About Tech Talks
In the Tech Talks series, we’re excited to bring you the unique culture and perspective of the PayPay Tech Team through conversations with our product members, representing diverse backgrounds from approximately 50 countries around the world.
This time, we interviewed Takemura-san who contributes to the business as a Senior Technical Program Manager.
Wataru Takemura
TPM, PMO Department, Payment Product Division
After gaining development and project management experience in the software industry, he served as a member of the project to launch a payment service in Japan as a Technical Program Manager in a tech company. He then joined PayPay in April 2022. Currently, Takemura-san is responsible for O2O and infrastructure projects as a Senior Technical Program Manager.
First, please tell us about the role a Technical Program Manager
The mission of a Technical Program Manager (TPM) is to support product development teams from a project management perspective, contributing to project success through defining and improving processes. At the same time, TPMs are also responsible for facilitating process improvements and culture building in the development team to maintain high efficiency and productivity.
Specifically, this includes scheduling, tasks, quality management, and reporting for development projects under their charge. This involves facilitating communication within the development team and across multiple teams, including various meetings, and coordinating among stakeholders such as engineering managers, product managers, and developers. Many teams at PayPay also adopt agile development, so the TPM also plays a role in promoting agile practices.
Some might wonder how the TPM differs from other positions. There are other roles such as engineering managers and product managers, but each has a different focus.
Engineering managers lead the engineering aspect of projects, managing resources, providing technical guidance, and making technical decisions.
Product managers are the final decision-makers on product specifications, coordinating with not only engineers but also multiple stakeholders such as the business side, and formulating strategies.
The TPM supports engineering managers and product managers in making correct decisions. The role is to manage the daily tasks and schedules of engineers, facilitate communication between teams, and help ensure the success of the project and the release of the product.
Please tell us why you joined PayPay
My career has been in the software industry. In my previous job at a different tech company, I was involved in launching a payment service in Japan as the TPM. So I was on the lookout for what was happening in the industry, when PayPay launched its service. After its launch, PayPay kept adding new features and making improvements at an incredible speed, which was astonishing to me. I was strongly attracted to the company’s overwhelming sense of speed in development, which led me to decide to join PayPay.
What is your current role?
In the TPM team, we assign members to each product line, where they work in collaboration with the PdM, engineering managers, and engineers to drive the project. My assignment covers two areas – O2O and infrastructure.
I’ve been working at PayPay since before the establishment of the TPM team, always involved in tasks a TPM would engage in. After the TPM team was established in January 2023, I have also been involved in establishing support systems such as onboarding.
Which project made the biggest impression on you?
I’d have to say, the PayPay Flyers development project of the O2O team, where I was scrum master for the first time. In addition to gaining scrum experience and knowledge, seeing the rapid growth of the engineers who had only recently joined the company was very impressive. By the time we released the product, the team’s maturity in terms of scrum development had significantly improved. It’s a very memorable project, where I could tangibly feel the growth of team members.
Are there any unique or exciting aspects of being a TPM at PayPay?
The fun of being a TPM is the opportunity to experience various cross-functional projects. Currently, I am involved in multiple projects completely different from my assigned area. PayPay offers an environment where you can get involved beyond your direct assignments, simply by stepping up and showing interest. While it’s challenging, it’s very exciting to face something new every day.
Talking about challenges, one aspect that is characteristic of PayPay is the rapid growth of the organization. Due to this, there are no unified rules or tools between teams, and knowledge of agile development varies by team. Therefore, it’s necessary to explore approaches tailored to each team. Since the TPM team was recently established, we are working on making sure everyone in the company understands what role the TPM plays, so we can achieve our mission. Right now, we are in the process of doing these things one step at a time.
Another thing worth mentioning is PayPay’s culture of speed. One of the key challenges as a TPM is guiding the development team toward the successful completion of projects while ensuring high efficiency and productivity, especially as the organization grows larger and more complex.
What do you value most in communication?
Listening is the most important thing for me. The role of the TPM is not to make decisions but to support team members align and make the right decisions. It’s important for me to be a servant leader who listens, understands, and empathizes before making decisions. So, my goal is to communicate in a way that allows team members to make the right decisions on their own.
Are there any other challenges you’re planning to take up?
I want to gain more experience as a TPM and further brush up on my skills. To be honest, I haven’t drawn up a specific career path I’d like to take yet. I find that the style of the TPM, committed to the success of projects as an individual contributor without subordinates, really suits me. PayPay is a fast-paced company, almost like it’s moving at double speed. So I want to swiftly absorb all the experience I can in a short period of time.
Also, I am thinking about tackling challenges like maximizing efficiency and productivity while working remotely, including how to visualize those factors.
Lastly, a message for our readers please!
PayPay is home to a rapidly changing environment, so it is well-suited for those who can flexibly adapt to uncertainty. On the other hand, it is also attractive because it’s an environment where new ideas are welcomed. Therefore, those who are interested in project management based on technical perspectives, who want to try new ideas and methods, and who want to work in an environment where challenges are encouraged, are especially welcome. We are looking forward to your application!
Current job openings
*Job openings and employee affiliations are current as of the time of the interview.
