Role overview

Scale is seeking a Forward Deployed Product Manager to lead product strategy and delivery for military planning and real-time AI capabilities serving the U.S. Department of War and the broader national security community. This role shapes how AI and data products are deployed into complex, operationally constrained environments where mission outcomes depend on close translation between customer needs and platform capabilities.

Key responsibilities

Own product delivery and customer value across Scale’s military planning portfolio and highest-impact national security accounts, spanning multiple Department of War and national security stakeholders.
Translate operational reality into specific, evidence-backed product guidance for engineering and platform teams, including military planning workflows such as the Joint Planning Process and modeling/simulation requirements like AFSIM.
Build advisory relationships with senior military leaders, national security stakeholders, and technical leads, serving as the reliable escalation point for issues on the Scale side.
Drive deployments from contract to production inside classified and operationally constrained environments, understanding what production-ready means within Department of War contexts.
Distinguish whether product, execution, integration, policy, or change management is the limiting factor in customer outcomes and drive resolution through appropriate channels.
Partner with Forward Deployed Engineering teams and Platform Capability teams to coordinate account execution across multiple stakeholders and use cases.
Travel to customer sites, including classified facilities, as required to maintain relationships and gather operational insight.

Requirements

Active TOP SECRET security clearance, with TS/SCI eligibility preferred.
Six or more years of product management, technical program management, or customer-facing product ownership experience.
Direct experience working with the U.S. Department of War or the broader U.S. national security community.
Working knowledge of either military planning processes and modeling/simulation systems such as the Joint Planning Process and AFSIM, or real-time streaming data systems including event-driven architectures and high-throughput data processing.
Demonstrated record of shipping AI or data products into large, constrained, classified, or highly regulated organizations at scale—not pilots or proofs of concept.
Ability to translate customer needs into product direction rather than simply relaying feature requests, and to make decisions in ambiguous, classified settings with incomplete information.
Strong communication skills adjusted for different audiences, from senior leaders to engineers, with precise writing and speaking ability.

What makes this role worth considering

This position offers direct impact on national security outcomes by shaping how AI technology integrates into military operations and planning. You will work alongside senior military and civilian leadership in a role that demands both technical depth and strategic judgment, balancing competing needs across different military components while maintaining trusted relationships in high-stakes environments.