IT & Cybersecurity Program Manager

CHAOS Industries-posted 6 days ago
Full-time • Mid Level
Onsite • Hawthorne, CA
101-250 employees
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We are seeking an experienced Program Manager to shape and drive the company’s project and program execution discipline across IT, cybersecurity, infrastructure, enterprise systems, and DoD-aligned technology initiatives.This role combines hands-on project and program delivery with strategic organizational development. You will design lightweight-but-scalable Disciplined Agile ways of working, establish foundational project and program governance, and set the stage for a future Enterprise Project Management Office (PMO) that supports both corporate initiatives and DoD customer programs. The ideal candidate has deep experience leading IT and cybersecurity project and program teams in secure government environments and brings a strategic mindset suited for a fast-moving, high-innovation startup working with the Department of Defense.

  • Establish the initial project and program management framework for the department using Disciplined Agile (DA) methodology principles—context-driven, fit-for-purpose, minimal bureaucracy, focused on flow and value delivery.
  • Partner with company leadership to align IT and cybersecurity projects and programs with strategic objectives, customer commitments, and compliance requirements.
  • Drive continuous improvement in ways of working (WoW), team throughput, and technical delivery processes.
  • Introduce scalable governance, reporting, and project controls appropriate for a startup working in regulated DoD environments.
  • Build foundational project and program management practices from the ground up, shaping organizational standards and preparing the company for future PMO implementation.Champion organizational readiness for a future PMO, including intake processes, prioritization models, work visualization, and cross-team coordination.
  • Lead end-to-end delivery of IT and cybersecurity initiatives supporting DoD programs, including infrastructure buildouts, system implementations, secure network deployments, enterprise tools, and software or automation capabilities.
  • Build adaptive project plans that incorporate hybrid approaches (Agile, Lean, Kanban, iterative, traditional) selected based on context, constraints, and government customer expectations.
  • Manage scope, schedules, risks, and resources while maintaining alignment with contract deliverables, DoD technical requirements, and security standards.
  • Coordinate across internal engineering, cybersecurity, compliance, facilities, and operations teams as well as any third-party partners or contractors.
  • Build transparent communication channels and cadence-based reporting for executive leadership and DoD customers.
  • Ensure all program activities comply with DoD cybersecurity requirements, including NIST 800-171/CMMC.
  • Maintain strict adherence to ITAR, EAR, and all export control regulations.
  • Help establish and uphold policies and procedures for handling CUI and classified materials; ensure teams understand and adhere to secure work protocols.
  • Partner with Information Assurance, Security, IT, and other enterprise teams to support assessment and accreditation activities.
  • Build compliance checkpoints into program workflows to reduce rework, improve audit readiness, and maintain compliance programs post-operationalization.
  • Operate programs in alignment with FAR/DFARS, contract requirements, and customer expectations.
  • Track and report deliverables, milestones, burn-down/burn-up metrics, risks, and performance indicators.
  • Prepare briefings, status updates, and customer communications for government program offices and oversight personnel.
  • Support on proposals, capture activities, Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) estimates, and technical inputs for new business opportunities.
  • Provide project and program management leadership to establish scalable standards, best practices, and governance frameworks, guiding the evolution toward a formal Project Management Office (PMO).
  • Lead cross-functional teams across cyber, IT operations, engineering, product, and other business functions, fostering collaboration and execution.
  • Mentor teams on Disciplined Agile, Definition-of-Done delivery practices, and effective work orchestration.
  • Facilitate cross-departmental relationship building, ensuring alignment and transparency across teams.
  • Build a culture of incremental improvement, throughput optimization, and value-focused execution.
  • Guide workforce planning, performance evaluations, and professional development for project personnel.
  • Must be a U.S. citizen eligible for access to government facilities and sensitive information.
  • Ability to obtain additional clearances as required by contract.
  • Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Cybersecurity, Computer Science, Business, or related field.
  • 5+ years of IT and/or cybersecurity project and/or program management experience, including 3+ years supporting DoD or federal programs.
  • Proven ability to manage programs of $1M+ value and teams of 10+ members.
  • Experience leading in environments without strong existing project management structures.
  • Experience scaling project and program operations within a startup or early-stage organization.
  • Expert proficiency with project and work management tools (MS Project, Jira, Smartsheet), platforms, and agile methodologies.
  • Solid grasp of risk management, critical path analysis, and dependency mapping.
  • Strong understanding of DoD IT systems, architectures, and cybersecurity frameworks.
  • Familiarity with systems development lifecycle methodologies and DevSecOps concepts.
  • Active Secret clearance
  • Advanced degree in a related field.
  • Experience working directly with DoD agencies or military branches.
  • Prior military service or extensive interaction with uniformed services.
  • Experience supporting both CONUS and OCONUS operations.
  • Valuable certifications: PMP, PgMP, Disciplined Agile Scrum Master/Agile/Scrum, or equivalent, CISSP, ITIL, Security+, or higher DoD 8570 IAT Level II certification.
  • Medical, dental, and vision benefits 100% paid for by the company
  • 401k (+ 50% company match up to 6% of pay), FSA, HSA, life insurance, and more
  • Free daily lunch, ‘No meeting Fridays’, unlimited PTO, casual dress code
  • Competitive base salaries, generous pre-IPO stock option grants, relocation assistance, and (coming soon!) annual bonuses
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