Principal Solution Architect – National Security Growth & Innovation

Leidos; Dunn Loring (VA); Hybrid; USD 148,850 - 269,075; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Health and Wellness programs

Paid Leave

Retirement

Job summary

A leading defense and technology firm is seeking a Principal Solution Architect to lead innovative solutions in mission-critical systems for intelligence. This position requires in-depth cloud expertise, strong proposal leadership experience, and an active TS/SCI clearance. You will engage with government customers and mentor your team, pushing for excellence and innovative practices. Join us to drive significant impact and bring about change in national security challenges.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of recent hands-on leadership in modern architectures.
• Proven leadership experience in technical planning and system design.
• Active TS/SCI security clearance with a polygraph.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical planning and innovating system solutions.
• Serve as technical visionary for high-priority proposals.
• Act as first responder for complex program issues.

Skills

Cloud Native

Data & AI

Capture & Proposal Experience

Excellent Writing and Communication Skills

Strong Software Development / R&D Experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science

Master's degree in related field

Tools

AWS

Azure

Java

C++

Job description

Description

The National Security Sector at Leidos has an exciting and strategic opening for aPrincipal Solution Architect & Innovation Leadto work in ourReston, VA or Gaithersburg, MDoffices. This is a unique opportunity to use your deep technical expertise and leadership experience to help shape the future of mission-critical systems for the Intelligence Community. We are seeking a visionary technical leader who thrives on complex challenges, takes ownership of them, and drives their success with innovative solutions that push the envelope. In this dynamic role, you will be a go-to technical leader, deployed to solve our customers' most pressing problems and to architect their future-state systems. If you are passionate about solving the nation's toughest security challenges and inspiring teams to deliver groundbreaking results, this role is for you.

Primary Responsibilities

• Technical Strategy & Innovation:Champion and architect innovative, next-generation system solutions. You will lead technical planning, trade studies, and analyses to evaluate alternatives, considering cost, risk, and supportability for total system life cycle.
• Proposal & Business Development Leadership:Serve as the technical visionary and lead for high-priority proposal efforts, including RFPs and RFIs. You will shape winning strategies and solutions that align with customer needs and differentiate Leidos in the marketplace.
• Program Execution & Recovery:Act as a technical "first responder" to diagnose and resolve complex issues on challenged programs. You will provide expert-level diagnostics, recovery planning, and hands‑on leadership to guide teams back to success.
• Architect Next‑Gen Solutions:Design end‑to‑end solutions that integrate emerging technologies (Generative AI, Computer Vision, Edge Compute) into mission‑critical workflows.
• Customer Engagement & Inspiration:Engage directly with senior government customers, program managers, and stakeholders to understand their challenges, build trust, and inspire confidence. You will translate their mission needs into actionable technical requirements and roadmaps.
• Team Leadership & Mentorship:Lead and mentor dynamic, multi‑disciplinary teams, often in transient settings. You will foster a culture of innovation, ownership, and technical excellence, coaching other technical staff to elevate their performance.

Minimum Requirements

• Modern Technical Fluency:While you have extensive tenure, your recent experience (last 5+ years) must demonstrate hands‑on leadership in modern architectures:
• Cloud Native:Architecting solutions on AWS/Azure (Serverless, Containers/Kubernetes, Microservices)
• Data & AI:Experience integrating Data Fabrics, AI/ML pipelines, or automated GEOINT processing.
• Capture & Proposal Experience:Demonstrated track record of leading technical responses for federal acquisitions. You must be able to deconstruct an RFP L&M (Section L and M) and architect a compliant, winning technical solution.
• Large Development Program Experience:Proven leadership experience in technical planning, system design, and full life cycle systems engineering (requirements analysis, functional analysis, integration, verification, and validation).
• Education & Tenure:Bachelor's degreein Computer Science or related field with 17+ years of relevant experience or Master's degree with 15+ years of relevant experience
• Clearance:Must possess an active TS/SCI security clearance with a polygraph.

Additional Considerations

• Complex Solution Landscapes:Demonstrated experience resolving highly complex, multi‑dimensional problems that require consideration of variables impacting multiple aspects of a program.
• GovCon & Domain Expertise:Deep, proven understanding of the Intelligence Community (IC) landscape, specifically GEOINT / TCPED missions. You must understand the constraints and requirements of classified environments.
• Excellent Writing and Communication Skills:Exceptional communication and presentation skills, with a proven ability to engage and influence senior executive leadership and customers.
• GEOINT Domain Experience:Direct, hands‑on experience supporting GEOINT and/or related programs and a deep understanding of their mission domains.
• Large Program Solutioning:Demonstrated success leading the solutioning of capture and proposal efforts for major government contracts.
• Modern Engineering Skills:Experience with modern engineering methodologies such as Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), Agile, and DevSecOps.
• Deep Technical Skills:Familiarity with key technology areas such as cloud architectures (AWS, Azure), Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML), data analytics, and cybersecurity.
• Strong Software Development / R&D Experience:Hands‑on experience developing innovative solutions in a modern language (e.g. Java, C++), preferably in both program and R&D settings.

At Leidos, the Principal Solution Architect is more than a technical role—it is a strategic partnership. You will sit at the intersection of mission strategy and technical execution, influencing how our government partners approach their most complex GEOINT challenges. We offer the stability of an industry leader combined with the autonomy to shape technical tradecraft. If you are seeking a role where your architectural vision directly translates into mission success and business growth, we invite you to lead the way with us.

If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo — because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 — and moving faster than anyone else dares.

Original Posting

November 24, 2025

Pay Range

Pay Range $148,850.00 - $269,075.00

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and 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.

About Leidos

Leidos is an industry and technology leader serving government and commercial customers with smarter, more efficient digital and mission innovations. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with 47,000 global employees, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $16.7 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2025. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com.

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.

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.

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