R&D Technical Program Manager

About the role

We are seeking an experienced Technical Project Manager to support one of our IT service management clients based in the Fairfax/Arlington, VA area. This person will lead complex technology initiatives supporting research, development, and modernization programs. The role is responsible for driving full lifecycle project delivery, from discovery and planning through implementation, release, and operational transition.

The ideal candidate combines strong project management expertise and technical knowledge across software development, cloud technologies, cybersecurity, DevOps, data and AI initiatives, and IT operations. This individual will serve as a key liaison between technical teams, business stakeholders, and executive leadership, ensuring successful delivery of high-impact initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end delivery of complex software, technology, and modernization projects.
• Translate customer and business objectives into actionable project plans, roadmaps, priorities, and measurable outcomes.
• Manage project scope, schedules, budgets, risks, dependencies, and resource allocation across multiple concurrent initiatives.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams including engineering, architecture, product management, cloud, cybersecurity, data, and operations personnel.
• Facilitate project planning sessions, status reviews, stakeholder communications, and executive reporting.
• Drive Agile and hybrid delivery methodologies while ensuring alignment with organizational governance standards.
• Identify and mitigate project risks, resolve issues, and proactively manage project dependencies.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to leadership and stakeholders by providing strategic recommendations and delivery insights.
• Establish project metrics, dashboards, and reporting mechanisms to track progress and drive accountability.
• Support operational readiness and successful transition of delivered solutions into production environments.

Required Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience managing complex technical projects and programs.
• Demonstrated success delivering enterprise software, IT infrastructure, cloud, or digital transformation initiatives.
• Strong technical understanding of:
  • Cloud platforms and services
  • Application development and systems integration
  • DevOps practices and automation
  • Cybersecurity principles
  • Data, analytics, and AI initiatives
  • Production operations and support environments
• Experience leading cross-functional technical teams and collaborating with diverse stakeholder groups.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and executive stakeholder management skills.
• Experience with project delivery tools such as Jira, Confluence, dashboards, and reporting platforms.
• Ability to obtain a Public Trust clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• PMP certification.
• Agile certifications (CSM, SAFe, PMI-ACP, or similar).
• Cloud certifications from AWS, Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud.
• Experience supporting federal or highly regulated environments.
• Background managing large-scale modernization, R&D, or innovation-focused initiatives.