# Software Engineering Manager, Public Sector

**Company:** [Scale AI](https://hotfix.jobs/companies/scale-ai)
**Location:** San Francisco, CA, St. Louis, MO, New York, NY, Washington, DC
**Role:** Engineering Management
**Salary:** $162k – $270k/yr
**Experience:** 5+ years
**Skills:** Software Development, Generative AI, Backend Systems, Distributed Systems, Machine Learning Infrastructure, Cloud-Native Technologies, Full Stack Development, Data Engineering, MLOps, LLMs
**Posted:** 2026-07-15

> Lead a team of 6-8 engineers building scalable backend systems, distributed platforms, and ML infrastructure for Scale AI's Public Sector and Federal customers. Split time between hands-on technical execution and people management while navigating complex compliance requirements.

## Job Description

## Responsibilities
- Recruit a high-performing engineering team.
- Drive engineering productivity. Provide guidance, mentorship, and technical leadership to a team of engineers working on Generative AI projects.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define, design, and execute strategic roadmap.
- Navigate and deliver outcomes while navigating through complex public sector compliance requirements and frameworks.
- Design and implement scalable backend systems for Federal customers, leveraging Scale's modern and cloud-native AI infrastructure.
- Develop distributed systems, data-intensive applications, and machine learning infrastructure to enable real impact for mission owners.
- Build robust and reliable backend systems that can serve as standalone products, empowering customers to accelerate their own AI ambitions.
- Participate actively in customer engagements, working closely with stakeholders to understand requirements and deliver innovative solutions.
- Contribute to the platform roadmap and product strategy for Scale AI's Federal business, playing a key role in shaping the future direction of our offerings.

## Requirements
- 5+ years of full-time engineering experience, post-graduation.
- 2+ years of prior engineering management or equivalent experience and has managed an engineering team.
- Extensive experience in software development.
- Experience scaling products at hyper-growth startups.
- Excitement to work with AI technologies and their applications for the public sector.
- Extremely strong track record as an individual contributor.
- Show a track record of mentoring and leading teams in successful projects.
- Possess excellent communication and collaboration skills, and the ability to translate complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
- Must be able to commute to office three times per week.
- Have or ability to obtain a TS/SCI clearance.

## Nice-to-Haves
- TS/SCI Clearance.
- Deep technical knowledge of Software Development, willing to get deep into the weeds to solve problems alongside the team.
- Have experience with AI platforms and technologies, including generative models and LLMs.
- Have previous experience in government or government facing technology roles.
- Experience with cloud-native technologies, full stack development, data engineering, and ml ops infrastructure.

## Compensation and Benefits
Compensation packages at Scale for eligible roles include base salary, equity, and benefits.

Base salary ranges:
- San Francisco, CA and New York, NY: $216000–$270000
- Washington, DC: $194400–$243000
- St. Louis, MO: $162400–$203000

Employees in eligible roles are also granted equity. Benefits include comprehensive health, dental and vision coverage, retirement benefits, a learning and development stipend, generous PTO, and potentially a commuter stipend.

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**Canonical:** https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/e4b0f162-93ce-4a1c-9851-edb748b31071