Chief Systems Architect - TS/SCI w/Poly

Description

A senior architect role leading the move of mission-critical systems for a national security customer, from legacy applications to modern cloud-native platforms.

You will set the technical direction across cloud, data, APIs, integration and microservices, and act as the senior technical authority on the program.

The company is a global technology and professional services firm serving federal agencies, defense and the intelligence community, with about 26,000 staff in more than 50 countries and work in AI, cloud, cyber and software development.

Responsibilities

• Build and own the enterprise architecture strategy that guides the customer's move to cloud, data and services.
• Lead and mentor several technical teams delivering mission-aligned modernization work.
• Weigh technology trade-offs, spot opportunities for innovation, and brief senior customer and company leaders on architecture direction.
• Oversee the conversion of legacy applications into secure, scalable, cloud-native services.
• Make sure architectures fit Agile delivery, CI/CD pipelines, DevSecOps practices and zero-trust principles.
• Work with product owners, program leads, mission stakeholders and engineers to turn operational needs into workable architectures.
• Help set the company's enterprise modernization standards and promote modern engineering practice.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in a technical field.
• 15+ years of IT experience, including 5+ years in a senior architecture leadership role.
• Active TS/SCI with Poly clearance.
• US citizenship.
• Experience guiding multi-disciplinary technical teams through large-scale modernization.
• Deep experience with cloud and microservices architectures, such as AWS GovCloud and Kubernetes with containerization.
• Strong background in data platform modernization, covering analytics platforms or distributed data systems.
• Proven work with Agile methods and modern CI/CD delivery, plus Agile Delivery, DevSecOps and Scrum experience.
• Ability to develop complex strategies and present them clearly to senior technical and mission leaders.
• Desired: hands-on experience designing and building microservices and cloud-native architectures.
• Desired: expertise in API design, distributed systems, zero-trust principles and event-driven architectures.
• Desired: experience with CI/CD pipelines, DevOps toolchains and Agile or Scrum teams.
• Desired: familiarity with data lakes, analytics platforms and modern data engineering patterns.
• Desired: knowledge of modern UI frameworks and responsive application design.
• Desired: understanding of AI/ML architecture patterns and emerging cloud-based AI services.
• Desired: cloud certification such as AWS Solutions Architect (Associate or Professional).

Conditions

Onsite work in McLean, Virginia, USA.

Scheduled at 40 hours per week.

Travel is less than 10% of the time.

The likely salary range is $214,776 to $290,580, based on experience, location and possibly contract terms. It is not a guarantee and the final pay may fall outside this range.

The hiring process includes identity verification using biometrics and AI, and you must be on camera for virtual interviews.

The company is an equal opportunity employer that welcomes individuals with disabilities and protected veterans.

Benefits

• Medical plan options, some with Health Savings Accounts, plus dental and vision plans.
• 401(k) with company match, allowing pre- and post-tax contributions up to IRS annual limits.
• Paid vacation, sick and personal time, holidays, parental, military, bereavement and jury duty leave.
• Flexible work weeks where possible.
• Short- and long-term disability, life, accidental death and dismemberment, personal accident, critical illness and business travel accident insurance, provided or available.
• Internal mobility support for career growth, plus paid education and certifications.
• Access to cutting-edge technology and enterprise labs.