappy Delivery Agent – You don't need a heavy corporate structure or a suit to be effective. You are comfortable working in a fluid, high‑energy, and uniquely “quirky” environment where action trumps formality.
• The Cloud‑Fluent Facilitator – You speak the language of data engineers and system architects effortlessly. You understand data pipelines, mapping, and cloud infrastructure constraints.
• The Dynamic Problem Solver – You move fast, possess strong situational awareness, and know how to ruthlessly prioritize sprint stories to keep the project timeline green.
• The Grounded Advisor – While you don't need to present to the C‑suite, you have the professional maturity to hand leaders clear risk assessments and structured scheduling recommendations.

• Background – 8‑10+ years of technical project management or Scrum Master experience heavily focused on enterprise data architecture, data warehousing, or data foundation projects.
• Cloud Infrastructure – Hands‑on experience managing projects deployed on major cloud platforms. While the client’s architecture is rooted in Google Cloud Platform (GCP), proven experience successfully standing up or scaling enterprise data foundations in AWS or Azure is highly transferable and welcome.
• Technical Core – Solid understanding of data pipelines (ETL/ELT), database management (SQL), data mapping among disparate legacy systems (e.g., SAP, Salesforce), and data governance initiatives.
• Methodology – Expert proficiency in Agile/Scrum frameworks, sprint planning, and utilizing modern project tracking tools (Jira, Confluence, Azure Dev Ops, etc.).
• Location & Workspace Cadence – Ability to work hybrid on‑site in the Chicago, IL area. The team operates in‑office Tuesday through Thursday; local candidates or those capable of regular, self‑managed travel during core office days are strongly preferred.
• Certifications – Certified Scrum Master (CSM), Professional Scrum Master (PSM), or Project Management Professional (PMP) credentials are a significant plus.

Rate Type – Our strong preference is for a 1099 contract engagement, though we are open to a W‑2 arrangement for the right candidate.