Defense Innovation Unit Senior Program Manager

We are seeking a high-caliber Senior Program Manager to serve as the primary execution lead for the Second Front workstream within the DIU Proving Grounds program. Th is role is embedded directly within the DIU ecosystem, focusing on the seamless transition of commercial dual-use technologies into the hands of the warfighter.

You will be responsible for the end-to-end management of Other Transaction Authority (OTA) vehicles, navigating the critical path from initial prototype solicitation to successful production scaling.

Position Location: Mountain View, CA (On-site at Defense Innovation Unit HQ)

Clearance: Active Top Secret/SCI (or eligibility to obtain one immediately).

Key Responsibilities

1. OTA Lifecycle Management

• Execution: Lead the drafting, negotiation, and administration of both Prototype OTAs and Production OTAs in accordance with 10 U.S.C. § 4022.
• Milestone Tracking: Define and monitor technical milestones for Second Front-related vendors to ensure "successful completion" criteria are met for production eligibility.
• Financial Oversight: Manage budget allocations, obligation timelines, and burn rates for the Second Front portions of the Proving Grounds program.

2. Strategic Coordination

• Stakeholder Liaison: Act as the primary bridge between DIU leadership, Department of War (DoW) mission partners, program teammates, and commercial vendors (Second Front partners and customers).
• Proving Grounds Integration: Ensure that Second Front activities align with the broader Proving Grounds mission of testing, evaluating, and validating software and hardware at the speed of commercial innovation.

3. Operational Excellence

• Risk Mitigation: Identify technical or policy issues early and unlock bottlenecks to ensure Second Front customers and partners seamlessly operate within the Proving Grounds ecosystem.
• Growth: Partner closely with the Second Front Public Sector team and leadership to communicate and support the execution of on-program growth opportunities.
• Reporting: Internally, you will report directly to the Head of Federal Delivery at Second Front, and within DIU, you will directly support and partner with the Proving Grounds Program Management team.
• Delivery: Deliver high-visibility briefs to DIU Directors and Pentagon stakeholders regarding program health, transition readiness, and ROI on commercial tech integration.

Required Qualifications

• Experience: 8 years of Program Management experience, specifically within the DoW acquisition or Defense Industrial Base (DIB) sectors.
• OTA Expertise: Proven track record of executing Other Transaction Authority agreements. You must understand the nuances of prototype-to-production transitions.
• Clearance: Active Top Secret/SCI (or eligibility to obtain one immediately).
• Technical Literacy: Ability to converse fluently with software engineers and product managers regarding SaaS, cybersecurity, and cloud-based "Proving Ground" environments.
• Presence: Exceptional communication skills for on-site collaboration in a fast-paced, "startup-style" government environment.

Preferred Skills

• Prior experience working directly with or within DIU or similar DoW innovation entities.
• Familiarity with Second Front Systems or similar automated deployment/security platforms (e.g., Game Warden).

Why This Role?

This isn't a "maintenance" PM role. You will be at the tip of the spear in changing how the Pentagon buys technology, and how Second Front fields it. The Proving Grounds program is a high-priority initiative within DIU aimed at breaking the traditional, slow-moving acquisition cycle by leveraging the agility of commercial partners.

The expected base salary range for this role is $140,000– $191,000. Final compensation will be based on factors such as experience, skills, level, and geographic location. This role may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses and equity grants as part of the total compensation package.

Success at 2F Looks Like

• Viewing obstacles as opportunities for growth
• Having a bias toward action and tangible, measurable results
• Striving to be both compassionate and direct with your feedback
• Being team-oriented and inclusive with your actions

Perks & Benefits

This role is full time. As a public benefit corporation, we’re a team of purpose-driven trailblazers transforming the future of U.S. national security. We hire the best to do their best and, as such, we are committed to providing the perks and benefits you need to be successful—both in- and outside the workplace.

We offer you:

• Competitive Salary
• 100% Healthcare, vision and dental coverage
• 401(k) 3% company contribution
• Equity incentive plan
• Tech office supplies stipend
• Annual professional development stipend
• Flexible paid time off federal holidays off
• Parental leave
• Referral Bonus

Visit our careers page to learn more.