Technical Program Manager - AI/ML & Software Delivery

hatch I.T. is partnering with Expression to find an AI Architect (Technical Lead). See details below: About The Role:   Expression is seeking an experienced AI Architect to serve as Technical Lead designing and technically integrating advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Large Language Model (LLM) capabilities supporting the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This role will support the development and integration of secure, mission-focused AI agents within the DHS AI environment. The selected candidate will lead the adaptation of multi-agent AI capabilities, including intelligent workflow orchestration, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), model evaluation, and governed enterprise data integration, to enhance investigative analysis, information retrieval, report generation, and human decision support. The ideal candidate is a hands-on AI architect and technical leader with extensive experience designing and delivering enterprise AI applications. You are equally comfortable defining system architecture, developing and reviewing production-quality software, integrating LLMs with enterprise data systems, and mentoring engineers through complex technical challenges. This position requires a strong understanding of modern AI engineering, distributed application architectures, secure API development, and responsible AI deployment within highly regulated environments. You will work closely with AI engineers, data engineers, program leadership, and Government stakeholders to deliver reliable, explainable, secure, and scalable AI capabilities.   Location and Clearance: Clearance: Top Secret/SCI required  Location: Shirlington, VA About the Company: Founded in 1997 and headquartered in Washington DC, Expression provides data fusion, data analytics, software engineering, information technology, and electromagnetic spectrum management solutions to the U.S. Department of Defense, Department of State, and national security community. Expression’s “Perpetual Innovation” culture focuses on creating immediate and sustainable value for their clients via agile delivery of tailored solutions built through constant engagement with their clients. Expression was ranked #1 on the Washington Technology 2018's Fast 50 list of fastest growing small business Government contractors and a Top 20 Big Data Solutions Provider by CIO Review. Responsibilities:

• Lead the planning, execution, and delivery of AI/ML and enterprise software development activities supporting Government-approved investigative workflows within the existing AI environment.
• Manage a multidisciplinary technical team of AI architects, AI engineers, and data engineers, coordinating technical 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 aligned with contract requirements and Government priorities.
• Oversee the full software delivery lifecycle, including requirements analysis, architecture and design reviews, Agile development, integration, testing, deployment, Government acceptance, and sustainment.
• Lead Agile planning activities, technical exchange meetings, sprint reviews, demonstrations, and recurring program status reviews to monitor progress and resolve delivery challenges.
• Serve as a primary coordination point between Government stakeholders, technical leadership, engineering teams, enterprise platform owners, and other delivery organizations.
• Coordinate technical dependencies involving AI/ML applications, multi-agent workflows, enterprise data integrations, cybersecurity, DevSecOps, and Government-provided infrastructure and services.
• Monitor program performance, including staffing utilization, productive hours, deliverable completion, schedule adherence, quality metrics, risks, issues, and contractual commitments.
• Manage contract scope and change-control processes, identifying potential impacts to schedules, staffing, resources, funding, and technical delivery while escalating changes requiring Government authorization.
• Maintain traceability between contractual requirements, approved technical work packages, software components, testing evidence, and Government deliverables.
• Coordinate the adaptation and integration of existing AI algorithms, software components, and technical capabilities into approved Government mission applications, ensuring appropriate documentation and technical lineage.
• Track Government onboarding, security clearances, system access, data availability, cybersecurity, privacy, and authorization dependencies that may affect technical execution.
• Oversee preparation and submission of program deliverables, including technical status reports, integrated schedules, quality plans, risk assessments, engineering documentation, and acceptance evidence.
• Collaborate with technical leads to establish measurable 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 for delivered capabilities.
• Coordinate approved software procurement requests, licensing requirements, and other direct cost activities with Contracts, technical leadership, and authorized Government stakeholders, ensuring adherence to established approval and funding processes.
• Prepare and deliver program status briefings, technical progress updates, risk assessments, and executive-level presentations to Government and Expression leadership.
• Identify opportunities to improve delivery efficiency, engineering coordination, quality management, and program execution while maintaining compliance with contractual requirements and Government approval processes.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, Business Administration, Project Management, or a related field, or equivalent relevant professional experience.
• 10+ years of professional experience in technical program management, software engineering, data engineering, or enterprise technology delivery, including 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 engineering 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 within 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, with the ability to identify program risks, resolve delivery challenges, and communicate technical and operational tradeoffs.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including demonstrated experience presenting program status, technical progress, risks, and recommendations to Government stakeholders, engineering teams, and executive leadership.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 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 supporting enterprise or mission-critical applications.
• Experience supporting Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Defense, 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 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) technology transitions, research-to-production initiatives, or the 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.

Benefits: Expression offers competitive salaries and benefits, such as: 401k matching PPO and HDHP medical/dental/vision insurance Education reimbursement Complimentary life insurance Generous PTO and holiday leave Onsite office gym access Commuter Benefits Plan