Job Description
Engineering Program Manager, Public Sector & Defence
1 day ago Be among the first 25 applicants
Why This Role?
We're seeking an experienced Engineering Program Manager to join Cohere's customer-facing Engineering Program Management team, with a focus on Canadian public sector and defence accounts. This is a highly specialized role requiring an individual who understands both the technical complexity of frontier AI models and the unique requirements of government and defence organizations.
You will be the critical bridge between our cutting‑edge AI capabilities and the specific needs of Canadian federal departments, provincial agencies, Crown corporations, and defence organizations. You'll navigate complex procurement processes, stringent security requirements, data sovereignty concerns, and regulatory compliance while ensuring our customers successfully deploy and scale our AI solutions.
In this role, you'll collaborate with our Strategic Customer team, Applied ML (AML) Engineering, Forward Deployed Engineering (FDE), Platform, Product, and Go‑to‑Market teams, serving as the technical program lead and trusted advisor for our most sensitive and high‑impact government engagements.
Location:
Ottawa or Toronto required (proximity to government customers)
Security Clearance:
Active Top Secret clearance strongly preferred; candidates eligible and willing to obtain clearance will also be considered
What You'll Do
Customer Program Leadership
Own end-to-end technical program delivery for Canadian public sector and defence customers, from initial deployment through production scaling
Serve as the primary technical program point of contact for government customers, building trusted relationships with departmental CIOs, IT directors, and technical teams
Translate complex government requirements (security, compliance, accessibility, bilingualism, data sovereignty) into actionable engineering plans
Navigate government procurement processes, RFP responses, and contractual technical obligations
Strategic Communication
Provide clear, timely, and objective communication across Cohere's engineering organization, customer stakeholders, and government leadership
Translate between AI/ML technical concepts and government‑appropriate language for decision‑makers who may not have deep technical backgrounds
Present technical roadmaps and status updates to senior government officials and departmental executives
Represent Cohere's technical capabilities in sensitive government and defence contexts
Complex Program Management
Create and manage project schedules that account for government timelines, security review processes, and ministerial approval cycles
Identify and manage dependencies across government departments, security authorities, cloud service providers, and internal Cohere teams
Navigate risks unique to government deployments: privacy compliance, Algorithmic Impact Assessments, Treasury Board submissions, security authorizations
Drive alignment between product development priorities and specific government requirements
Technical Delivery & Execution
Ensure on‑time delivery of AI solutions that meet government‑grade security, privacy, accessibility, and performance standards
Coordinate technical work across multiple teams: model customization, security hardening, integration with government systems, bilingual support
Establish governance checkpoints appropriate for high‑stakes government deployments
Problem‑solve complex technical challenges in air‑gapped, on‑premises, or highly regulated environments
Required Experience
7+ years of experience as an Engineering or Technical Program Manager
At least 2 years in customer‑facing technical delivery and operations for enterprise‑grade software or AI/ML solutions
Experience working with government, defence, or heavily regulated customers (public sector, defence contractors)
Proven track record managing complex, multi‑stakeholder technical programs with stringent compliance requirements
Technical Background
Strong understanding of enterprise software deployment architectures (cloud, on‑premises, hybrid, air‑gapped)
Knowledge of or experience with LLM training, fine‑tuning, or deployment would be a strong differentiator
Comfortable discussing API integrations, model inference, data pipelines, and ML operations with technical stakeholders
Government & Defence Acumen
Deep understanding of how government organizations procure, evaluate, and deploy technology
Familiarity with Canadian government requirements: data sovereignty, privacy laws (Privacy Act), accessibility standards, official languages obligations, security classifications
Understanding of defence and national security considerations in AI deployment
Experience with Algorithmic Impact Assessments or AI ethics frameworks is a strong asset
Eligible to obtain Canadian government security clearance (Top Secret preferred)
Nice To Have
Active Canadian government security clearance (Secret or Top Secret) - strong preference for active Top Secret clearance
Bilingual (English/French) proficiency
Background in or strong familiarity with Canadian defence, intelligence, or critical infrastructure sectors
Experience with GC Cloud services (Azure, AWS GovCloud) or Protected B/C environments
Project management certification (PMP, PgMP) or government‑specific methodologies
Security Clearance Requirements
This role requires eligibility for Canadian government security clearance.
Strong preference will be given to candidates who currently hold an active Top Secret (TS) clearance, as this will enable immediate engagement with our most sensitive defence and national security customers.
However, We Will Also Consider Exceptional Candidates Who:
Currently hold Secret clearance and are eligible for TS upgrade
Do not currently hold clearance, but are eligible and willing to undergo the Top Secret clearance process
Have a previous government security clearance that has lapsed
Please note that obtaining Top Secret clearance can take 12‑18 months. Candidates without active clearance will work on non‑classified public sector accounts while the clearance process is underway.
What Makes This Role Unique
This isn't typical program management—it's a highly specialized role at the intersection of frontier AI, national security, and public sector digital transformation. You'll work on some of Canada's most sensitive and impactful AI deployments, helping government organizations harness cutting‑edge technology while maintaining the highest standards of security, ethics, and accountability.
If you're passionate about responsible AI adoption, understand the unique constraints and opportunities within government, and want to have an outsized impact on how Canada leverages AI to serve its citizens, this role is for you.
If some of the above doesn’t line up perfectly with your experience, we still encourage you to apply!
We value and celebrate diversity and strive to create an inclusive work environment for all. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and are committed to providing equal opportunities. Should you require any accommodations during the recruitment process, please submit an Accommodations Request Form, and we will work together to meet your needs.
Full‑Time Employees At Cohere Enjoy These Perks
An open and inclusive culture and work environment
Work closely with a team on the cutting edge of AI research
Weekly lunch stipend, in‑office lunches & snacks
Full health and dental benefits, including a separate budget to take care of your mental health
100% Parental Leave top‑up for up to 6 months
Personal enrichment benefits towards arts and culture, fitness and well‑being, quality time, and workspace improvement
Remote‑flexible, offices in Toronto, New York, San Francisco, London and Paris, as well as a co‑working stipend
✈️ 6 weeks of vacation (30 working days!)
#J-18808-Ljbffr
