Spear AI is seeking a Technical Program Manager (TPM) to drive the development and deployment of our Horizon platform, a next-generation data management and analytics system for maritime sensor data. Spear AI serves the national security industry, providing hardware, software, and data solutions across classification levels for operational deployment. As a rapidly growing company committed to continuous fielding and rapid development, we're building a scalable platform that ingests, processes, and analyzes massive volumes of acoustic and environmental data from diverse sources. This hybrid position offers the opportunity to work at the intersection of big data engineering, machine learning, and defense technology.
The ideal candidate will be a technical leader with hands-on engineering experience who can coordinate complex, parallel development efforts across multiple teams and deployment environments. This role requires someone who can navigate the complexities of both unclassified and classified software deployments while maintaining aggressive delivery timelines. You'll be responsible for ensuring successful integration across distributed teams, managing technical dependencies, and driving architectural decisions that balance immediate operational needs with long-term platform scalability.
Key Responsibilities
Coordinate cross-functional teams including data engineers, frontend/backend developers, DevSecOps, and security architects across multiple locations and time zones
Manage complex technical dependencies between streaming data pipelines (Red Panda/MQTT), batch processing systems, and multi-tenant data architectures
Create and maintain comprehensive project roadmaps, identifying critical path items and proactively mitigating risks across competing priorities
Lead technical design reviews and architecture decisions, balancing trade-offs between feature velocity, security requirements, and system scalability
Interface with government stakeholders and program offices to gather requirements, communicate progress, and manage expectations for classified deployments
Oversee the transition from unclassified to classified environments, coordinating ATO processes and security control implementations
Facilitate development cycle planning and technical deep-dives to ensure continuous improvement and knowledge sharing
Manage vendor relationships and third-party integrations to ensure seamless interoperability
Track and report key metrics including deployment velocity, system performance, data pipeline throughput, and SLA compliance
Collaborate with engineering leadership to make build-vs-buy decisions and technology stack choices
Travel approximately 20% to team locations, deployment sites, and customer facilities as needed
Required Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related technical field
5+ years of experience managing complex software platform development, with demonstrated success delivering large-scale data systems
Hands-on technical experience with modern software development, including: Proficiency in at least one programming language (Python, Java, JavaScript, Go); Experience with cloud platforms (AWS/Azure/GCP) and infrastructure as codeUnderstanding of data pipeline architectures and streaming systems; Familiarity with containerization (Docker/Kubernetes) and microservices
Proven ability to manage multiple parallel workstreams with competing priorities and aggressive deadlines
Experience with Agile methodologies and tools (Jira, Confluence, GitHub Projects, or Linear)
Strong technical communication skills with ability to create architecture diagrams, technical specifications, and executive briefings
Experience working with geographically distributed teams and remote collaboration tools
Experience managing stakeholder relationships across engineering, product, and customer organizations
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a data-driven approach to decision making
U.S. Citizenship required - Must be willing to obtain and maintain a Secret or Top Secret/SCI security clearance (at no expense to you)
Preferred Qualifications
Experience with Department of Defense programs or national security systems
Familiarity with classified environment deployments (IL4/IL5/IL6) and ATO processes
Knowledge of data lakehouse architectures (Apache Iceberg, Delta Lake) and modern data stack
Experience with real-time data streaming platforms (Kafka, Pulsar, Red Panda)
Understanding of machine learning workflows and MLOps practices
Experience with React/TypeScript frontend development and GraphQL APIs
Project Management Professional (PMP), Scrum Master, or similar certification
Experience with maritime domain awareness or acoustic data processing systems
Knowledge of DoD security frameworks (RMF, NIST 800-53, DISA STIGs)
Experience managing open-source or dual-use technology development
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