Principal Software Architect with Security Clearance

Redhorse Corporation; Chantilly (VA); On-site; USD 275,000 - 285,000; Full time

Job summary

Redhorse Corporation seeks a Principal Software Architect to provide architectural oversight for cutting-edge software products and to lead technical capture efforts across DoD/IC missions. You will design, research, and develop advanced applications, turning complex visions into reality while guiding distributed teams.

You will collaborate with product managers, engineers, and customer experts to deliver features that meet challenging requirements and support critical national security

Qualifications

• Active TS/SCI clearance required.
• Bachelor’s degree with 12+ years or Master’s with 10+ years of relevant experience.
• Proven authority in designing and developing highly advanced software applications.
• Experience leading technical capture efforts and providing capability briefings to win new business.

Responsibilities

• Provide architectural and big-picture oversight for new or enhanced products.
• Articulate a clear architectural vision and explore alternatives through experimentation.
• Create architectural models, specifications, and interface documentation.
• Validate architecture against complex requirements and assumptions.
• Lead teams and collaborate with product developers to deliver software with required features.

Skills

Security clearance TS/SCI

Technical leadership

Architectural modeling

R&D experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent)

Master’s degree

Tools

GitLab

Jira

Docker

Kubernetes

CI/CD

Job description

About the Organization: Now is a great time to join Redhorse Corporation. We are a solution-driven company delivering data insights and technology solutions to customers with missions critical to U.S. national interests. We’re looking for thoughtful, skilled professionals who thrive as trusted partners building technology-agnostic solutions and want to apply their talents supporting customers with difficult and important mission sets.

About the Role: Redhorse transforms the way government uses data and technology. We are seeking a Principal Software Architect to serve as a recognized expert and technical leader within the company. This role is pivotal to our mission, as you will design, research, and develop highly advanced applications that create new business opportunities. You will provide the big-picture architectural oversight for our most critical products, turning complex technical visions into reality while leading technical capture efforts to win new missions for Redhorse.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide architectural and big-picture oversight for the development of new or enhanced products.
• Articulate a clear architectural vision and conceptualize alternative approaches through rigorous experimentation.
• Create comprehensive architectural models, component specifications, and interface documentation.
• Validate system architecture against complex requirements and foundational assumptions.
• Collaborate with product developers, managers, and customer experts to create software containing required features.
• Act as a recognized expert to design, research, and develop advanced applications that result in new product or business opportunities.
• Lead efforts to capture new business through technical work, proofs of concept, and high-level capability briefings.
• Provide high-level technical advice to departments across the organization.
• Integrate complex components built by distributed product development teams.
• Lead teams of planning analysts responsible for technical research and user group assistance.

Required Experience / Clearance

• Must have an active TS/SCI security clearance
• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) with 12+ years of relevant experience, or a Master’s degree with 10+ years of relevant experience.
• Demonstrated experience as a recognized authority in designing and developing highly advanced software applications.
• Proven track record of leading technical capture efforts and providing capability briefings to secure new business.
• Extensive proficiency in architectural modeling, component/interface specification, and R&D.
• Ability to work without supervision on highly complex projects that require innovative solutions.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance (specific level to be determined by mission requirements).

Desired Experience

• Experience with modern data platforms such as DataBricks, Spark, or similar cloud-based analytics tools.
• Proficiency with enterprise-level version control and CI/CD tools like GitLab and Jira.
• Experience architecting solutions for the Department of Defense (DoD) or the Intelligence Community (IC).
• Background in identifying and prototyping emerging technologies to solve government mission gaps.
• Familiarity with containerization (Docker, Kubernetes) and microservices architecture.

$275,000 - $285,000 a year The salary range provided for this position represents the anticipated base salary for successful candidates. Actual compensation will be determined based on a variety of factors, including relevant experience, education, certifications, skills, security clearance level, geographic location, market conditions, and internal equity. In addition to base salary, eligible employees may participate in Redhorse’s comprehensive benefits programs and may be eligible for performance-based or other incentive compensation, where applicable.

Redhorse Corporation is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to access job openings or apply for a job on this site as a result of your disability. You can request reasonable accommodations by contacting Talent Acquisition at Redhorse Corporation shall, in its discretion, modify or adjust the position to meet Redhorse’s changing needs. This job description is not a contract and may be adjusted as deemed appropriate in Redhorse’s sole discretion. We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.