Chief Systems Architect

COMFORT SYSTEMS; Gaithersburg (MD); On-site; USD 154,050 - 278,475; Full time

Job summary

Leidos seeks a Chief Systems Architect for the Maru Program in Gaithersburg, MD to serve as the lead technical authority guiding architectural design, systems integration, and enterprise strategy across geospatial intelligence initiatives.

The role partners with customer leadership and cross‑functional teams to develop scalable, secure architectures that meet performance, security, and compliance requirements, including NIST and federal frameworks.

Qualifications

• US citizenship is required.
• Active Top Secret/SCI clearance with polygraph.
• 15-20 years of relevant experience for Master’s degree; 13-16 years for Doctorate.
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Experience with cloud architecture (AWS/C2S/IC GovCloud) and data integration.
• Experience with SAFe and agile teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead architect for primary task order and ensure consistency across the program.
• Provide architectural guidance on enterprise systems, cloud integration, and modernization.
• Drive architectural frameworks and system‑of‑systems designs aligned with GEOINT strategies.
• Recommend technology integration, standards adoption, and data flow optimization.
• Collaborate with Product Managers and cross‑functional teams to translate needs into technical solutions.
• Guide decision‑making across dispersed teams to maintain coding standards and DevSecOps practices.
• Conduct architecture reviews ensuring compliance with federal frameworks and cloud adoption.
• Define architectural patterns and interface specifications for enterprise systems.
• Drive cloud‑native solutions including containerization and CI/CD in secure environments.
• Analyze emerging technologies to inform future state architecture.

Skills

US citizenship

Top Secret/SCI clearance

Cloud architecture

SAFe/ Agile

Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT)

Multiple cloud platforms

Security compliance (NIST)

Programming (Python, C, C++, Java)

Communication skills

Education

Master’s degree

Doctorate (PhD)

Tools

AWS

IC GovCloud

Azure

GCP

TOGAF

CISSP

CCSP

Job description

Description

Leidos Intel Sector combines technology-enabled services and mission software capabilities in the areas of cyber, logistics, security operations, and decision analytics to support our defense and intel customers’ mission to defend against evolving threats around the world. Our team’s focus is to ensure our customers have the right tools, technologies, and tactics to keep pace with an ever-evolving security landscape and succeed in their pursuit to protect people and critical assets.

The National Solutions Business Area is currently seeking a highly motivated Chief Systems Architect for the Maru Program. The successful candidate will serve as the lead technical authority guiding architectural design, systems integration, and enterprise strategy across a high-visibility geospatial intelligence initiative.

The Chief Systems Architect will work closely with our customer leadership, mission stakeholders, and other contractors to develop and implement a scalable, secure, and resilient enterprise architecture supporting both current and future geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) missions.

Please note Gaithersburg, MD is the program’s primary work location.

Clearance Level Required

Active Top Secret/SCI with the ability to successfully pass a Polygraph examination.

Primary Responsibilities

• Serve as the lead architect for a primary task order, while providing architectural guidance and alignment across the broader program as needed to ensure consistency, interoperability, and compliance across multiple task orders.
• Serve as the principal systems architect and strategic technical advisor on all matters related to enterprise systems design, cloud integration, and architecture modernization.
• Lead the development and evolution of architectural frameworks and system-of-systems designs aligned with the customer’s long-term GEOINT strategies.
• Provide authoritative recommendations on technology integration, standards adoption, and data flow optimization.
• Collaborate with Product Managers, Release Train Engineers (RTEs), and cross-functional scrum teams to translate business needs into technical solutions that meet performance, scalability, security, and compliance requirements.
• Guide technical decision‑making across geographically dispersed teams to ensure consistent design patterns, coding standards, and DevSecOps practices.
• Conduct architecture reviews and provide governance to ensure solutions are compliant with federal enterprise architecture frameworks, cybersecurity mandates (e.g., NIST), and cloud adoption strategies.
• Define, update, and validate architectural patterns and interface specifications for enterprise‑level systems.
• Drive cloud‑native solution strategies including containerization, and continuous integration/continuous delivery/deployment (CI/CD) pipelines in secure environments.
• Analyze and evaluate emerging technologies to inform future‑state architecture and capability roadmaps.
• Represent Leidos and the Maru Program in high‑level technical exchanges, reviews, and governance boards with the customer and Intelligence Community (IC) stakeholders.
• Drive user‑facing front‑end development and back‑end infrastructure that integrates with existing customer systems and end user mission requirements.
• Expertise in at least one high‑level programming language like Python, C, C++ or Java in addition to front end JavaScript API usage like Svelte or React.

Basic Qualifications

• US citizenship is required per contract.
• Master’s with 15-20 years of prior relevant experience or Doctorate with 13-16 years of prior relevant experience.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in systems architecture, software development, solution engineering, or enterprise information technology (IT).
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to present complex technical concepts to both technical and non‑technical stakeholders.
• Proven experience designing, implementing, and managing complex, mission‑critical enterprise architectures with the IC.
• Deep expertise in cloud architecture (AWS/C2S/IC GovCloud), data integration, and secure multi‑domain systems.
• Experience working with geographically dispersed Agile teams and participating in SAFe ceremonies (e.g., PI Planning Events, System Demos).
• Familiarity with GEOINT data, the customer’s tools, infrastructure, and tradecraft.
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with a demonstrated ability to lead cross‑organizational collaboration.
• Knowledge of cybersecurity frameworks (e.g., NIST 800‑53), zero‑trust architectures, and cloud security principles.
• Certifications such as The Open Group Architecture Framework (TOGAF), AWS Certified Solutions Architect, Google Professional Cloud Architect, Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert, Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP), Project Management Professional (PMP), or Red Hat Certified Architect (RHCA).

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting customer mission operations, and programs.
• SAFe certification, such as SAFe Architect, SAFe Agilist (SA), or SAFe Program Consultant (SPC).
• Experience with cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP), hybrid cloud, and cloud migration strategies.
• Experience mentoring junior architects or leading architecture communities of practice.

Original Posting

July 15, 2026

For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.

Pay Range

Pay Range $154,050.00 - $278,475.00

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline onlyand not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.

Pay and Benefits

Pay and benefits are fundamental to any career decision. That's why we craft compensation packages that reflect the importance of the work we do for our customers. Employment benefits include competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave and Retirement. More details are available at www.leidos.com/careers/pay-benefits.

Securing Your Data

Beware of fake employment opportunities using Leidos’ name. Leidos will never ask you to provide payment‑related information during any part of the employment application process (i.e., ask you for money), nor will Leidos ever advance money as part of the hiring process (i.e., send you a check or money order before doing any work). Further, Leidos will only communicate with you through emails that are generated by the Leidos.com automated system – never from free commercial services (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail) or via WhatsApp, Telegram, etc. If you received an email purporting to be from Leidos that asks for payment‑related information or any other personal information (e.g., about you or your previous employer), and you are concerned about its legitimacy, please make us aware immediately by emailing us at [e-mail].

If you believe you are the victim of a scam, contact your local law enforcement and report the incident to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/#/).

Commitment to Non‑Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.

REQNUMBER: R-00187355