Subcontracts Manager, Public Sector

Scale AI is seeking a Subcontracts Manager to oversee day-to-day relationships, execution, and integration of subcontractors supporting Public Sector programs.

The successful candidate will work with Scale's Delivery team and technical leads to ensure subcontractors understand their role in the broader technical solution, meet committed timelines and requirements, and remain integrated into program execution.

Responsibilities:

• Own day-to-day relationships with subcontractors supporting large Public Sector programs
• Ensure subcontractors understand Scale's overall technical solution and their scope, interfaces, and deliverables
• Translate prime contract milestones and program requirements into clear subcontractor deliverables, timelines, dependencies, and acceptance criteria
• Integrate subcontractor activities into the Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) and proactively identify dependencies, risks, and potential schedule impacts
• Hold subcontractors accountable for committed scope, timelines, deliverables, status reporting, and corrective actions
• Partner with Scale technical leads and program managers to review and approve technical quality of subcontractor work
• Establish clear operating cadences with subcontractors, including status reviews, action tracking, risk management, decision logs, and escalation mechanisms
• Drive resolution of technical and programmatic blockers across Scale teams, subcontractors, customers, and external stakeholders
• Lead onboarding of new subcontractors and ensure they have necessary program context, systems access, security requirements, documentation, and operating processes
• Coordinate flow-down and tracking of applicable security, access, compliance, and program requirements
• Manage subcontractor administrative workflows, including invoices, billing questions, documentation requests, staffing changes, access issues, and day-to-day operational needs
• Provide Scale program managers with clear view of subcontractor performance and proactively escalate issues
• Build productive, high-trust relationships with subcontractor teams while maintaining high accountability and execution standards

Requirements:

• Active Top Secret clearance
• 5+ years of experience in program management, technical program management, subcontractor management, defense acquisition, systems integration, or related role
• Experience managing external organizations against defined scope, schedules, milestones, and deliverables
• Experience working with Integrated Master Schedules, Work Breakdown Structures, Statements of Work, deliverable tracking, and formal program reviews
• Strong technical acumen and ability to understand software, systems integration, interfaces, dependencies, and technical program plans
• Demonstrated ability to operate across technical and administrative domains
• Experience building and managing integrated program plans with multiple teams, workstreams, and external dependencies
• Strong ability to influence organizations and individuals outside direct reporting chain
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• High ownership and proactive risk identification and resolution
• Willingness to work onsite in Washington, DC area and travel to subcontractor facilities as required

Nice to haves:

• Experience working with or for major defense prime contractors or managing relationships with traditional defense primes
• Experience supporting large Department of Defense or Intelligence Community contracts
• Familiarity with government contracting structures, subcontract administration, FAR/DFARS requirements, and flow-down obligations
• Experience managing subcontractors delivering software, AI/ML, data, systems integration, or technically complex capabilities
• Familiarity with AI/ML systems, generative AI, agentic workflows, APIs, data pipelines, or modern software architectures
• Experience supporting classified programs and coordinating security requirements
• Familiarity with subcontractor invoicing, cost tracking, forecasting, and financial reconciliation
• Domain knowledge on technical topics related to homeland layered defense

The base salary range for this full-time position in Washington, DC is: $166,400-$249,000 USD