Here at Appian, our core values of Respect, Work to Impact, Ambition, and Constructive Dissent & Resolution define who we are. In short, this means we constantly seek to understand the best for our customers, we go beyond completion in our work, we strive for excellence with intensity, and we embrace candid communication. These values guide our actions and shape our culture every day. When you join Appian, you’ll be part of a passionate team that’s dedicated to accomplishing hard things.
Appian’s Information Security team is growing and seeking a Lead Program Manager to define, drive, and scale the delivery of security initiatives across Appian’s cloud and corporate environments. This is a high-impact role that blends program leadership, product planning, and strategic security alignment to directly support Appian’s ability to operate securely and compete globally. You’ll work across Product, Engineering, Security, and Go-To-Market teams, serving as a key stakeholder for internal and external security efforts.
This role is based at our Headquarters in McLean, Virginia. Appian was built on a culture of in-person collaboration, which we believe is a key driver of our mission to be the best. Employees hired for this position are expected to be in the office 5 days a week to foster that culture and ensure we continue to thrive through shared ideas and teamwork. We believe being in the office provides more opportunities to come together and celebrate working with the exceptional people across Appian.

In this role, you will:

• Define the vision and drive the execution of major Appian security programs and features, including those required for FedRAMP, NIST 800-53, DoD SRG, and global compliance frameworks.
• Serve as the lead Program Manager for Global Security Engineering, coordinating across multiple stakeholders and aligning with Appian’s broader product roadmap.
• Own and manage quarterly planning, roadmaps, and backlog prioritization for Security Engineering and future security workstreams.
• Partner with Engineering, CIO, and Product teams to deliver multi-quarter cross-functional initiatives with measurable outcomes.
• Build, manage, and maintain executive-level updates, roadmap documentation, and planning forums.
• Lead initiatives that enable Appian to enter or expand in regulated markets through close alignment with Sales, Industries, and Compliance.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, learning, and excellence within Security and Program Management teams.

Basic Qualifications:

• 8 - 12 years of experience in Program Management or Product Management, ideally within a security-focused or enterprise software environment.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Proven experience leading security-related programs or products, especially within regulated environments (e.g., FedRAMP, DoD, NIST).
• Strong understanding of security frameworks and compliance requirements.
• Demonstrated success in cross-functional program delivery, executive communication, and managing large-scale planning processes.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and leadership skills with the ability to influence across multiple levels of an organization.

LI-KC1

• Define the vision and drive the execution of major Appian security programs and features, including those required for FedRAMP, NIST 800-53, DoD SRG, and global compliance frameworks.
• Serve as the lead Program Manager for Global Security Engineering, coordinating across multiple stakeholders and aligning with Appian’s broader product roadmap.
• Own and manage quarterly planning, roadmaps, and backlog prioritization for Security Engineering and future security workstreams.
• Partner with Engineering, CIO, and Product teams to deliver multi-quarter cross-functional initiatives with measurable outcomes.
• Build, manage, and maintain executive-level updates, roadmap documentation, and planning forums.
• Lead initiatives that enable Appian to enter or expand in regulated markets through close alignment with Sales, Industries, and Compliance.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, learning, and excellence within Security and Program Management teams