Bridge Team Program Manager

The Tatitlek Corporation; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 165,000 - 185,000; Full time

Job summary

The Tatitlek Corporation is seeking a proactive Program Manager to support the Defense Innovation Unit’s Bridge Program, ensuring effective scaling of portfolio companies into DoD operations. The ideal candidate will have strong project management skills and a deep understanding of defense frameworks.

Qualifications include a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field and at least 5 years of relevant experience. The role offers a collaborative work environment and a salary of $165,000 to $185,000 annually.

Qualifications

• U.S. Citizenship and ability to obtain security clearance.
• At least 5 years of project or program management experience, preferably in defense.
• Strong understanding of scaling challenges for new DoD entrants.

Responsibilities

• Manage project timelines, budgets, and deliverables to ensure scaling of DIU portfolio.
• Collaborate with DoD stakeholders and vendors to define operational needs.
• Develop program requirements documents and success metrics.

Skills

Project management

Communication

Negotiation

Organizational skills

Technical understanding of DoD frameworks

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Business, or National Security

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

Salesforce

Google Suite

PowerPoint

Excel

Job description

Overview

Job specifications are intended to present a descriptive list of the range of duties performed by employees. Specifications are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job.

SUMMARY: The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) is seeking a collaborative and proactive, mission‑driven Program Manager to support the Bridge Program. The Bridge Program plays a central role in ensuring DIU’s portfolio companies are able to scale by identifying and offering tools and services that enable transitioning into DoD operations. Members of this team understand the systemic hurdles faced by new entrants to the defense industrial base and seek to contribute to their success. The team members interface with both internal DIU stakeholders and external vendors, partners, and portfolio companies.

Key Functions

• Provide strategic and execution support to the Bridge Program Director and work collaboratively with peer PMs in Commercial Engagement and across the technology portfolios.
• Oversight, management, and execution of programs that offer services to portfolio companies as designated by the Bridge Program Director which may touch on compliance, regulatory, or other barriers to scaling for companies developing prototypes.
• Provide recommendations on how to enhance program performance.
• Prepare project requirement documents, white papers, briefs, and meeting minutes.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop and manage project timelines, budgets, milestones, and deliverables to ensure DIU Services enable scaling of DIU portfolio.
• Collaborate closely with DoD stakeholders, end-users, and commercial vendors to define operational needs, translate them into technical requirements, and ensure alignment throughout the project lifecycle.
• Evaluate vendor proposals, participate in selection decisions, and oversee performance and deliverables.
• Represent DIU at interagency meetings, conferences, and stakeholder engagements to champion innovation and foster partnerships.
• Contribute to internal process improvements and knowledge‑sharing within the DIU community.
• Identify barriers to DIU companies scaling and recommend thoughtful services that the Government can offer to enable transitioning.
• Work across the enterprise to achieve objectives. This includes driving alignment across finance, contracts, legal, strategic communications, and other DIU PMs.
• Develop program requirements documents to support program ideas and enable roadmap for execution.
• Define program scope, goals, deliverables, and success metrics.
• Proactively identify program risks and mitigation strategies and effectively communicate status and issues to leadership.
• Manage and report on the performance and progress to delivery of acquired services.
• Identify and track metrics/KPI’s to measure project effectiveness.
• Develop and present recommended program improvements or modifications informed by environmental conditions, stakeholder feedback, experience, and execution results.
• Maintain awareness and deep understanding of capabilities offered by commercial partners and other services offered by other DOD offices to help ensure deconfliction and that DIU is providing the most relevant services to its companies.

Required Qualifications

• U.S. Citizenship and ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance (Current clearance preferred).
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., Engineering, Computer Science, Business, National Security); advanced degree preferred.
• At least 5 years of relevant experience in project or program management, preferably in defense, national security, or emerging technology sectors.
• At least 5 years of relevant experience in operations related to scaling prototype projects.
• Strong understanding of challenges to scaling that new entrants to DoD experience.
• Strong understanding of DoD acquisition frameworks and experience with rapid prototyping or Other Transaction Authority (OTA) processes.
• Proven ability to manage complex, cross‑functional teams and stakeholder relationships.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and organizational skills.
• Familiarity with commercial technology sectors and emerging innovation trends.

Preferred Qualifications

• PMP or equivalent program management certification.
• Experience working in DOD program executive offices.
• Technical experience in one or more of DIU’s portfolio areas (AI/ML, autonomy, cyber, energy, space, human performance).
• Experience in transitioning prototypes to acquisition programs of record.
• Ability to work in a dynamic team environment, interact with DoD Partners’ and commercial contractors.
• Experience in navigating defense-focused requirements including CMMC compliance, ATOs, FCLs, PCLs, etc.
• Experience managing vendors through contracting mechanisms.
• Ability to help improve the organization and collection of data associated with program execution.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Experience with Salesforce PowerPoint/Google Slides, excel/Google Sheets, and the G‑Suite platform.
• Ability to take direction and respond to taskings while also maintaining the ability to act independently and responsibly with commercial executives and senior government stakeholders.
• Experience with Prize Challenges and Transition Pathways Management.
• Demonstrated experience supporting or managing prize challenges, competitions, or other innovation pathways used to identify and engage non‑traditional vendors and emerging technology companies.
• Familiarity with the design, execution, and evaluation of challenge‑based acquisition approaches, including coordination with stakeholders across government, industry, and academia.
• Experience shepherding companies through DoD onboarding and transition processes, including guiding vendors through requirements for Authority to Operate (ATO), cybersecurity compliance, and integration into government environments.
• Ability to coordinate with security, engineering, and compliance stakeholders to streamline ATO processes and reduce barriers to entry for commercial partners.
• Experience supporting the transition of prototype solutions into operational environments or programs of record, ensuring alignment with mission needs, timelines, and regulatory requirements.
• Ability to manage cross‑functional efforts that bridge innovation activities (e.g., prize challenges, pilots) with formal acquisition, contracting, and deployment pathways.

Work Environment

This position may require occasional travel. The role involves working in a fast‑paced, collaborative environment with government, military, and commercial partners.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Essential functions may require maintaining physical condition necessary for frequently bending, stooping, sitting, walking or standing for prolonged periods of time; most of time is spent sitting in a comfortable position with the opportunity to move about. Occasionally there may be a need to move or lift moderately light items up to 35 pounds. Near visual acuity to review written documentation, ability to hear and understand speech at normal room levels and on the telephone; manual dexterity to operate a telephone and keyboard; lift horizontally and vertically.

Supervisory Responsibilities

None

Additional Qualifying Factors

As a condition of employment, must pass a pre‑employment drug screening, as well as have acceptable reference and background check results. As an equal opportunity employer, The Tatitlek Corporation recognizes that our strength lies in our people. Discrimination and all unlawful harassment, including sexual harassment, in employment is not tolerated. We encourage success based on our individual merits and abilities without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, marital status, citizenship status, military status, protected veteran status or employment. We support and obey laws that prohibit discrimination everywhere we do business.

Salary

$165-185k/annually