Level

Scale AI

Technical Program Manager (Homeland Layered Defense), Public Sector

Scale AI is hiring a Technical Program Manager (Homeland Layered Defense), Public Sector in Washington DC, United States. It pays $166k-$208k a year and Level rates it ; you can apply on Scale AI.

Level's read on this job

  • On Level's scale, this role is Works on AI ●●●○: the daily work is on AI products, without building the model.
  • The posting mentions Jira, GitLab and program management among its tools and skills.
  • Level classes it as a senior role.
  • Scale AI has 170 other open roles on Level.

AI in this role

Drive technical execution and delivery of agentic AI capabilities for public sector national security missions.

jiragitlab
program-managementsoftware-engineeringsystems-engineeringproduct-management

Scale's public sector business is providing the best of American commercial technology and innovation to protect the homeland and meet the moment. As a member of our public sector delivery team, you will own relationships critical to the portfolio of clients charged with a layered defense for the United States. You will be a catalyst, willing to go deep, get technical, and drive change. You will manage customer relationships and partners as well as partner with our engineering team to solve Scale’s hardest problems. All of this serves an ultimate goal of delivering cutting-edge agentic AI to orchestrate portfolio management for defense of the homeland.

 

You will:

  • Own technical execution for one or more national security mission areas from initial requirement through deployment and formal evaluation
  • Translate operational workflows into detailed Product Requirements Documents (PRDs), Engineering Requirements Documents (ERDs), and executable engineering work
  • Work alongside engineers during cycle planning to define scope, sequencing, architecture constraints, dependencies, and milestones
  • Maintain end-to-end requirements traceability from customer objective to software build, test event, and formal deliverable
  • Drive Jira/GitLab execution and provide accurate inputs into integrated master schedules and program-level planning
  • Understand and manage data availability, system architecture, integration dependencies, and technical constraints across high-side networks
  • Identify technical blockers early, own their resolution, and immediately escalate critical risks when required
  • Partner with subcontractors and external engineering teams where applicable, defining interfaces, deliverables, handoffs, and accountability
  • Communicate technical progress, risks, tradeoffs, and decisions clearly to both engineering teams and senior customer stakeholders

 

Must haves:

  • Active TS/SCI clearance
  • 5+ years of experience in technical program management, software engineering, systems engineering, product management, technical consulting, or a related technical delivery role
  • Strong technical literacy across software architecture, APIs, data systems, system integration, and AI/ML-enabled products
  • Ability to write detailed technical and product requirements that engineering teams can directly execute against
  • Experience driving complex technical programs across multiple engineering and stakeholder groups
  • Strong understanding of program management fundamentals, including requirements traceability, dependencies, risks, schedules, and deliverables
  • Ability to reason about data availability and software integration constraints in secure or highly regulated environments
  • Comfort working extensively inside secure facilities and air-gapped government systems
  • Willingness to travel 25–50% for onsite engagements, integration work, user testing, briefings, and formal evaluation events

 

We have a diverse team with a variety of skill sets, many have:

  • A technical degree in computer science, engineering, mathematics, physics, data science, or a related field
  • Proficiency in Python, SQL, or another programming language
  • Prior experience as a software engineer, systems engineer, solutions architect, or technical product manager
  • Experience building or deploying AI/ML and agentic systems on classified networks

 

Compensation packages at Scale for eligible roles include base salary, equity, and benefits. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for the position and may be inclusive of several career levels at Scale; it will be determined during the interview process based on work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, qualifications, interview performance, and relevant education or training. Scale employees in eligible roles are also granted equity based compensation, subject to Board of Director approval. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process, and confirm whether the hired role will be eligible for equity grant. You'll also receive benefits including, but not limited to: comprehensive health, dental and vision coverage, retirement benefits, a learning and development stipend, and generous PTO. Additionally, this role may be eligible for additional benefits such as a commuter stipend.

The base salary range for this full-time position in the location of Washington DC is:$166,400—$208,000 USD

PLEASE NOTE: Our policy requires a 90-day waiting period before reconsidering candidates for the same role. This allows us to ensure a fair and thorough evaluation of all applicants.

About Us:

At Scale, our mission is to develop reliable AI systems for the world's most important decisions. Our products provide the high-quality data and full-stack technologies that power the world's leading models, and help enterprises and governments build, deploy, and oversee AI applications that deliver real impact. We work closely with industry leaders like Meta, Ernst & Young, Mayo Clinic, Time Inc., the Government of Qatar, and U.S. government agencies including the Army and Air Force. We are expanding our team to accelerate the development of AI applications.

We believe that everyone should be able to bring their whole selves to work, which is why we are proud to be an inclusive and equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability status, gender identity or Veteran status. 

We are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with physical and mental disabilities. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation in the application or recruiting process due to a disability, please contact us at accommodations@scale.com. Please see the United States Department of Labor's Know Your Rights poster for additional information.

We comply with the United States Department of Labor's Pay Transparency provision. 

PLEASE NOTE: We collect, retain and use personal data for our professional business purposes, including notifying you of job opportunities that may be of interest and sharing with our affiliates. We limit the personal data we collect to that which we believe is appropriate and necessary to manage applicants’ needs, provide our services, and comply with applicable laws. Any information we collect in connection with your application will be treated in accordance with our internal policies and programs designed to protect personal data. Please see our privacy policy for additional information.

How we rate this

Technical Program Manager (Homeland Layered Defense), Public Sector at Scale AI rates 65 out of 100 for how much of the daily work is AI. That makes it Works on AI (AI Level 3 of 4). The level is about AI in the job, not seniority.

Classification

Works on AI. The daily work is on AI products, without building the model.

  1. ●●●● Builds AI80 to 100
  2. ●●●○ Works on AI60 to 79
  3. ●●○○ Uses AI40 to 59
  4. ●○○○ Little AI0 to 39

Levels come from how often the tools, models and workflows of the role are named in the posting itself. Read the description and count the AI tools, models and workflows it names.

Prepare for this job

Built from this posting and from similar jobs on Level.

Skills and AI tools this role asks for

Program ManagementSoftware EngineeringSystems EngineeringProduct ManagementJiraGitLab

Questions you could be asked

  1. Tell me about a project where program management was part of your work. What did you do?
  2. Tell me about a project where software engineering was part of your work. What did you do?
  3. Tell me about a project where systems engineering was part of your work. What did you do?
  4. Tell me about a project where product management was part of your work. What did you do?
  5. Walk me through how you've used Jira in your day-to-day work.

Adapt your resume

  • List these exact terms on your resume: Program Management, Software Engineering, Systems Engineering, Product Management, and Jira. An applicant tracking system matches the wording, not the idea.
  • Attach one line of real, concrete experience to at least one of them. A tool named with nothing behind it rarely survives a human read.
  • Show where AI is part of your daily process, not a one-off project. This role expects it to be a running habit.

Want an expert to read your CV for this job?

Free. Send your CV and the role you want next. We reply by email within 2 to 4 business days.

Get new product jobs (Works on AI ●●●○ or higher) by email

One email a week with the new product jobs (Works on AI ●●●○ or higher), each rated for how much AI is in the work. No recruiter spam, unsubscribe in one click.

Free. One email a week. Unsubscribe in one click.

Similar roles

Product roles that work on AI, at other companies.

What kind of AI work fits you?

Answer 12 practical questions in about three minutes. Get a simple profile, the work it points to, and live roles to explore next.

Find my next step

More jobs at Scale AI

Related searches

Same AI level

Jobs by city