Principal Architect - Active Top Secret required

General Dynamics - IT; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

AI career tool

Internal mobility team

401K with company match

Competitive pay & PTO

Wellness packages

Military-friendly culture

Job summary

General Dynamics - IT is seeking an experienced Principal Architect to provide technical leadership for a complex enterprise IT environment. You will define future-state architectures, guide modernization, and collaborate with customer leadership, program management, and engineering teams.

The role requires deep expertise in enterprise, infrastructure, and security architectures, with a focus on cloud and hybrid environments and measurable modernization outcomes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or related field.
• Experience may be substituted for education.
• 10+ years of experience in enterprise architecture, systems engineering, or technical leadership.

Responsibilities

• Develop enterprise architecture strategies aligned to customer objectives.
• Design scalable, secure, and resilient technical solutions.
• Lead architecture reviews and design sessions.
• Evaluate current-state environments and identify improvement opportunities.
• Define target-state architectures and modernization roadmaps.
• Assess technology solutions and recommend strategic investments.
• Support technical decision-making through analysis, prototyping, and PoC activities.
• Identify technical debt and develop remediation strategies.
• Provide architectural leadership for modernization and transformation efforts.
• Collaborate with engineering teams to ensure successful implementation of architectural designs.
• Present technical recommendations to customer and program leadership.

Skills

Enterprise architecture

Infrastructure architecture

Security architecture

Cloud and hybrid environments

Architecture roadmaps

Analytical problem-solving

Written & verbal communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science/IT/Engineering

Tools

Azure or AWS Solution Architect

Microsoft Certified Windows Server Hybrid Administrator

CISSP or CSSIP

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Principal Architect to provide technical leadership and architectural guidance for a complex enterprise IT environment. This role will be responsible for developing scalable, secure, and resilient technical solutions while supporting operational excellence and long-term modernization objectives. The Principal Architect will work closely with customer leadership, program management, and engineering teams to define future-state architectures, evaluate emerging technologies, and guide technical execution across the enterprise.

HOW YOU WILL MAKE AN IMPACT

• Develop enterprise architecture strategies aligned to customer objectives.
• Design scalable, secure, and resilient technical solutions.
• Lead architecture reviews and design sessions.
• Evaluate current-state environments and identify improvement opportunities.
• Define target-state architectures and modernization roadmaps.
• Assess technology solutions and recommend strategic investments.
• Support technical decision-making through analysis, prototyping, and proof-of-concept activities.
• Identify technical debt and develop remediation strategies.
• Provide architectural leadership for modernization and transformation efforts.
• Collaborate with engineering teams to ensure successful implementation of architectural designs.
• Present technical recommendations to customer and program leadership.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED TO SUCCEED

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or related field.
• Experience may be substituted for education.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in enterprise architecture, systems engineering, or technical leadership roles.
• Enterprise architecture
• Infrastructure architecture
• Security architecture
• Cloud and hybrid environments
• Experience developing architecture roadmaps and modernization strategies.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Azure or AWS Solution Architect
• Active CISSP or CSSIP
• Microsoft Certified Windows Server Hybrid Administrator
• Experience leading modernization initiatives.
• Enterprise architecture framework experience.

GDIT IS YOUR PLACE

At GDIT, the mission is our purpose, and our people are at the center of everything we do.

• Growth: AI-powered career tool that identifies career steps and learning opportunities
• Support: An internal mobility team focused on helping you achieve your career goals
• Rewards: Comprehensive benefits and wellness packages, 401K with company match, competitive pay and paid time off
• Community: Award-winning culture of innovation and a military-friendly workplace