DEFCON AI
RESILIENCE IN THE FACE OF DISRUPTION. DEFCON AI is an insights company that leverages artificial intelligence, mathematical optimization, data analytics, and software engineering for resilient optimization of complex systems.
In today’s dynamically changing world, DEFCON AI’s technology aligns outcomes with operational goals, better decision making, and empowers customers to anticipate assess, and mitigate the impacts of disruptions.
Pick a job to read the details
Tap any role on the left — its description and apply link will open here.
Deputy Program Manager (TS/SCI Clearance Required)
Share this job
ABOUT DEFCON AI
RESILIENCE IN THE FACE OF DISRUPTION. DEFCON AI is an insights company that leverages artificial intelligence, mathematical optimization, data analytics, and software engineering for resilient optimization of complex systems.
In today’s dynamically changing world, DEFCON AI’s technology aligns outcomes with operational goals, better decision making, and empowers customers to anticipate assess, and mitigate the impacts of disruptions.
About the Role
We are seeking a Deputy Program Manager to help lead execution of a large, software‑intensive, AI‑enabled DoD program transitioning from prototype into sustained operational use.
This role will primarily operate remotely from the Washington, DC area, with the willingness to attend frequent in‑person meetings with government and industry partners.
This role is for someone who:
- Lives inside execution, not just oversight
- Is comfortable managing programs built on AI‑foundational approaches (data‑driven systems, optimization engines, ML‑enabled decision support)
- Understands DoD software realities but leans forward in acquisition and delivery thinking
- Can step in as Acting Program Manager at any time without slowing momentum
You will partner closely with the Program Manager while owning the day‑to‑day execution heartbeat across engineering, LLM and AI/ML development, integration, cyber, cloud, and operational stakeholders.
This is not a traditional Deputy PM role. It is a hands‑on operator role in a fast‑moving, AI‑centric software environment.
Key Responsibilities
Drive Daily Execution of AI Enabled Software Programs
-
Own day‑to‑day execution across multiple software and data‑centric workstreams
-
Translate capability goals into executable plans aligned to incremental, learning‑driven delivery
-
Track tasking, dependencies, delivery status, and issue resolution across engineering and AI teams
-
Identify and remove blockers before they impact delivery, credibility, or user trust.
Lead Forward-Leaning Software Acquisition and Delivery
-
Operate within DoD software acquisition pathways while actively pushing toward modern, software‑first outcomes.Apply pragmatic, outcome‑oriented acquisition thinking suited to fast‑evolving AI systems.Help shape delivery strategies that balance:
- Speed vs. rigor
- Experimentation vs. operational reliability
- Innovation vs. scalability
-
Operate comfortably in Agile and Hybrid delivery environments supporting AI‑driven systems.
-
Support sprint planning, release planning, backlog prioritization, and iterative capability drops.
-
Ensure Agile practices enable learning, adaptation, and delivery — not process theater.
-
Help teams manage the realities of AI development (model iteration, data dependency, evolving performance metrics).
- Partner effectively with engineers and data scientists
-
Support programs built on optimization engines, analytics pipelines, AI/ML models, and data‑driven workflows.
-
Understand that AI‑enabled systems:
- Improve over time
- Require iteration and feedback loops
- Demand different delivery and risk‑management approaches than static software
- Maintain full situational awareness across scope, schedule, risks, dependencies, and stakeholders.
- Step in for the Program Manager when needed to:
- Lead internal and external meetings
- Make time‑sensitive execution decisions
- Communicate clearly with senior government and industry leaders
-
Proactively identify and manage program risks — including technical, data, integration, and delivery risks.
-
Maintain and actively use RAID logs and decision records.
-
Surface uncomfortable risks early, with practical mitigation options.
-
Drive decisions rather than deferring them.
Required Qualifications
-
7+ years managing or leading software‑intensive DoD programs.
- Experience as a PM or Deputy PM
- Active TS/SCI Security Clearance
- Currently reside in the Washington DC area & willing to attend frequent in-person meetings (30-40%)
-
Demonstrated ownership of day‑to‑day program execution
-
Hands‑on experience with Agile or Hybrid software delivery frameworks.
-
Experience working on programs involving advanced analytics, AI/ML, optimization, or data‑driven systems.
-
Experience delivering software that supports real operational users, exercises, or deployments.
- Strong bias toward execution, learning, and delivery.
- Comfortable operating in ambiguous, fast‑evolving problem spaces.
- Able to make decisions with incomplete information.
- Able to influence without authority across highly technical teams.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience transitioning AI‑enabled or data‑centric systems from prototype to operational scale.
- Familiarity with DevSecOps, cloud‑native architectures, or secure data pipelines.
- Experience operating in high‑tempo, high‑visibility programs.
What Success Looks Like
- You quickly become the engine of daily execution.
- You earn trust as a credible stand‑in for the Program Manager.
- Delivery becomes clearer, faster, and more resilient.
- Teams move forward confidently in an AI‑driven environment.
- The program pushes boundaries — responsibly — without losing operational trust.
What We Offer:
- A fully remote, results-based environment
- Competitive salary, bonus, and equity package
- 100% employer paid, comprehensive health insurance including medical, dental, and vision for you and your family
- Unlimited PTO, with your manager’s approval
- Flexible work environment where you manage your work day
- 14 weeks of fully-paid parental leave
Salary Range: $175,000-215,000. This represents the typical salary range for this position based on experience, skills, and other factors.
- Managing and administering your application throughout the hiring process;
- Verifying the accuracy and authenticity of application materials, including by cross-referencing information you provide against publicly available sources and proprietary databases;
- Identifying indicators of potentially fraudulent, fabricated, or materially misleading application content, including but not limited to discrepancies between submitted materials and publicly available professional profiles, geographic anomalies, and fabricated work histories.
Ready to apply?
Apply to DEFCON AI
ABOUT DEFCON AI
RESILIENCE IN THE FACE OF DISRUPTION. DEFCON AI is an insights company that leverages artificial intelligence, mathematical optimization, data analytics, and software engineering for resilient optimization of complex systems.
In today’s dynamically changing world, DEFCON AI’s technology aligns outcomes with operational goals, better decision making, and empowers customers to anticipate assess, and mitigate the impacts of disruptions.
About the Role
We are seeking a Master Scheduler to establish and own scheduling discipline across complex software programs that span commercial Agile development and government/defense contracts.
This role is responsible for building, maintaining, and evolving Integrated Master Schedules (IMS) that accurately reflect program scope, dependencies, vendor integrations, milestones, and contractual deliverables. You will serve as a key development partner and educator, helping teams understand how large, industry standard programs plan, measure progress, and communicate status in ways that government customers value.
This is not a project coordinator role. The position operates at the program level, emphasizing strategic planning and cross-functional alignment across engineering, delivery, and government execution.
Key Responsibilities
Integrated Master Scheduling (Primary Focus)
- Develop, maintain, and own Integrated Master Schedules (IMS) for complex software programs
- Translate program requirements, statements of work, and technical scope into executable schedules with clear dependencies and critical paths
- Maintain schedule realism across:
- Agile software development
- Multi‑vendor integrations
- Multi-sub-contractor integrations
- Government driven milestones and reviews
- Identify schedule risks, resource constraints, and dependency conflicts early and communicate them clearly to leadership
Agile + Defense Delivery Integration
- Bridge commercial Agile delivery practices with government program expectations
- Align sprint level execution with IMS level milestones and contractual deliverables
- Help teams understand how Agile artifacts (backlogs, increments, releases) map to:
- Government schedules
- Milestone reviews
- Earned value or progress reporting (as applicable)
Government Contracts & Deliverables
- Support defense contracts by mapping:
- Requirements
- Deliverables
- Reviews
- Artifacts
- Timelines into an integrated, traceable schedule
- Partner with program leadership to ensure schedules support compliance, audits, and customer reporting expectations
- Help teams anticipate what government customers look for in schedule credibility and execution discipline
Vendor & Cross Program Integration
- Integrate schedules across:
- Internal development teams
- External vendors and subcontractors
- Customer provided dependencies
- Ensure handoffs, dependencies, and integration points are explicitly captured and tracked
- Act as the single source of truth for program timelines
Tools, Standards & Enablement
- Own or help select the IMS tooling strategy (e.g., Microsoft Project, Primavera P6, or equivalent)
- Establish scheduling standards, conventions, and best practices
- Educate teams on:
- How large programs use IMS tools
- Why certain structures and artifacts matter
- How to use schedules to make decisions (not just report status)
Required Qualifications
- 5+ years of experience in program scheduling, program planning, or large‑scale project delivery
- Demonstrated experience building and maintaining Integrated Master Schedules for complex programs
- Strong background supporting large commercial Agile software development efforts
- Experience working with:
- Multiple vendors
- Cross‑functional engineering teams
- Complex dependency networks
- Experience supporting government or defense contracts, including understanding of deliverables, milestones, and reporting expectations
Preferred Qualifications
- Hands‑on experience with Microsoft Project, Primavera P6, or similar IMS platforms, and associated ecosystems
- Experience supporting DoD or federal acquisition programs
- Familiarity with:
- Requirements traceability
- Milestone driven delivery models
- Government reviews and reporting artifacts
- Active or prior DoD security clearance
- Experience educating or coaching teams on program planning best practices
What Success Looks Like
- Program schedules are realistic, integrated, and trusted by leadership
- Engineering teams understand how their work maps to contractual milestones
- Schedule risks are surfaced early, not discovered at the last minute
- Leadership and customers can clearly see progress, dependencies, and impacts
- The organization builds durable scheduling discipline that scales with program size
Why This Role Is Unique
- You will shape how the company plans and executes programs, not just manage dates
- You’ll bridge the gap between modern Agile delivery and government execution expectations
- You’ll serve as a trusted advisor to leadership, engineers, and customers
- This role has real influence over how work gets done
What We Offer:
- A fully remote, results-based environment
- Competitive salary, bonus, and equity package
- 100% employer paid, comprehensive health insurance including medical, dental, and vision for you and your family
- Unlimited PTO, with your manager’s approval
- Flexible work environment where you manage your work day
- 14 weeks of fully-paid parental leave
Salary Range: $100,000-$150,000. This represents the typical salary range for this position based on experience, skills, and other factors.
- Managing and administering your application throughout the hiring process;
- Verifying the accuracy and authenticity of application materials, including by cross-referencing information you provide against publicly available sources and proprietary databases;
- Identifying indicators of potentially fraudulent, fabricated, or materially misleading application content, including but not limited to discrepancies between submitted materials and publicly available professional profiles, geographic anomalies, and fabricated work histories.
Ready to apply?
Apply to DEFCON AI
Senior DevSecOps / Platform Security Engineer (AWS + Kubernetes)
Share this job
ABOUT DEFCON AI
RESILIENCE IN THE FACE OF DISRUPTION. DEFCON AI is an insights company that leverages artificial intelligence, mathematical optimization, data analytics, and software engineering for resilient optimization of complex systems.
In today’s dynamically changing world, DEFCON AI’s technology aligns outcomes with operational goals, better decision making, and empowers customers to anticipate assess, and mitigate the impacts of disruptions.
About the Role
We’re hiring a senior, hands-on DevSecOps/Platform Security Engineer to build and operate production security controls across our AWS and Kubernetes platform. You’ll design and implement guardrails that make secure delivery the default—covering CI/CD security automation, software supply chain controls, and Kubernetes policy enforcement—while partnering closely with Platform/SRE and Security/GRC.
What You'll Own: You'll have real ownership over critical platform security capabilities including:
- CI/CD security automation and developer-facing security workflows (SAST/SCA, secrets scanning, IaC scanning, container scanning).
- software supply chain controls (SBOM, artifact/image signing and verification, provenance and promotion workflows).
- Kubernetes policy enforcement and admission controls (policy-as-code) that encode platform security guardrails.
- Co-own AWS security guardrails with Platform/SRE (IAM patterns, logging and detection, network and encryption baselines).
- Partner with Security/GRC on control interpretation and evidence needs; implements controls in engineering systems and pipelines.
What You’ll Do
- Design, build, and maintain CI/CD security controls that scale across repositories and teams (reusable pipeline components, templates, and standards).
- Implement Kubernetes security architecture and guardrails (RBAC hardening, workload security baselines, admission policies, network policies, and safe multi-tenant patterns as applicable).
- Improve container security end-to-end: base-image strategy, vulnerability scanning, registry controls, image signing, and promotion workflows.
- Operationalize vulnerability management with risk-based prioritization, measurable remediation SLAs, and dashboards/metrics (MTTR, exposure trends, top recurring root causes).
- Drive developer enablement: clear documentation, lightweight design reviews/threat modeling for high-impact changes, office hours, and high-signal guidance embedded in tooling.
Real Production Responsibility: This role builds and runs production secutiry systems.
- You'll ship code and infrastructure, not just recommendations
- You'll own reliability and outcomes for the controls you build.
- You'll response to incidents and on-call rotation related to platform security controls and pipeline reliability (scope aligned with Platform/SRE).
Regulated Environment Support
This role supports delivery into regulated environments and works closely with Security/GRC to implement engineering-owned controls and produce audit-ready evidence. You’ll help translate requirements (for example, NIST SP 800-171 and CMMC expectations) into practical, automated guardrails within CI/CD, AWS, and Kubernetes.
What We’re Looking For (Required)
- 5+ years of experience in DevOps/SRE/Platform Engineering and/or Security Engineering with a strong automation and delivery focus.
- Hands-on experience securing AWS environments: IAM (least privilege), network controls, encryption (KMS), and centralized logging/detection.
- Strong Kubernetes security experience (EKS or equivalent): RBAC, workload hardening, and policy enforcement via admission control.
- Experience integrating security into CI/CD pipelines and developer workflows (SAST, SCA, secrets scanning, container scanning, IaC scanning).
- Infrastructure as Code proficiency (Terraform, CloudFormation, CDK, or Pulumi) and ability to embed guardrails into IaC workflows.
- Proficiency scripting/coding (e.g., Python, Go, Bash) to build integrations, automations, and internal tooling.
- Able to communicate risk and tradeoffs clearly and pragmatically to engineers; improves signal-to-noise rather than adding friction.
Nice to Have (Preferred)
- Experience with Kubernetes policy-as-code tooling (OPA/Gatekeeper, Kyverno) and secure workload identity patterns (OIDC/IRSA).
- Experience with software supply chain security: SBOM generation and management, signing/verification (e.g., cosign), and provenance concepts.
- Experience building ‘golden paths’ or internal developer platforms that improve both delivery velocity and security outcomes.
- Familiarity with regulated delivery expectations (NIST SP 800-171/CMMC) and evidence-driven control implementation.
How we work:
- Pragmatic, automation-first approach: secure-by-default, low-friction workflows.
- Partners closely with Platform/SRE and Security/GRC; clear ownership and measurable outcomes.
- Focus on durable systems: guardrails, templates, and controls that scale across teams.
Other Qualifications
- Analytical Aptitude: Possess keen analytical and problem-solving skills, coupled with the capability to understand complex software challenges and collaborate toward viable solutions.
- Effective Communication: Skilled in distilling technical complexities into comprehensible terms for varied audiences.
- Adaptive Nature: Resilience and adaptability in the face of an ever-changing tech landscape, with a knack for rapidly integrating new technologies and methodologies.
- Agile Methodology Experience: An understanding and hands-on experience with agile development methodologies and version control tools.
- Agility in Tech: Demonstrated adaptability in the fast-paced tech landscape, continually embracing and integrating new technologies and methodologies.
- Education: While formal education in Computer Science or related fields is a plus, DefconAI values hands-on experience and demonstrable skills above all. Candidates with 6+ years of relevant experience will be considered regardless of their academic pedigree.
- Continuous Learner: A commitment to perpetually update one's skill set, staying aligned with the latest in technology trends and best practices.
What We Offer:
- A fully remote, results-based environment
- Competitive salary, bonus, and equity package
- 100% employer paid, comprehensive health insurance including medical, dental, and vision for you and your family
- Unlimited PTO, with your manager’s approval
- Flexible work environment where you manage your work day
- 14 weeks of fully-paid parental leave
Salary range: $175,000-$215,000. This represents the typical salary range for this position based on experience, skills, and other factors.
- Managing and administering your application throughout the hiring process;
- Verifying the accuracy and authenticity of application materials, including by cross-referencing information you provide against publicly available sources and proprietary databases;
- Identifying indicators of potentially fraudulent, fabricated, or materially misleading application content, including but not limited to discrepancies between submitted materials and publicly available professional profiles, geographic anomalies, and fabricated work histories.
Ready to apply?
Apply to DEFCON AI
ABOUT DEFCON AI
RESILIENCE IN THE FACE OF DISRUPTION. DEFCON AI is an insights company that leverages artificial intelligence, mathematical optimization, data analytics, and software engineering for resilient optimization of complex systems.
In today’s dynamically changing world, DEFCON AI’s technology aligns outcomes with operational goals, better decision making, and empowers customers to anticipate assess, and mitigate the impacts of disruptions.
About this Role
We’re looking for a highly proactive VP of Engineering to lead and scale a high-performing team building cutting-edge AI enabled technology. This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who can balance technical vision, team building and execution – and thrives in a fast-moving, start-up environment delivering systems that perform reliability in real-world, high stakes environments.
This role goes beyond building scalable products – you'll lead the development of secure, resilient, and auditable systems deployed in demanding customer environments, including government and defense contexts. This role owns the eovlution of a complex platform spanning planning engines, backend services, data and AI systems, secure cloud infrastrcure and user-facing applications.
What You’ll Do
- Lead and grow a high-performing engineering team of 10+ senior software engineers, with a strong focus on mentorship, technical excellence, and healthy delivery practices.
- Set technical vision and execution strategy across our full stack—frontend, backend services, data platforms, and integrations with AI/optimization systems.
- Drive experimentation and thoughtful innovation, encouraging teams to explore unconventional approaches while maintaining reliability, security, and healthy delivery practices.
- Partner closely with optimization researchers and analytics teams to translate complex algorithms and models into scalable, reliable production systems.
- Own engineering delivery: roadmaps, execution plans, engineering standards, and architectural decisions that balance speed, quality, and long-term maintainability.
- Oversee complex, multi-layered systems end-to-end, making high impact technical decisions that account for architecture, data, algorithms and operations together rather than in isolation.
- Drive engineering excellence establishing high standards for code quality, system design, testing and reliability
- Champion engineering at the leadership level, ensuring the team has the tools, clarity, and focus to do their best work.
- Partner with Security and Compliance to ensure engineering systems, processes and environments support CUI handling, NIST SP 800-171, CMMC, DFARS and customer security requirements
What We’re Looking For
- Proven experience leading and scaling high performing engineering teams in a high-growth or startup environment
- Strong technical background across modern web architectures, APIs, distributed systems, and cloud platforms.
- Experience bringing complex AI, optimization, or data-intensive systems into production environments.
- Track record of setting technical direction while also getting things shipped.
- Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in ambiguous problem spaces and translate abstract business or mission goals into concrete technical strategies and execution plans.
- Clear, compelling communication skills—able to translate complex technical concepts for both technical and non-technical audiences.
- Comfort operating in a fast-moving, evolving environment with real ownership and influence.
- Experience operating in DoD, IC, federal or similarly regulated environments.
- Working knowledge of CUI handling, NIST SP 800-171, CMMC, DFARS252.204.7012
- Experience with secure SDLC/DevSecOps, vulnerability management, logging, hardening, and auditability
- This role requires US Citizenship and all work to be performed within the United States
Nice to Have
- Experience integrating production systems with Python-based analytics or AI workflows.
- Familiarity with modern DevOps, observability, and reliability practices.
- Familiarity with real-time systems, asynchronous processing, and data-intensive applications
- Experience supporting live exercises, demonstrations, operational test events, or time-sensitive deployments
- Experience with Algebraic Modeling Languages and Solvers (e.g., Pyomo, GAMS, AMPL, CPLEX, Gurobi)
- Experience working closely with mathematical optimization models, including translating real-world problems into production systems in partnership with optimization researchers.
- Experience with RMF, ATO, or cATO processes
- Experience with ITAR/EAR or export-controlled environments
Why DEFCON AI
- Direct impact on company strategy and technical direction
- Opportunity to lead and shape a world-class engineering team
- Meaningful AI-driven problems with real-world applications
- You’ll have both strategic influence and hands-on impact.
What We Offer:
- A fully remote, results-based environment
- Competitive salary, bonus, and equity package
- 100% employer paid, comprehensive health insurance including medical, dental, and vision for you and your family
- Unlimited PTO, with your manager’s approval
- Flexible work environment where you manage your work day
- 14 weeks of fully-paid parental leave
Salary Range: $250,000-$290,000. This represents the typical salary range for this position based on experience, skills, and other factors.
- Managing and administering your application throughout the hiring process;
- Verifying the accuracy and authenticity of application materials, including by cross-referencing information you provide against publicly available sources and proprietary databases;
- Identifying indicators of potentially fraudulent, fabricated, or materially misleading application content, including but not limited to discrepancies between submitted materials and publicly available professional profiles, geographic anomalies, and fabricated work histories.
Ready to apply?
Apply to DEFCON AI