Chief Engineer AGILE Software Releases, TS/SCI

Blue Sky Innovators; Reston (VA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology firm in Virginia seeks a Chief Engineer to lead AGILE software development and release pipelines. Ideal candidates should possess deep experience in distributed systems and engineering leadership in high-security environments. Responsibilities include serving as the technical authority, overseeing CI/CD pipelines, and aligning technical roadmaps with government leads. Applicants should have active TS/SCI clearance and over 12 years in software engineering, along with strong leadership abilities.

Qualifications

• TS/SCI clearance (active).
• 12+ years of experience in software engineering, mission systems, or C2 system development.
• Ability to lead technical teams and collaborate effectively.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the technical authority for software architecture and design.
• Lead AGILE release trains and oversee the CI/CD pipeline.
• Collaborate with government engineering leads to align technical roadmaps.

Skills

AGILE frameworks (Scrum, SAFe, DevSecOps)

CI/CD pipelines (GitLab, Jenkins, Nexus, SonarQube)

Microservices

Containerization (Docker)

Orchestration (Kubernetes)

Cloud architectures (AWS GovCloud)

Education

Bachelors degree in Engineering, Computer Science or related technical discipline

Masters preferred

Tools

CI/CD tools

Model-based system engineering (MBSE) tools

Job description

Overview

Description: Chief Engineer with deep experience leading AGILE software development and release pipelines. The ideal candidate brings technical depth in distributed systems, modernization of missioncritical C2 platforms, iterative capability releases, and hands-on engineering leadership in high-security environments.

Responsibilities

Engineering Leadership

• Serve as the technical authority for software architecture, design, integration, and release engineering.
• Provide strategic engineering direction, ensuring modern design patterns, cybersecurity compliance, and scalable architectures.
• Guide engineering teams through technical decisionmaking, risk assessments, and performance optimization.

AGILE Release Management

• Lead AGILE release trains, sprint planning, backlog prioritization, and incremental capability drops aligned to operational user needs.
• Oversee the endtoend CI/CD pipeline, including automated testing, containerization, orchestration, and rapid deployment frameworks.
• Ensure all release artifacts meet mission, security, and accreditation requirements.

Systems Integration

• Lead integration of new features, data flows, and software modules.
• Collaborate with government engineering leads to align technical roadmaps, operational threads, and joint test events.
• Support fielding activities, troubleshooting mission software, and ensuring seamless interoperability across connected C2 systems.

Technical Oversight and Governance

• Drive architecture reviews, engineering change processes, and system design documentation.
• Ensure compliance with DoW cybersecurity policies, platform accreditation requirements, and assured software development practices.
• Mentor engineering talent, strengthening the organization's technical depth and engineering rigor.

Required Qualifications

• TS/SCI clearance (active).
• Bachelors degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or related technical discipline; Masters preferred.
• 12+ years of experience in software engineering, mission systems, or C2 system development.
• Demonstrated expertise in:
  • AGILE frameworks (Scrum, SAFe, DevSecOps)
  • CI/CD pipelines (GitLab, Jenkins, Nexus, SonarQube, etc.)
  • Microservices, containerization (Docker), and orchestration (Kubernetes)
  • Cloud architectures (AWS GovCloud, C2S, or similar secure clouds)
  • Systemofsystems integration in DoD environments
  • Experience supporting highside, missioncritical software environments and release cycles.
• Ability to lead technical teams and collaborate effectively in multiorganization environments.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience with:
  • Crossdomain solutions and data transport mechanisms
  • DoD cyber accreditation and secure software engineering
  • Modelbased system engineering (MBSE) tools
  • Prior experience as a Chief Engineer, Deputy Chief Engineer, Lead Architect, or similar senior technical leadership role.
  • Strong communication skills with both engineering teams and senior government sponsors.

Blue Sky Innovators, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you are a qualified job seeker with a disability or a disabled veteran, you have the right to request an accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access http://www.blueskyinnovators.com as a result of your disability. To request an accommodation, please email us at [e-mail] and provide your name and contact information. Please note: this is only for job seekers with disabilities requesting an accommodation.