DEFCON AI
Tech / AI / Software
DeputyProgramManager(TS/SCIClearanceRequired)
“Deputy Program Manager (TS/SCI Clearance Required) at DEFCON AI. Skills: AI-enabled software program execution, forward-leaning software acquisition and delivery, Agile/Hybrid delivery in an AI context, AI-foundational systems operation, Deputy/Acting Program Manager duties. Drive Daily Execution of AI Enabled Software Programs. Own day-to-day execution across multiple software and data-centric workstreams”
What You'll Achieve.
Resilience in the face of disruption; Align outcomes with operational goals; Better decision making; Anticipate, assess, and mitigate the impacts of disruptions; Sustained operational use; Modern, software-first outcomes; Balance Speed vs. rigor; Balance Experimentation vs. operational reliability; Balance Innovation vs. scalability; Enable learning, adaptation, and delivery — not process theater; Improve over time; Iteration and feedback loops; Different delivery and risk-management approaches than static software
Industry & Context.
Identify and remove blockers before they impact delivery, credibility, or user trust; Proactively identify and manage program risks; Surface uncomfortable risks early, with practical mitigation options; Drive decisions rather than deferring them
TS/SCI Clearance Required, Primarily operate remotely from the Washington, DC area, Willingness to attend frequent in-person meetings with government and industry partners
What They're Looking For.
Must Have
7+ years managing or leading software-intensive DoD programs, Experience as a PM or Deputy PM, Active TS/SCI Security Clearance, Currently reside in the Washington DC area
What You'll Do.
Drive Daily Execution of AI Enabled Software Programs, Own day-to-day execution across multiple software and data-centric workstreams, Translate capability goals into executable plans aligned to incremental, learning-driven delivery, Track tasking, dependencies, delivery status, and issue resolution across engineering and AI teams, Identify and remove blockers before they impact delivery, credibility, or user trust, Operate within DoD software acquisition pathways while actively pushing toward modern, software-first outcomes, Apply pragmatic, outcome-oriented acquisition thinking suited to fast-evolving AI systems, Help shape delivery strategies that balance: Speed vs.
rigor, Experimentation vs.
operational reliability, Innovation vs.
scalability, Push back on legacy, document-heavy, waterfall approaches that slow real delivery, Operate comfortably in Agile and Hybrid delivery environments supporting AI-driven systems, Support sprint planning, release planning, backlog prioritization, and iterative capability drops, Ensure Agile practices enable learning, adaptation, and delivery — not process theater, Help teams manage the realities of AI development (model iteration, data dependency, evolving performance metrics), Partner effectively with engineers and data scientists, Support programs built on optimization engines, analytics pipelines, AI/ML models, and data-driven workflows, Maintain full situational awareness across scope, schedule, risks, dependencies, and stakeholders, Step in for the Program Manager when needed to: Lead internal and external meetings, Make time-sensitive execution decisions, Communicate clearly with senior government and industry leaders, Proactively identify and manage program risks — including technical, data, integration, and delivery risks, Maintain and actively use RAID logs and decision records, Surface uncomfortable risks early, with practical mitigation options, Drive decisions rather than deferring them.
How You'll Work.
Team & Collaboration
Partner closely with the Program Manager; Own the day-to-day execution heartbeat across engineering, LLM and AI/ML development, integration, cyber, cloud, and operational stakeholders; Partner effectively with engineers and data scientists
Communication Scope
Communicate clearly with senior government and industry leaders
Process & Methodology
program management, execution, planning, tracking tasking, dependency management, status tracking, issue resolution, blocker identification and removal, risk management, RAID logs, decision records, Agile practices, Hybrid delivery environments, sprint planning, release planning, backlog prioritization, iterative capability drops
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