LightFeather · 7 hours ago
Program Manager
Washington, D.C.
Full-time
Hybrid
Senior Level, Lead/Staff
10+ years expLightFeather is seeking a Program Manager to lead Agile software development teams delivering mission-critical systems for federal customers. The role involves ensuring predictable delivery, maintaining team health, and overseeing program-level operations including planning, reporting, and contract compliance.
AnalyticsConsultingCyber SecurityInformation TechnologyUX Design
No H1B
U.S. Citizen Only
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
Qualification
Required
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
Experience with CPARS, federal deliverables, LOE management, and contract management
Preferred
SAFe, PMP, or CSM certifications (helpful but not required if the person has real-world delivery experience)
Company
LightFeather
LightFeather is an IT consulting firm that provides UI/UX design, DevSecOps, cybersecurity, analytics, data science, and cloud services.
51-200 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageLeadership Team
Sarah Fahden
Founder & CEO
Company data provided by crunchbase