Program Manager - Hacking for Defense

Location: Arlington, Virginia, United States. Occasional travel to the DC metro area, across the United States, and internationally. U.S. citizenship required.

Compensation: $155,000–$200,000 per year, plus benefits.

Company

hirify.global is a 40-person defense innovation company that applies commercial innovation methods to national security programs and moves emerging technologies into operational use.

What you will do

• Own the daily client relationship with DIU’s Innovation with Academia Program Director and Department of War counterparts.
• Source and convert needs from military bases, combatant commands, and intelligence agencies into actionable university problems.
• Coordinate universities, educators, student teams, military mission partners, nonprofits, and contractor teams.
• Connect student outputs to prototyping and lead the DIU Commercialization Fellowship post-course incubator.
• Manage deliverables, schedules, metrics, program economics, and portfolio growth strategy.
• Supervise and coach project leads and innovation analysts while improving program operating practices.

Requirements

• At least 10 years of experience leading complex, multi-stakeholder programs.
• At least five years of experience inside or alongside the defense innovation ecosystem, such as DIU, NSIN, DARPA, SOFWERX, national laboratories, or the military services.
• Ability to brief combatant commands and work effectively with university faculty.
• Working knowledge of Lean Startup and the Mission Model Canvas.
• Diplomatic and entrepreneurial approach to working with clients, universities, nonprofits, and contractors.
• U.S. citizenship is required.

Culture & Benefits

• Small company with approximately 40 employees and few organizational layers.
• Work on national security programs connecting commercial innovation with government missions.
• Benefits are included with the compensation package.
• Success is measured by sponsor satisfaction, validated course problems, completed post-course transitions, and team development.