Program Manager - AI Pipeline Management

About this role

Job Summary We are seeking a highly organized and technically savvy Program Manager with expertise in AI pipeline management to support Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) initiatives focused on AI/ML operations, healthcare analytics, automation, and scalable digital transformation. This role will oversee the planning, coordination, execution, and optimization of AI development pipelines across data engineering, model development, deployment, governance, cybersecurity, and operational monitoring within a federal healthcare environment. The ideal candidate combines strong program management capabilities with hands-on understanding of AI workflows, MLOps, cloud infrastructure, federal compliance requirements, and enterprise-scale healthcare technology delivery practices. The Program Manager will work closely with VA stakeholders, clinical and business teams, engineers, architects, and federal leadership to ensure successful delivery of secure, compliant, and mission-driven AI solutions that improve Veteran outcomes and operational efficiency. Primary Responsibilities Program & Portfolio Management

Lead enterprise AI initiatives from planning through deployment and operationalization.

Manage timelines, budgets, dependencies, risks, and stakeholder communications across multiple AI programs.

Coordinate cross-functional teams including data scientists, ML engineers, software engineers, cloud architects, security, and business stakeholders.

Establish program governance frameworks, KPIs, and reporting structures.

AI Pipeline Management

Design, optimize, and oversee AI/ML lifecycle pipelines including:

Data ingestion and preprocessing

Model training and validation

CI/CD for ML models

Model deployment and monitoring

Retraining and performance management

Collaborate with engineering teams to improve automation, scalability, and reliability of AI workflows.

Ensure integration of AI systems with enterprise platforms and business applications.

Drive implementation of MLOps best practices and standardized delivery frameworks.

Operational Excellence

Monitor AI pipeline performance, SLAs, and operational metrics.

Identify bottlenecks and implement process improvements.

Ensure compliance with security, privacy, governance, and responsible AI standards.

Support incident management and root cause analysis related to AI systems.

Stakeholder Engagement

Translate technical AI concepts into business-focused updates and recommendations.

Facilitate executive-level reporting and strategic planning.

Align AI program objectives with organizational goals and digital transformation initiatives.

Minimum Qualifications

Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, Business, or related field.

PMP, PgMP, Scrum Master, SAFe, or Agile certification.

5+ years of program or project management experience.

3+ years managing AI/ML, data engineering, or MLOps initiatives.

Strong understanding of AI/ML lifecycle management and cloud-based AI platforms.

Experience with Agile, Scrum, SAFe, or hybrid delivery methodologies.

Proven experience managing enterprise-scale technical programs.

Excellent communication, organizational, and leadership skills.

Desired Qualifications Preferred Qualifications

Experience with cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud.

Familiarity with tools and technologies such as:

MLflow

Airflow

Databricks

Jenkins/GitHub Actions

Python

Terraform

Snowflake

Knowledge of AI governance, model risk management, and responsible AI practices.

Experience in VA or other Federal Agencies

Technical Skills

AI/ML pipeline orchestration

MLOps and CI/CD automation

Cloud infrastructure and DevOps

Data lifecycle management

Risk and dependency management

Resource planning and forecasting

Executive reporting and stakeholder management

Soft Skills

Strategic thinker with strong analytical abilities

Strong leadership and team coordination capabilities

Excellent problem-solving and decision-making skills

Ability to manage competing priorities in fast-paced environments

Strong collaboration and communication skills across technical and non-technical teams

About Aptive

Aptive partners with federal agencies to achieve their missions through improved performance, streamlined operations and enhanced service delivery. Based in Alexandria, Virginia, we support more than a dozen agencies including Veterans Affairs, Transportation, Defense, Homeland Security and the National Science Foundation. ​ We specialize in applying technology, creativity and human-centered services to optimize mission delivery and improve experiences for millions of people who count on government services every day. ​ Founded: 2012Employees: 300+ nationwide EEO Statement Aptive is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, parental status, veteran status, age, disability, or any other protected class. Veterans, members of the Reserve and National Guard, and transitioning active-duty service members are highly encouraged to apply. Originally posted on Himalayas