Types of Project Managers: Game Design, Cybersecurity and More

A video game project manager works with a team in testing a new game.

 

Project managers work in a range of technology-driven fields, often in roles that blend creative, technical and operational responsibilities. For example, they use their leadership and coordination skills to manage projects in game development, cybersecurity and software development.

By drawing on their formal training and professional experience, project managers help keep timelines from slipping, teams from working at cross-purposes and complex initiatives from stalling.

Project managers enter the profession with a range of educational backgrounds. Degree programs that emphasize collaboration, production workflows, technical literacy and problem-solving — including degree programs in game design and development and other tech-focused disciplines — can help build competencies that apply across many types of project manager roles. 

 

5 Common Project Management Roles

Project managers’ specific responsibilities can vary based on the industry, technical environment and type of work they are involved in. While the core tasks for each role — planning, coordination and communication — are similar, they also each have their own unique tools, workflows and areas of focus.

Below are five common project management roles in technology-driven fields, including positions in game development, software, cybersecurity, informatics and information technology (IT).

Video Game Project Manager

Video Game Project Manager

Video game project managers oversee the planning and coordination of a game’s development, from the initial concept through the game’s launch. They are responsible for keeping the production schedules on track, aligning the creative and technical teams, and managing the scope of the project as the game’s features evolve. They work closely with game designers, programmers, artists and other contributors to ensure that milestones are met.

Video game project managers’ day-to-day responsibilities often include:

  • Tracking tasks
  • Resolving workflow bottlenecks
  • Adjusting timelines as needed
  • Communicating project updates to stakeholders

Employers seek candidates who can manage the entire scope of a project, track its dependencies and anticipate risks before they affect production. Experience in coordinating multidisciplinary teams is especially valuable in game design studio environments. A bachelor’s degree in game design, technology or a computing-related field is often a prerequisite for this role.

The median salary for video game project managers was around $95,000 per year as of 2025, according to Payscale. 
 

Software Project Manager

Software Project Manager

Software project managers oversee the planning and execution of software development projects across web, mobile or enterprise platforms. They translate technical requirements into clear timelines while balancing the competing priorities of developers, product teams and stakeholders.

Software project managers need skills in areas that include:

  • Scheduling
  • Documentation
  • Risk management
  • Cross-team coordination

Strong communication skills also are critical for these professionals, especially for when they must manage expectations regarding scope changes or deployment timelines.

Employers typically require a bachelor’s degree in software development, computing or another technology-related field for this role, along with experience working in software development environments. Employers often expect familiarity with Agile or Scrum methodologies, project management tools and basic software development concepts.

The median salary for software project managers was about $99,000 per year in 2025, according to Payscale. 
 

Cybersecurity Project Manager

Cybersecurity Project Manager

Cybersecurity project managers play a critical role in organizations guarding against data breaches and other digital threats that could have serious consequences for users, patients and customers. Working in high-pressure environments, cybersecurity project managers coordinate the security initiatives that protect organizations’ systems, data and infrastructure.

Cybersecurity project managers’ responsibilities focus on structure and accountability, particularly in projects where delays or missteps can have serious consequences. This type of project manager must be able to coordinate efforts across IT teams, vendors and organizational leadership to keep projects aligned while meeting regulatory and compliance requirements.

Completing a degree program that emphasizes technical literacy, risk awareness and cross-team coordination — such as a degree program in cybersecurity, information technology or a related technology-focused discipline — can help aspiring cybersecurity project managers build skills relevant to the role.

The median salary for cybersecurity project managers was around $119,000 per year as of 2024, according to Payscale. 
 

IT Project Manager

IT Project Manager

IT project managers oversee technology infrastructure initiatives, including system upgrades, network implementations, cloud migrations and enterprise software rollouts.

To succeed in this role, individuals need skills in the following areas:

  • Project scheduling
  • Budgeting
  • Documentation
  • Vendor coordination

IT project managers also must be able to communicate clearly with technical staff while being able to translate technical progress into updates that nontechnical stakeholders can understand.

Employers typically require candidates to have a bachelor’s degree in information technology or a related field, such as information systems, for this role. Experience working in IT environments is often beneficial, though not always required.

The median salary for IT project managers was around $98,000 per year in 2025, according to Payscale. 
 

Informatics Project Manager

Informatics Project Manager

Informatics project managers oversee projects involving data systems, information platforms and related technologies. Their work allows organizations to collect, manage and analyze large volumes of information.

To thrive in this role, informatics project managers should have skills in areas such as:

  • Project planning
  • Documentation
  • Data governance
  • Cross-team coordination

Strong communication skills also are essential to informatics project managers, especially when they are working with developers, analysts and nontechnical stakeholders.

This type of project manager position typically requires a bachelor’s degree in informatics, information systems or a related technology field. Employers may prefer candidates who have experience with databases, analytics tools and enterprise software systems.

The median salary for IT project managers, who have a role similar to that of informatics project managers, was around $98,000 per year in 2025, according to Payscale. 
 


Build Project Management Skills for a Technology-Driven Career

Project managers play a critical role in organizations across industries where complex work depends on collaboration, clear communication and coordinated execution. Degree programs that emphasize teamwork, production workflows, problem-solving and technical literacy can help students develop skills that apply to multiple types of project management roles in technology-driven fields.

For students interested in applying project management skills in the gaming industry, the Bachelor of Science in Game Design and Development program at the University at Albany provides students with hands-on experience working on collaborative, production-focused projects. Students can concentrate on an area such as game programming, simulation and serious games, networking and security, or AI in game design.

UAlbany also offers other programs that can support students interested in pursuing a project management-focused career path, including bachelor’s degrees in cybersecurity and informatics.

These programs are all available online or on campus. They reflect the range of educational pathways available to students who are eager to build transferable skills relevant to tech-related project management roles.  

Explore UAlbany’s bachelor’s programs today.