Field Program Manager (Active Top Secret Clearance)

“In 36 months, agentic AI systems will be an operating reality across major institutions. We intend to be central to it.” - Dr. Jim Rebesco, Cofounder and CEO, Striveworks 

The government’s demand for AI is growing far faster than the systems required to support it. Fewer than 15% of federal AI programs have reached sustained production, despite billions of dollars invested. The models perform in testing, but they degrade in the real world. And when performance drops, trust goes with it.

Striveworks was built to solve that problem.

What you’ll build

Since 2018, we have delivered the most trusted AI systems operating in real-world use cases-providing a layer of assurance underneath hundreds of deployed models that monitors performance, manages drift, and sustains systems long after they leave the lab.

A Field Program Manager for Striveworks will be challenged-and trusted-on day one. The Field Program Manager is a hands-on leader aligned to a portfolio of clients based in the greater Northern Virginia area who serves as Striveworks’ primary program leadership presence: owning delivery, customer relationships, and the growth of Striveworks’ mission footprint within the formation. This is not a coordination role. The FPM collaborates across a small, cross-functional project team to drive execution against the program roadmap and is the person Striveworks’ leadership calls when something is at risk. 

This role is built for someone who has operated in complex technology delivery environments, who knows how organizations in the War Department make decisions with technology, and who is done watching technology fail to land because nobody owned the last mile.

What it’s like here

We lead with trust, treat each other with respect, and use candor consistently, kindly, and constructively. We care deeply about our work, and we find genuine satisfaction in doing it well. Above all, we take ownership-because we feel the weight of collective results personally. We are looking for people who share these values and are eager to put them into practice.

What we’re looking for

• A bachelor’s degree and sufficient technical fluency to engage software engineers and data scientists as an informed, non-technical counterpart
• 4-6+ years of relevant professional experience with defense technology delivery  
• Demonstrated experience planning and directing execution of complex, multi-stakeholder project activities; proven small-team (2-6 person) leadership in high-accountability environments
• Track record of building and sustaining rapport and trust with War Department stakeholders across organizational levels
• Strong written and verbal communication; able to operate credibly across Soldier-level and executive-level audiences in the same day
• Active Top Secret US security clearanc

The following isn’t required, but we’d love to see it:

• Direct experience implementing or integrating defense technology; you’ve seen a capability succeed or fail at the unit level and know why
• Familiarity with DOW IT, network, and communications infrastructure as an operational reality, not just a technical concept
• Working knowledge of agile software delivery practices; able to hold a technical team accountable to a cadence without micromanaging the engineering
• Meaningful exposure to machine learning/AI capabilities in operational or defense contexts-enough to recognize value, identify misuse, and advocate credibly for the customer
• Prior experience in a customer success or account management role with a defense technology vendor

This position operates in a hybrid remote/on-site work environment at our customer sites in the greater Northern Virginia area; you will be on site 60% of the time. You will be expected to travel up to 20% of the time, including some international travel.

Compensation

The anticipated base pay range for this position is $145,000-$185,000/year. Striveworks’ total compensation package includes a competitive base salary, equity grants, and cash bonuses.

Benefits include:

• Medical/dental/vision insurance
• Voluntary life, long-term disability, accident, and hospital indemnity insurance
• HSA and FSA (including dependent care FSA) plans
• 401(k) plan
• Unlimited PTO
• Paid parental leave

Ready to build systems that work for a mission that matters? Let’s talk.

Striveworks is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, belief, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity or expression), national origin, social or ethnic origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factors. Striveworks will not tolerate discrimination or harassment of any kind.

If you require assistance or a reasonable accommodation in the application process, please contact People Operations at [email protected].

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify their identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete an employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

Striveworks is a participating employer in the E-Verify program.