Senior Program Integration Lead

Agile Defense

• $140K — $180K *
Aerospace & Defense
11 - 15 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 12+ years of experience in military operations, program leadership, or national security.
  • Proven track record in leading complex programs across multiple organizations.
  • Ability to translate strategic guidance into actionable plans and priorities.
  • Experience in building alignment and driving execution without direct authority.
  • Strong judgment and executive communication skills with senior stakeholders.
  • Active Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility.

Responsibilities

  • Serve as a senior integration partner to A&S leadership within CDAO.
  • Coordinate across various military and acquisition organizations to align priorities.
  • Translate strategic direction into executable program objectives and activities.
  • Develop an integrated view of program priorities and risks across organizations.
  • Manage the program backlog to connect operational demand with software delivery.
  • Identify cross-program dependencies and issues requiring leadership attention.
  • Provide executive reporting to CDAO leadership on progress and emerging needs.

Benefits

  • Engagement in high-impact projects within the Department of Defense.
  • Opportunity to work in a dynamic, cross-functional team environment.
  • Access to professional development and training opportunities.
  • Involvement in strategic planning and decision-making processes.
  • Collaboration with senior government and military leaders.
Full Job Description
Requisition #: 1890

Job Title: Senior Program Integration Lead

Location: Pentagon | Alexandria, VA

Clearance Level: Top Secret w/ SCI eligibility, Must Have Clearance to Start

The Program Integration Lead supports the Department of War Chief Data and Artificial Intelligence Office (CDAO) in accelerating the acquisition, integration, and delivery of software capabilities against priority operational needs. As part of a distributed, cross-functional team, this role works across operational, acquisition, product, and technical communities to connect mission requirements with executable software outcomes through the Cadre software acquisition pathway.

Embedded with the A&S office within CDAO, the Program Integration Lead works directly with the A&S Director to create structure around dynamic priorities, translate direction into coordinated action, and drive alignment and follow-through across the broader stakeholder community. The role works across Combatant Commands, A&S, JFN program leadership, BOND, Joint Staff, Services, acquisition organizations, technical teams, and other mission partners to connect efforts, manage cross-program dependencies, resolve barriers to execution, and equip leadership with clear, decision-ready information.

Success in this role requires strong operational judgment, program leadership, and executive communication, with the ability to navigate complex organizational dynamics and keep execution moving. The Program Integration Lead helps expand effective use of the Cadre software acquisition pathway across JFN and associated efforts while connecting near-term execution to broader CDAO objectives. The role also brings relevant lessons and insights from execution back to company leadership to inform strategic planning and strengthen broader software acquisition, delivery, and mission-integration approaches.

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
  • Serve as a senior program and operational integration partner to A&S leadership within CDAO.
  • Coordinate across Combatant Commands, JFN program leadership, Joint Staff, Services, acquisition organizations, technical teams, and other mission partners to maintain alignment around shared priorities and outcomes.
  • Translate strategic direction and senior-leader priorities into executable program objectives, roadmaps, backlogs, and activities.
  • Develop and maintain an integrated view of program priorities, dependencies, decisions, risks, and execution across participating organizations.
  • Manage the integrated program backlog, connecting operational demand with acquisition and software delivery priorities.
  • Coordinate and sequence Cadre-supported activities across JFN and associated Golden Hammer programs, including ARGO, JSDT, THUNDERFORGE, and ETA.
  • Identify cross-program dependencies, competing priorities, resource constraints, and issues requiring leadership attention.
  • Develop concise, decision-ready options that communicate issues, tradeoffs, dependencies, and implications for senior leaders.
  • Establish and maintain effective operating rhythms for stakeholder communication, decisions, actions, commitments, and follow-through.
  • Provide executive reporting and briefings that give CDAO leadership visibility into progress, barriers, emerging needs, and required decisions.
  • Connect individual software efforts and near-term execution priorities to broader JFN and CDAO strategic objectives.
  • Identify opportunities to apply and scale the Cadre software acquisition pathway against validated operational software needs.
  • Drive unresolved issues toward closure by engaging the appropriate stakeholders and determining when working-level resolution, cross-organizational alignment, or senior Government decision is required.
  • Capture recurring mission, acquisition, and execution patterns and translate relevant lessons into reusable organizational knowledge.
  • Share field-informed insights with company leadership to support strategic planning and continued maturity of software acquisition, delivery, partnerships, and mission-integration capabilities.


Basic Qualifications

  • 12+ years of relevant experience in military operations, program or portfolio leadership, acquisition, capability development, national security, or a related field. Higher education, specialized training, relevant military service, and professional experience may be considered in combination.
  • Demonstrated experience leading complex programs, portfolios, or mission efforts involving multiple organizations, disciplines, and senior stakeholders.
  • Demonstrated experience translating strategic guidance and senior-leader priorities into executable plans, priorities, or program activities.
  • Demonstrated ability to build alignment and drive execution across organizations without direct authority over participating stakeholders.
  • Demonstrated ability to synthesize complex issues, competing priorities, and incomplete information into clear, decision-ready options for senior leadership.
  • Demonstrated ability to create structure and forward progress in ambiguous environments where ownership, priorities, authorities, or processes are still evolving.
  • Strong judgment and executive communication skills, with demonstrated experience engaging senior Government, military, or equivalent executive stakeholders.
  • Active Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility


Preferred Qualifications

  • Senior Joint, Service, Combatant Command, or Special Operations operational experience.
  • Experience with Joint fires, targeting, command and control, or related mission areas.
  • Experience working across OSD, Joint Staff, Combatant Commands, Services, PEOs, or other acquisition organizations.
  • Experience with software-intensive, data, AI/ML, or digitally enabled capability programs.
  • Familiarity with defense software acquisition, rapid capability delivery, or iterative acquisition approaches.
  • Familiarity with Agile or iterative software delivery and the relationship among operational needs, product priorities, acquisition decisions, development, fielding, and user feedback.
  • Experience managing portfolios or interconnected programs with distributed ownership, funding, authorities, and execution.
  • Experience establishing operating models, governance structures, or execution processes for new or rapidly evolving programs.
  • Familiarity with product management, software portfolio management, backlog management, or related practices.


Working Environment

Environmental Conditions

Work is primarily performed in professional office and Government facility environments within the National Capital Region, including regular engagement at the Pentagon and other secure Government locations. The position requires frequent in-person collaboration with Government and mission stakeholders and may require travel to Combatant Commands, program offices, technical organizations, and other mission locations. Work may occur in secure facilities with restrictions on personal electronic devices and remote connectivity.

Strength Demands

Sedentary to light physical demands associated with professional office environments. Occasional movement or transport of laptops, documents, and other standard work materials may be required.

Physical Requirements

Regular use of computers and standard office equipment; ability to participate in meetings, working sessions, and briefings for extended periods; ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders at all organizational levels; and ability to travel as required.

$140,000 - $180,000 a year

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