Program Manager

LightFeather is seeking a Program Manager to lead 4–8 Agile software development teams (representing 40–80 technical staff) delivering mission-critical systems for federal customers. This role is for someone who owns outcomes end-to-end—people, delivery, risk, and customer relationships—not a task-runner or meeting note-taker.

You will be responsible for ensuring predictable delivery, maintaining team health, operating effectively in a demanding customer environment, and overseeing all program-level operations including planning, reporting, staffing, subcontractor coordination, and contract compliance.

Location: Hybrid – Washington, D.C. Metro

Job Type: Full Time

Citizenship: U.S. Citizenship Required

Clearance Requirement: Ability to obtain a Public Trust (DHS preferred)

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee multiple parallel Agile software development teams, ensuring cohesive, predictable delivery across all workstreams.
• Manage program-level planning, including roadmaps, release schedules, dependency mapping, integration points, and risk mitigation.
• Ensure all development teams deliver against technical, functional, and quality expectations.
• Serve as the primary customer-facing lead for program delivery.
• Navigate difficult or shifting customer priorities with diplomacy and confidence.
• Communicate status, risks, decisions, and progress clearly and proactively.
• Partner with engineering leads to maintain team health, morale, and retention across 40–80 staff.
• Provide structured guidance, escalation paths, and accountability expectations for team leads and Scrum Masters.
• Identify and address performance issues in a timely and constructive manner.
• Oversee program metrics, financial tracking, burn rates, labor utilization, deliverable schedules, and contract compliance.
• Manage subcontractor performance, staffing, onboarding, and alignment with program expectations.
• Ensure deliverables, documentation, and reporting meet federal requirements.
• Lead cross-team Agile ceremonies at the program level (PI planning, program standups, retrospectives).
• Support Product Owners in backlog prioritization and cross-team dependency resolution.
• Ensure alignment across multiple roadmaps and product initiatives.

Required Qualifications

• 10+ years of professional experience, including 6–8 years of software delivery project/program management.
• 3–5 years managing multiple concurrent Agile software teams (not just one).
• 2–3 years of direct experience with federal agencies, ideally DHS, USCIS, IRS, VA, DoD, or similar.
• Demonstrated success managing 40–80 technical staff across multiple workstreams.
• Experience managing subcontractors, staffing plans, and team performance.
• Strong understanding of modern software development (APIs, cloud, DevSecOps, CI/CD, microservices).
• Able to translate technical risks/details into customer-friendly language.
• Able to challenge or clarify technical assumptions when necessary.
• Exceptional communication skills with the ability to drive alignment and resolve conflict.
• Experience handling difficult customers or high-pressure delivery environments.
• Proven track record of improving team performance and retention.
• Hands-on experience with Jira, Confluence, Agile metrics, program dashboards, and release management tools.
• Familiarity with Agile at scale (SAFe, LeSS, Nexus, or equivalent).
• Experience supporting modernization or cloud transformation efforts.
• SAFe, PMP, or CSM certifications (helpful but not required if the person has real-world delivery experience).
• Experience with CPARS, federal deliverables, LOE management, and contract management.

Why Join LightFeather?

At LightFeather, you're not just taking a job—you're joining a purpose-driven team that delivers innovative, mission-critical solutions to make a real difference. You'll work on diverse, meaningful projects that challenge and inspire you, alongside some of the best minds in the industry.