Program Manager

Job Description

Job Description

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.