Technical Program Manager

Torch.AI•Leawood, KS

13d•Hybrid

About The Position

Torch.AI is building a government-owned reasoning infrastructure that creates a Reasoning Layer to enable machine reasoning at scale, in environments where it is hardest to achieve and least tolerant of failure. This is long-term infrastructure designed to endure, integrate, and evolve alongside the systems it supports. The Reasoning Layer is a modular architecture where data is connected, governed, transformed, represented, fused, reasoned over, and delivered into mission applications and operational workflows. It enables systems of record to function better together. The Reasoning Layer is comprised of: ORCUS (ingestion, orchestration, governance), NEXUS (semantic representation, vectorization), HALO (graph-based fusion and reasoning) and various product and capability components deployed for specific customer use cases. We are seeking candidates who approach problems creatively, are comfortable operating without full clarity, and take responsibility for outcomes, not just implementation. If you’re driven to strengthen U.S. defense readiness and protect national interests, Torch.AI offers meaningful impact at national scale. Torch.AI was founded on the insight that better use of data leads to better decisions. The missing layer was machine understanding and an infrastructure that could operate and reason between layers, preserve context, reconcile meaning, and make data useful for decisions in real time. We believe the government must own its data and decision environment. Ownership means the government maintains stewardship and authority over the mission and operational layer. Commercial software, models, and services can contribute to the environment, but they should not capture the mission. We are craftsmen who build with intention and ship with discipline. You’ll collaborate with engineers, data experts, veterans, and mission practitioners. You’ll own meaningful work, move quickly, and see your systems deployed in production, often within weeks. We are fast-paced, entrepreneurial, and mission-driven, with every day presenting a new puzzle. People who do well here are comfortable operating without full clarity, pay attention to what actually happens, are willing to be wrong and adjust quickly, and take responsibility for outcomes. This is not a good fit for someone who needs tightly defined problems or prefers distance from how their work is used. Some roles require an active Secret, Top Secret, or Top Secret/SCI clearance. U.S. citizenship is required for all positions. Torch.AI does not sponsor employment visas. If you do not currently hold a clearance but are eligible, sponsorship may be available depending on role and mission requirements. Most roles are based at our headquarters in Leawood, KS. Some hybrid/remote positions across the Arlington, VA, Washington, DC, and Maryland (DMV) region are available. Limited travel (<10%) may be required for some roles.

Requirements

B.S. in a technical discipline (engineering, computer science, information systems) or demonstrated equivalent experience delivering complex technical programs.
6–10+ years of experience in technical program management, systems engineering, solutions delivery, or similar roles.
Demonstrated experience delivering complex technical programs in defense or high-security environments.
Strong technical fluency across software development lifecycles, cloud environments, APIs, and deployment processes.
Strong organizational discipline and ability to manage competing priorities in high-tempo environments.
Excellent communication skills and ability to drive alignment across cross-functional stakeholders.
Previous software development in Java, Python, or other languages is a preferred.
Must be technically fluent and able to translate mission needs into executable delivery plans and technical requirements.
Must be able to track delivery across engineering teams and validate technical deployments and code, environments, and security domains.
Must be able to communicate program status, technical risk, and delivery tradeoffs to stakeholders.
Must be able to coordinate deployment readiness, cutovers, and stabilization activities.
U.S. citizenship is required for all positions.
Eligible to obtain and maintain the appropriate clearance level (Secret, Top Secret, or Top Secret/SCI).

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting deployments across SIPR/JWICS/NIPR or isolated cloud domains.
Familiarity with AI/ML-enabled platforms and data fusion workflows.
PMP, Scrum, SAFe, or DoD 8570/8140 certifications.
Prior military or operational mission experience.

Responsibilities

Drive planning and execution of mission-critical technical programs supporting DoD and IC customers.
Conduct code Peer Reviews for your team.
Translate mission needs into executable delivery plans, milestones, and measurable acceptance criteria.
Maintain execution rhythm across sprint planning, readiness reviews, and milestone delivery.
Track dependencies, risks, and delivery status across engineering, security, and deployment teams.
Coordinate deployment planning and go-live execution across multiple environments and security domains.
Communicate program status, technical risks, and tradeoffs clearly to internal and customer stakeholders.
Support accreditation and operational approval activities by ensuring delivery alignment with compliance requirements.
Maintain program artifacts including roadmaps, RAID logs, schedules, and customer-facing execution plans.