Senior Director – Cyber and AI Lead Systems Architect (LSA)

Peraton; Reston (VA); On-site; USD 190,000 - 304,000; Full time

Job summary

Peraton is recruiting a Senior Director - Cyber and AI Lead Systems Architect to guide a team of architects in delivering mission-relevant cyber and AI solutions across the DoD and IC. The role is high-visibility and requires strategic thinking, capture collaboration, and delivering measurable outcomes.

Locations include Reston, VA or Annapolis Junction, MD, with a focus on translating cyber operations into differentiated AI-enabled offerings and building strong OEM and partner relationships.

Qualifications

• 18 years of experience across supervising and managing solutions architects, systems engineers, or equivalent senior technical staff.
• Leading technical solutions on large, complex federal cyber pursuits with LSA or equivalent responsibility.
• Deep expertise across cyber operations: SOC modernization, threat hunting, IR, DCO/CNO, etc.
• Experience integrating AI/ML and generative AI into cyber workflows.
• Ability to communicate complex concepts to executives and government evaluators.
• Working knowledge of FedRAMP, FISMA, NIST 800-53/171, RMF, CMMC.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of architects to develop and design mission-relevant cyber and AI solutions for DoW and IC.
• Collaborate with capture leaders, sector CTOs, and labs to translate cyber insights into winning offerings.
• Evolve AI-enabled offerings by analyzing capability gaps, readiness, trends, and policy.
• Build relationships with OEMs and partners to bring differentiated capabilities into solutions.
• Design cost-competitive, mission-relevant AI-enabled cyber operations and defense solutions.
• Mentor and grow Solutions Architects across levels; assign based on complexity and needs.
• Establish repeatable AI-driven solutioning practices and reuse libraries.

Skills

Leadership

Cyber/AI expertise

Clearance readiness

Job description

Responsibilities

Peraton is seeking a Senior Director - Cyber and AI Lead Systems Architect (LSA)of Cyber and AI solutions to lead a team of architects to develop and design cutting-edge, mission-relevant solutions for customers across the DoW and IC. This is a high-visibility, high-impact, senior level role within the Cyber & Intelligence Sector.

Location(s): Reston, VA or Annapolis Junction, MD

In this role, you will:

• Work shoulder-to-shoulder with capture leaders, sector CTOs, Peraton Labs, delivery accounts, and mission SMEs - translating deep cyber operational understanding into differentiated, agentic-AI-enabled solutions that win contracts and deliver measurable mission outcomes.
• Continuously evolve Peraton's agentic cyber AI offerings by analyzing capability gaps, technology readiness and trends, competitive positioning, and federal AI/cyber policy
• Build strong relationships with OEMs, technology partners, and Peraton Labs to bring differentiated capabilities into winning solutions, and translate Labs R&D into deployable offerings.
• Design innovative, cost-competitive, mission-relevant solutions across AI-enabled and automated cyber operations and defense, SOC modernization, threat hunting, etc..
• Lead, mentor, and grow a team of Solutions Architects (mid-level through principal) supporting cyber and adjacent pursuits; assign architects based on complexity, domain fit, and development needs.
• Establish AI-driven repeatable solutioning practices, templates, artifact standards, and reuse libraries so team output scales with pursuit volume.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications:

• 18 years of experience across:
  • Supervising and managing solutions architects, systems engineers, or equivalent senior technical staff - including hiring, performance, and career development.
  • Leading technical solutions on large, complex federal cyber pursuits, including LSA or equivalent solution-lead responsibility on competitive proposals
  • Deep, hands-on expertise across cyber mission operations and architecture: SOC modernization, threat hunting, IR, DCO/CNO, zero trust, cloud security, vulnerability management, threat intelligence, and/or OT/ICS defense.
  • Demonstrated experience integrating AI/ML and generative AI into cyber mission workflows, with credible working knowledge of agentic AI patterns (multi-agent orchestration, tool use, planning, RAG, memory, evaluation).
  • Proven ability to translate complex cyber, AI, and mission concepts into compelling solution narratives for capture teams, executives, and government evaluators; strong record of communicating at senior and executive levels.
  • Working knowledge of federal acquisition, competitive capture, and compliance frameworks (FedRAMP, FISMA, NIST 800-53/171, RMF, CMMC).
• Ability to obtain/maintain Top Secret/SCI security clearance
• US Citizenship required

Preferred Qualifications:

• Active CISSP, Sec+, AWS Cloud or closely related industry certification(s)
• Active Polygraph clearance is preferred

Peraton Overview

Peraton is a next-generation national security company that drives missions of consequence spanning the globe and extending to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. As the world's leading mission capability integrator and transformative enterprise IT provider, we deliver trusted, highly differentiated solutions and technologies to protect our nation and allies. Peraton operates at the critical nexus between traditional and nontraditional threats across all domains: land, sea, space, air, and cyberspace. The company serves as a valued partner to essential government agencies and supports every branch of the U.S. armed forces. Each day, our employees do the can't be done by solving the most daunting challenges facing our customers. Visit peraton.com to learn how we're keeping people around the world safe and secure.

Target Salary Range

$190,000 - $304,000. This represents the typical salary range for this position. Salary is determined by various factors, including but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the individual’s experience, education, knowledge, skills, and competencies, as well as geographic location and business and contract considerations. Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay.

EEO

EEO: Equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veterans, or other characteristics protected by law.