Program Manager

Location: Washington, DC; Denver, CO; or Colorado Springs, CO preferred (hybrid). Highly qualified candidates outside these locations may also be considered for unclassified work .

Work Authorization: U.S. citizenship required

Clearance: An active TS/SCI clearance with CI polygraph is strongly preferred. Candidates without an active clearance may be considered for unclassified work but must be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance

Salary Range: $145,000-$250,000 USD, dependent on experience level and location
About the Role

We're looking for a Program Manager to run an AI/ML platform program supporting national security missions. This is a role for someone who has done milestone-based work before and understands that on a fixed-price program, the schedule is the budget.

You own execution end to end: cost, schedule, performance, milestone acceptance, contract deliverables, subcontractor performance, and risk and change management. You track Government dependencies and chase them down before they turn into slips. And you hold the day-to-day relationship with the Government program office - you're who they call, and you're who comes back with the answer.

Our program teams are intentionally small and senior. There's no layer between you and the work, which means the things that actually keep complex programs moving - surfacing dependencies early, documenting decisions when they're made, escalating risk before it's a problem - are yours to do, not to hand off.

This position is contingent upon contract award. Travel of up to 25% may be required, primarily to Government facilities and between company locations. Classified work and certain Government engagements require an appropriate clearance and onsite presence in an accredited facility.
Key Responsibilities

• Own program cost, schedule, performance, and execution throughout the period of performance
• Develop and maintain the integrated program schedule and drive milestones to Government acceptance
• Manage contract deliverables, including technical reports, architecture documentation, recurring status reports, and program risk records
• Ensure deliverables meet contractual deadlines, quality expectations, and documented acceptance criteria
• Track Government-furnished equipment, information, access, and personnel dependencies against required dates
• Document and escalate late or at-risk Government dependencies, including anticipated schedule impact and proposed remedies
• Manage subcontractor and vendor performance, deliverables, staffing, and invoicing as part of an integrated program team
• Coordinate cleared subcontractor personnel and professional services engagements
• Support facility and personnel security processing and coordinate the security onboarding of program staff
• Maintain the program risk register, decision log, assumptions, issues, and mitigation plans
• Manage material scope, schedule, or dependency deviations through documented change-management processes
• Support requests for equitable adjustments or other contractual remedies when appropriate
• Serve as the primary programmatic interface to Government program and contracting stakeholders
• Coordinate activities across multiple Government stakeholder organizations
• Prepare for and lead program reviews, milestone reviews, status meetings, and executive briefings
• Partner with technical leadership to translate engineering progress, constraints, and risks into clear program-level reporting

Required Skills & Experience

• U.S. citizenship and eligibility to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance
• 8+ years of program or project management experience supporting Department of Defense, Intelligence Community, or comparable Government programs
• Direct ownership of cost, schedule, performance, and milestone acceptance for firm-fixed-price or milestone-based delivery
• Experience managing programs awarded through Other Transaction authority, Commercial Solutions Opening processes, or comparable rapid-acquisition vehicles
• Experience managing Government-furnished dependencies and formally escalating Government actions that affect contractor performance or schedule
• Experience managing subcontractors as part of an integrated program team, including personnel, deliverables, performance, and invoicing
• Working knowledge of Risk Management Framework accreditation timelines and the program dependencies associated with achieving an Authority to Operate
• Experience maintaining program schedules, risk registers, decision logs, change records, and formal contract deliverables
• Strong written communication skills suitable for Government correspondence, program reviews, contractual deliverables, and executive reporting
• Ability to communicate effectively with Government program officials, contracting stakeholders, technical leaders, security personnel, and subcontractors
• Bachelor's degree in a technical or business field, or equivalent practical experience

Nice to Have

• Active TS/SCI clearance with CI polygraph
• Project Management Professional certification or an equivalent program-management credential
• Experience delivering AI/ML platforms, analytics systems, or software capabilities into classified environments
• Experience working for a nontraditional defense contractor or commercial software company serving Government customers
• Familiarity with facility-clearance processing and DD Form 254 administration
• Experience managing personnel-security and classified onboarding activities
• Experience supporting defense innovation organizations or rapid prototyping initiatives
• Experience coordinating programs involving multiple agencies or Government stakeholder organizations
• Technical familiarity with cloud platforms, AI/ML infrastructure, or software delivery programs

What We Offer

• Medical, Dental & Vision - 100% paid for employees, 75% for dependents
• 401(k) Match - Up to 5% with full vesting after 2 years
• Unlimited PTO - With a required minimum of 15 days off annually
• Fully Remote Setup - Includes up to $3,000 equipment reimbursement
• Continuous Education - Includes up to $500 reimbursement
• Disability & Life Insurance - 100% employer-paid
• HSA & FSA Options - With monthly HSA contributions from OpenTeams