Project Manager

Job Title: Project Manager

Location: Chicago, IL (Hybrid)

Employment Type: W2 Only

Duration: 12+ Months

Job Summary

We are seeking an experienced Project Manager to lead the planning, execution, and delivery of complex technology projects. The ideal candidate will have a strong technical background in software development, cloud infrastructure, or enterprise systems, combined with proven expertise in Agile/Scrum methodologies. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams (developers, architects, business stakeholders) to ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and aligned with business goals.

Key Responsibilities

• Define project scope, timelines, budgets, and success criteria for IT initiatives (software development, cloud migrations, system integrations).
• Lead Agile (Scrum/Kanban) or Waterfall project lifecycles, including sprint planning, backlog grooming, and retrospectives.
• Manage technical dependencies, risks, and mitigation strategies.
• Track progress using tools like Jira, Azure DevOps, or MS Project.
• Act as the primary liaison between technical teams and business stakeholders.
• Facilitate requirements gathering and translate business needs into technical tasks.
• Mentor and align developers, QA engineers, and DevOps teams on deliverables.
• Report on project status, KPIs, and roadblocks to executive leadership.
• Understand software architectures (microservices, APIs, databases) and cloud platforms (AWS/Azure/Google Cloud Platform) to guide technical decisions.
• Ensure compliance with security, scalability, and DevOps best practices (CI/CD, IaC).
• Oversee third-party vendor integrations and external tool evaluations.
• Implement QA/testing strategies (unit, integration, UAT) for defect-free releases.
• Drive on-time delivery with a focus on minimizing technical debt.
• Conduct post-implementation reviews to identify improvement areas.

Required Skills & Qualifications

• 10+ years of IT project management experience, with a focus on software development, cloud, or infrastructure projects.
• Mentor and align developers, QA engineers, and DevOps teams on deliverables.
• Define project scope, timelines, budgets, and success criteria for IT initiatives (software development, cloud migrations, system integrations).
• Lead Agile (Scrum/Kanban) or Waterfall project lifecycles, including sprint planning, backlog grooming, and retrospectives.
• Manage technical dependencies, risks, and mitigation strategies.
• Track progress using tools like Jira, Azure DevOps, or MS Project.
• Report on project status, KPIs, and roadblocks to executive leadership.
• Ensure compliance with security, scalability, and DevOps best practices (CI/CD, IaC).
• Oversee third-party vendor integrations and external tool evaluations.
• Implement QA/testing strategies (unit, integration, UAT) for defect-free releases.
• Expertise in Agile/Scrum with tools like Jira, Confluence, or Azure Boards.
• Strong risk management, budgeting, and stakeholder communication skills.
• Experience with AI/ML, IoT, or data analytics projects.
• PMP, CSM, or SAFe certification (or equivalent practical experience).