Technical Program Manager Jobs in Columbia, SC (NOW HIRING)

Do you want to help make the world safe from cyber attack? At Corelight, we believe that the best approach to cybersecurity risk starts with the network. Attackers can evade endpoint detection, firewalls and many other technologies - but they can't avoid leaving digital footprints on the networks they traverse. Built on open-source innovations from Zeek, Suricata and YARA and refined through years of real-world use, Corelight transforms network footprints from physical, virtual and cloud networks into actionable insights. Our customers use these insights to speed incident response and proactively hunt for threats.

Corelight Labs is the heartbeat of our innovation, where open-source research meets cutting-edge detection. As a Technical Program Manager for Labs, you are the architect of predictability in a world of research uncertainty. By bridging the gap between brilliant research and production-ready engineering, you ensure that our AI/ML models and detection engines move seamlessly from the lab to the front lines-arming our customers with the evidence they need to outpace global adversaries. You will turn complex research outcomes into actionable roadmaps, ensuring that our detection portfolio is as reliable as it is revolutionary.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Drive End-to-End Delivery: Own the lifecycle of Labs initiatives, including AI/ML detection models, behavioral network detections, and core engines like Zeek, Suricata, and YARA.
• Orchestrate Cross-Functional Alignment: Serve as the central hub between Labs, Engineering, QA, Product Management, and Field teams to ensure deliverables are production-ready and customer-aligned.
• Manage Program Execution: Define comprehensive plans, milestones, and success criteria while proactively identifying and mitigating risks across parallel workstreams.
• Translate Research to Reality: Work closely with researchers and engineers to break down highly technical efforts into executable plans, aligning on handoffs and integration points.
• Optimize R&D Processes: Establish and maintain lightweight program management practices that foster innovation without adding unnecessary "red tape" to the research environment.
• Ensure Operational Visibility: Provide clear, regular status reporting to Labs leadership and stakeholders, surfacing trade-offs and progress with data-driven clarity.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities needed to be successful:

• Navigating Ambiguity: You thrive in fast-moving R&D environments and can balance the inherent uncertainty of research with the need for predictable delivery.
• Technical Discernment: You have the "applied curiosity" to ask the right technical questions, surfacing risks in detection pipelines or model lifecycles before they become bottlenecks.
• Low-Ego Collaboration: You are a master of "servant leadership," focusing on results and helping researchers and engineers spend more time building and less time coordinating.
• Strategic Communication: You can translate complex technical outcomes into clear, consumable timelines for non-technical stakeholders and customer-facing teams.

Qualifications/Requirements:

• Professional Experience: 5+ years of experience as a Technical Program Manager, Engineering Program Manager, or a similar role in a high-tech environment.
• R&D Background: Proven track record working with highly technical teams (R&D, ML, Platform Engineering, or Infrastructure).
• Tooling Mastery: Hands-on proficiency with Jira, Confluence, and modern program management tools to manage complex schedules and dependencies.
• Process Expertise: Strong understanding of software development lifecycles (SDLC) and research-to-production workflows.
• Education: Bachelor's degree in a technical field or equivalent practical experience.
• Preferred Differentiators: Deep experience in Cybersecurity (NDR, Threat Research), familiarity with Zeek/Suricata/YARA, or exposure to AI/ML model deployment workflows.

Fueled by investments from top-tier venture capital organizations such as Crowdstrike, Accel and Insight, Corelight is the fastest growing network detection and response platform in the industry. Our customers trust us to protect mission-critical assets in leading enterprises, government, and research institutions worldwide. We are leading the way with AI-assisted workflows, machine learning models, cloud security and SaaS-based solutions to arm defenders with the tools and knowledge they need to disrupt cyber attacks. Our team of passionate innovators are dedicated to solving some of the toughest challenges in cybersecurity, while fostering a collaborative, inclusive, and growth-oriented culture. Corelight is committed to a geographically distributed yet connected employee base with employees working from home and office locations around the world. At Corelight, we take pride in the diversity of our backgrounds and perspectives, and we are committed to fostering an inclusive environment that strengthens our company. By embracing a wide range of experiences, backgrounds, neurodiversity, talents, and approaches to problem-solving, we aim to create a workplace where everyone can thrive and contribute their best.

We are looking forward to meeting you. Check us out at www.corelight.com