Technical Program Manager - AI/ML & Software Delivery

Expression•Shirlington, VA

15h•$190,000 - $210,000•Onsite

About The Position

Expression is seeking an experienced Technical Program Manager to lead delivery of advanced AI, machine learning, and enterprise software capabilities supporting the Department of Homeland Security. The position oversees the development, integration, deployment, and sustainment of secure, mission-focused AI applications within the Government’s existing AI environment. The role coordinates cross-functional engineering teams, manages technical delivery schedules, ensures contract compliance, and drives AI-enabled investigative workflows and enterprise data integrations. The Technical Program Manager manages multidisciplinary teams and the full software delivery lifecycle, from requirements and architecture through Agile development, integration, testing, deployment, Government acceptance, and sustainment. The role coordinates Government stakeholders, engineering teams, platform owners, and delivery organizations; manages technical dependencies, contract scope, risks, staffing, schedules, and deliverables; and supports acceptance testing, pilot deployments, training, production stabilization, and transition activities. The position requires a Top Secret/SCI clearance and is located in Shirlington, Virginia.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, Business Administration, Project Management, or a related field, or equivalent relevant professional experience.
At least 10 years of professional experience in technical program management, software engineering, data engineering, or enterprise technology delivery, including at least 5 years managing multidisciplinary technical teams and complex customer-facing delivery commitments.
Demonstrated experience managing Federal Government software development, AI/ML, data engineering, or enterprise modernization programs from planning and requirements through development, testing, deployment, sustainment, and customer acceptance.
Strong experience managing technical program execution, including integrated schedules, staffing, budgets, labor hours, resource allocation, risk management, performance reporting, and contractual deliverables.
Experience leading Agile software development teams and coordinating cross-functional activities across software development, systems architecture, data engineering, DevSecOps, cybersecurity, and quality assurance.
Working knowledge of AI/ML and generative AI application development, including LLM-powered applications, AI-assisted workflows, model evaluation, enterprise data integration, and human-in-the-loop processes.
Experience managing complex technical dependencies, system integrations, security requirements, and deployment activities in enterprise or regulated environments.
Demonstrated experience with Federal contract execution, including scope management, change control, deliverable tracking, Government reporting, and coordination with contracting and technical stakeholders.
Experience establishing and maintaining technical requirements traceability, configuration management records, acceptance criteria, and auditable program documentation.
Experience coordinating technical reviews, software testing, Government acceptance activities, operational deployments, and transition planning.
Proficiency with project management and collaboration tools such as Microsoft Project, Jira, Confluence, Microsoft Office, or comparable platforms.
Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills, including the ability to identify program risks, resolve delivery challenges, and communicate technical and operational tradeoffs.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience presenting program status, technical progress, risks, and recommendations to Government stakeholders, engineering teams, and executive leadership.
Top Secret/SCI security clearance required.

Nice To Haves

Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Scrum Master (CSM), SAFe, or comparable project management or Agile certification.
Experience managing AI/ML, generative AI, agentic AI, or LLM-enabled software development programs for enterprise or mission-critical applications.
Experience supporting DHS, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Department of Defense, the Intelligence Community, law enforcement, or other Federal mission environments.
Familiarity with enterprise AI architectures, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), multi-agent orchestration, LLM evaluation, and AI application observability.
Experience managing programs involving Palantir, Databricks, Elasticsearch, or comparable enterprise data and analytics platforms.
Familiarity with Government cybersecurity, privacy, accessibility, software authorization, and secure system deployment processes.
Experience supporting SBIR technology transitions, research-to-production initiatives, or adaptation of existing technical capabilities into operational Government systems.
Experience managing Federal contract staffing, optional surge requirements, software licensing, approved other direct costs (ODCs), and contract-funded technical resources.
Experience coordinating Government pilot deployments, user adoption, technical demonstrations, training, operational stabilization, and transition-out activities.

Responsibilities

Lead planning, execution, and delivery of AI/ML and enterprise software development activities supporting Government-approved investigative workflows.
Manage a multidisciplinary team of AI architects, AI engineers, and data engineers, coordinating execution, staffing, schedules, priorities, and delivery commitments.
Develop and maintain integrated program plans, schedules, technical backlogs, staffing plans, quality management plans, risk registers, and delivery roadmaps.
Oversee the software delivery lifecycle, including requirements analysis, architecture and design reviews, Agile development, integration, testing, deployment, Government acceptance, and sustainment.
Lead Agile planning, technical exchange meetings, sprint reviews, demonstrations, and recurring program status reviews.
Coordinate between Government stakeholders, technical leadership, engineering teams, enterprise platform owners, and other delivery organizations.
Coordinate dependencies involving AI/ML applications, multi-agent workflows, enterprise data integrations, cybersecurity, DevSecOps, and Government-provided infrastructure and services.
Monitor staffing utilization, productive hours, deliverable completion, schedule adherence, quality metrics, risks, issues, and contractual commitments.
Manage contract scope and change control, assess impacts to schedules, staffing, resources, funding, and delivery, and escalate changes requiring Government authorization.
Maintain traceability among contractual requirements, approved technical work packages, software components, testing evidence, and Government deliverables.
Coordinate adaptation and integration of existing AI algorithms, software components, and technical capabilities into approved Government mission applications, maintaining documentation and technical lineage.
Track Government onboarding, security clearances, system access, data availability, cybersecurity, privacy, and authorization dependencies.
Oversee preparation and submission of program deliverables, including status reports, schedules, quality plans, risk assessments, engineering documentation, and acceptance evidence.
Work with technical leads to establish delivery milestones, quality standards, software evaluation criteria, and release-readiness requirements.
Coordinate Government acceptance testing, technical demonstrations, operational pilot deployments, user training, and adoption activities.
Support production stabilization, software sustainment planning, operational issue resolution, and transition activities.
Coordinate approved software procurement requests, licensing, and other direct costs with Contracts, technical leadership, and authorized Government stakeholders, following approval and funding processes.
Prepare and deliver program status briefings, technical updates, risk assessments, and executive presentations to Government and Expression leadership.
Identify ways to improve delivery efficiency, engineering coordination, quality management, and program execution while maintaining contract and Government approval compliance.