Subcontracts Manager, Public Sector

Scale AI•Washington, DC

5d•$166,400 - $249,000•Onsite

About The Position

Scale AI is seeking a Subcontracts Manager for its Public Sector programs to manage day-to-day relationships, execution, and integration of subcontractors. This role involves working closely with Scale's Delivery team and technical leads to ensure subcontractors understand their role in the overall technical solution, meet timelines and requirements, and are integrated into program execution. The position requires a blend of technical understanding, program management skills, and the ability to influence external partners. The Subcontracts Manager will be responsible for reviewing schedules, discussing technical dependencies, resolving invoices, onboarding subcontractors, and flowing down security requirements.

Requirements

Active Top Secret clearance
5+ years of experience in program management, technical program management, subcontractor management, defense acquisition, systems integration, or a related role
Experience managing external organizations against defined scope, schedules, milestones, and deliverables
Experience working with Integrated Master Schedules, Work Breakdown Structures, Statements of Work, deliverable tracking, and formal program reviews
Strong technical acumen and the ability to understand software, systems integration, interfaces, dependencies, and technical program plans without needing to be the engineer approving the work
Demonstrated ability to operate across both technical and administrative domains, from engineering dependencies and program schedules to invoicing, onboarding, and documentation
Experience building and managing integrated program plans with multiple teams, workstreams, and external dependencies
Strong ability to influence organizations and individuals outside of your direct reporting chain
Comfort holding sophisticated external partners accountable, including escalating performance issues when necessary
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate clearly with engineers, program managers, executives, subcontractors, and government stakeholders
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, particularly around commitments, documentation, financial workflows, and schedule management
High ownership and a track record of proactively identifying risks and driving them through resolution
Willingness to work onsite in the Washington, DC area as required to support customers, programs, and classified work
Willingness to travel to subcontractor facilities as required

Nice To Haves

Experience working with or for a major defense prime contractor or managing relationships with traditional defense primes
Experience supporting large Department of Defense or Intelligence Community contracts
Familiarity with government contracting structures, subcontract administration, FAR/DFARS requirements, and flow-down obligations
Experience managing subcontractors delivering software, AI/ML, data, systems integration, or other technically complex capabilities
Familiarity with AI/ML systems, generative AI, agentic workflows, APIs, data pipelines, or modern software architectures
Experience supporting classified programs and coordinating security requirements, personnel access, and work across secure environments
Familiarity with subcontractor invoicing, cost tracking, forecasting, and financial reconciliation
Domain knowledge on technical topics related to homeland layered defense

Responsibilities

Own day-to-day relationships with subcontractors supporting large Public Sector programs, including major defense primes and specialized technical partners
Understand Scale’s overall technical solution and ensure each subcontractor clearly understands how its scope, interfaces, and deliverables fit into that solution
Translate prime contract milestones and program requirements into clear subcontractor deliverables, timelines, dependencies, and acceptance criteria
Integrate subcontractor activities into the broader Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) and proactively identify dependencies, risks, and potential schedule impacts
Hold subcontractors accountable for committed scope, timelines, deliverables, status reporting, and corrective actions when execution falls behind
Partner closely with Scale technical leads and program managers who will review and approve the technical quality of subcontractor work, while you own execution, coordination, and follow-through
Establish clear operating cadences with subcontractors, including status reviews, action tracking, risk management, decision logs, and escalation mechanisms
Drive resolution of technical and programmatic blockers across Scale teams, subcontractors, customers, and other external stakeholders
Lead onboarding of new subcontractors and ensure they have the program context, systems access, security requirements, documentation, and operating processes necessary to execute
Coordinate the flow-down and tracking of applicable security, access, compliance, and program requirements
Manage subcontractor administrative workflows, including invoices, billing questions, documentation requests, staffing changes, access issues, and other day-to-day operational needs
Provide Scale program managers with a clear view of subcontractor performance and proactively escalate issues before they impact government deliverables
Build productive, high-trust relationships with subcontractor teams while maintaining a high bar for accountability and execution