Technical Product / Program Manager
Spear AI
Technical Product / Program Manager
Spear AI
AI-enabled defense software and maritime sensors
Spear AI is hiring several Technical Product / Program Managers to support an Intelligence Community (IC) mission customer. Each hire owns a specific AI or software product end to end, from mission requirement to delivered, adopted capability, working alongside Spear AI engineers and government stakeholders.
This is a PM role first. You won't write production code. But you need to understand the code, the architecture, and the trade-offs well enough to make the call yourself, aligned to commander's intent, without escalating or pulling in outside technical help. Priorities shift fast here and the ownership is real.
Spear AI is a growing defense contracting company dedicated to delivering cutting-edge solutions that support our nation’s security. As we expand, we’re building a culture where innovation meets mission-critical work. We operate with a flat organizational structure that empowers every team member to make an impact, collaborate directly with leadership, and contribute to projects that matter. Whether you’re joining our Hardware, Software, or Services division, you’ll work alongside talented professionals who are committed to excellence and advancing the capabilities that keep our nation safe and secure.
Spear AI builds sonobuoy sensors that are deployed into the water and collect edge data. We also work with the U.S. Navy to collect and process their SONAR data. You’ll have an opportunity to work on real-world projects that directly impact warfighter capabilities and mission success.
The Services Team. You'll sit on Services, Spear AI's applied engineering and technical advisory arm. We embed with government customers to design, build, and operate the AI pipelines, data infrastructure, and software that take emerging capability from concept to fielded mission impact. The team pairs ML, data, software, and cloud engineers with operators who know how the IC and DoD actually work day to day.
• Own the roadmap, backlog, and delivery for an assigned product or capability line.
• Translate mission and operational requirements into clear, scoped engineering work.
• Make independent technical and programmatic trade-off decisions aligned to commander's intent.
• Review pull requests and technical designs closely enough to confirm the work matches what was asked.
• Scope work, challenge estimates, and surface technical risk early.
• Build a quick prototype or script when that's the fastest way to answer a product question.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for government stakeholders on your product, and report schedule, risk, and dependencies to Spear AI leadership and the customer.
• Drive adoption and feedback loops with mission users, and support accreditation, deployment, and transition in classified environments.
Important Skills
• 4+ years of product, program, or project management on software efforts, with decisions and outcomes you can speak to directly
• A track record of sound trade-off decisions made independently in ambiguous environments
• Agile delivery practice and tooling (Jira, GitLab, or similar)
• Clear communication with both engineers and non-technical government stakeholders
• Working understanding of system architecture, APIs, data flows, cloud services, and deployment basics
• Demonstrated ability to learn new AI platforms, frameworks, and integrations quickly, including agentic AI tooling
• Experience managing AI/ML or LLM-based products
• Delivering software in classified environments, including RMF/ATO
• Active CI Polygraph from DIA or NSA
• Military or Intelligence Community experience
• PMP, CSPO, CSM, or equivalent
• AWS: Bedrock and related services
• Microsoft Azure: Azure AI Foundry and related services
Nice to have
Palantir: Foundry, Gotham, AIP, Maven Smart System (MSS)
Reads code in at least one modern language (Python, JavaScript/TypeScript, Java, or Go) and follow a pull request
Prior experience as a software engineer before moving into product or program management
Agentic AI frameworks: LangGraph, CrewAI, AutoGen, MCPEqual Opportunity
Unlimited PTO — Take the time you need to recharge and maintain work-life balance.
Dedicated Sick Time — Your health and well-being come first.
Comprehensive Health & Benefits – Medical, dental, and vision coverage to keep you and your family protected.
11 Paid Holidays — Enjoy time off throughout the year to celebrate and spend time with loved ones.
Professional Development — Educational opportunities and resources to help you grow your skills and advance your career.
Collaborative Environment — Work directly with leadership in our flat organizational structure, where your ideas and contributions matter.
Mission-Driven Work — Contribute to projects that directly support national security and make a real-world impact.
Growth Opportunities — Join us during an exciting expansion phase where you can help shape our future.
401(k) with company match.
Onsite / Remote / Flexible work arrangements or hybrid options (position dependent).
Relocation assistance (position dependent).
Referral bonuses.
Performance bonuses.
Life insurance and disability coverage.
Technology home office setup stipend.
Professional certification reimbursement (position dependent).
We offer competitive compensation tailored to your experience, location, and the impact you’ll make. We’re committed to equitable pay and will share a range aligned to your level and geography during the hiring process. In accordance with state law, candidates in jurisdictions such as CA, CO, WA, NY, and others, where applicable, will be provided a good-faith salary range upon request and throughout the hiring process. This is a full-time, exempt position under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and is not eligible for overtime pay.
Spear AI is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.
Spear AI provides AI and machine-learning solutions for national security and maritime operations, delivering hardware and software that improve operator decision-making and situational awareness, especially from acoustic data. Its Horizon AI Platform manages and labels acoustic data, while Forerunner handles edge AI processing and it offers field-maintainable maritime sensors to collect and interpret signals. The company differentiates itself through deep Navy experience among its founders and by offering an integrated stack that combines edge computing, data labeling tools, and field sensors designed for defense and maritime use. Its goal is to help Navy and allied forces operate more effectively by deploying reliable AI systems that enhance situational awareness and decision-making in demanding maritime environments.
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