Functional Lead (Hands-on AI Product Development)

Job Description NetImpact Strategies is seeking a Functional Lead (Hands-on AI Product Development) to join our delivery team supporting Federal clients. The ideal candidate combines client-facing leadership skills with hands-on functional expertise, bridging the gap between business needs and technical implementation. This role will lead delivery activities, manage project scope and timelines, and work directly with stakeholders to define and document business requirements, ensuring successful outcomes aligned with mission objectives. Ideal candidates are strong problem solvers, technically superb, naturally curious, and driven to deliver high-quality outcomes. Key Responsibilities Provide thought leadership for product development, solution implementation, and continuous improvement. Serve as the primary client-facing lead, managing communication, expectations, and stakeholder engagement. Lead project planning, coordination, and execution across Agile or hybrid delivery methodologies. Manage project scope, schedules, risks, dependencies, and quality to ensure successful delivery. Facilitate requirements-gathering sessions and develop clear functional and non-functional requirements, user stories, and acceptance criteria. Act as the functional expert for a proprietary toolset, advising on capabilities, constraints, and solution feasibility. Collaborate with technical teams, architects, and QA to ensure alignment between business needs, system design, and implementation. Provide functional guidance during solution design, recommending approaches that balance usability, performance, and system constraints. Review and guide development of functional deliverables including process flows, configuration documentation, and design artifacts. Analyze existing business processes and recommend improvements that drive efficiency and mission success. Support development of test scenarios, provide guidance throughout testing cycles, and assist with UAT execution. Support training, deployment planning, and transition-to-operations activities. Ensure all deliverables and project artifacts comply with Federal standards and quality assurance requirements. Apply strong problem-solving, technical understanding, curiosity, and delivery focus to proactively address issues and identify opportunities for improvement. Qualifications Required Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in Business Administration, Information Systems, or related field 8+ years of experience in IT project delivery roles, including at least 3 years in project management or business analysis within Federal environments Experience interacting with AI (Artificial Intelligence) to support delivery of software modernization projects Proven ability to interface with clients and senior stakeholders, facilitating discussions and driving consensus Experience with requirements elicitation, process mapping, and functional documentation Strong understanding of software delivery methodologies Proficiency with project management and collaboration tools Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to tailor communication to both technical and non-technical audiences US Citizenship required; must be eligible for a Secret clearance Preferred Prior Software Development background Prior experience in Federal IT consulting or program delivery Project Management Professional (PMP) or Certified Scrum Master (CSM) certification ITIL or Agile Certification Experience supporting modernization or digital transformation initiatives Familiarity with Software Development and SaaS platforms in Federal environments Knowledge of Federal acquisition, governance, and reporting processes #LI-Remote About Us Perks of working at NetImpact Strategies Your health comes first – we offer comprehensive medical, dental, & vision insurance that starts the first of the month after you join the team Invest in your future – 401(k) Plan – Immediately vested employer contributions; no matching required Work hard, play hard – we offer a generous Paid Time Off (PTO) policy, one (1) additional day of paid wellness leave per calendar year, and observe ten (10) federal holidays Pawsitively pawesome – Pet Insurance (because our little critters are part of our families, too!) Invest in your education – Tuition reimbursement, internal training programs, & company-sponsored industry certifications! Be part of a dynamic and collaborative work environment recently ranked by The Washington Post as a Top Work Place in 2019, 2021,2022, 2023, & 2024! Have fun and celebrate and give back – Team building activities, community volunteering, quarterly HQ days, wellness events, happy hours, family fun events, and more! ABOUT US NetImpact Strategies Inc. (NetImpact) has been a Trusted Advisor driving impact through digital transformation for the Federal Government for over a decade. We solve complex problems with innovation and agility to create meaningful, transformative, and enduring change. As Trusted Advisors, NetImpact professionals partner with customer agencies to deliver solutions that empower them to not only meet their missions but also realize their strategic vision through agile, outcome-focused solutions addressing both strategic and tactical requirements. We design and implement comprehensive, tailored solutions that are both mindful of the client's culture and organizational dynamics. NetImpact’s core values and commitment to a customer and results-oriented delivery approach has propelled our growth and enabled us to deliver impactful value across Strategic Consulting, Process Automation, Cloud, DevSecOps, Data and Analytics, and Cyber Security for the Federal Government. ACCESSIBILITY NOTE NetImpact Strategies is committed to complying with all applicable provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended (“ADA”), and applicable state and local laws. It is NetImpact’s policy not to discriminate against any qualified person or applicant with regard to any terms or conditions of employment on the basis of such individual’s disability. Consistent with this policy of non-discrimination, NetImpact will provide reasonable accommodations to an individual with a disability, as defined in the ADA or applicable law, who has made NetImpact aware of his/her disability, unless doing so would cause undue hardship to NetImpact. If you are an applicant and need reasonable accommodation when applying for job opportunities within NetImpact, or request reasonable accommodation to utilize NetImpact’s online employment application, please contact [email protected].