Software Architect

Finch AI; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 165,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Finch AI is seeking a Senior/Lead Architect to define and own the technical architecture for mission software systems in the Washington, DC metro area. Onsite/Hybrid work is required per program requirements, and candidates must reside in or relocate to the DC area.

The role emphasizes scalability, security, and alignment with RMF/ATO processes, with responsibility to mentor engineering staff and guide technology decisions across projects.

Qualifications

• 6-15 years of relevant experience commensurate with seniority.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field preferred; Master's a plus.
• Equivalent professional experience will be considered in lieu of a degree.

Responsibilities

• Define and own the technical architecture for mission software systems, ensuring scalability, security, and maintainability.
• Translate mission and business requirements into system designs and technical roadmaps.
• Establish coding standards, architectural patterns, and technology selection guidance across engineering teams.
• Conduct architecture reviews and provide technical mentorship to engineering staff.
• Evaluate and recommend new technologies, frameworks, and tools.
• Partner with government stakeholders and program leadership on technical strategy.
• Ensure designs meet security, compliance, and accreditation requirements (RMF/ATO).

Skills

Architecting complex systems

Software design patterns

API design

Data architecture

Cloud-native architectures

RMF/ATO familiarity

Technical leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/Engineering

Master's degree (preferred)

Tools

AWS

Azure

Kubernetes

Job description

Clearance: US Citizenship required.

Location: Washington, DC Metro Area (VA/DC/MD) - Onsite/Hybrid per program requirements. Candidates must currently reside in, or be willing to relocate to, the DC metro area prior to start.

Salary: $165,000-$260,000 - Commensurate with experience

Responsibilities

• Define and own the technical architecture for mission software systems, ensuring scalability, security, and maintainability.
• Translate mission and business requirements into system designs and technical roadmaps.
• Establish coding standards, architectural patterns, and technology selection guidance across engineering teams.
• Conduct architecture reviews and provide technical mentorship to engineering staff.
• Evaluate and recommend new technologies, frameworks, and tools.
• Partner with government stakeholders and program leadership on technical strategy.
• Ensure designs meet applicable security, compliance, and accreditation requirements (e.g., RMF, ATO).

Requirements

• Demonstrated experience architecting complex, distributed software systems.
• Strong background in software design patterns, API design, and data architecture.
• Experience with cloud-native and/or on-premise/classified network architectures.
• Experience supporting missions for DoW, DHS, FBI, or another national security agency.
• Willingness to work onsite in the DC metro area as required.

Preferred Skills

• Experience with microservices, event-driven architecture, and containerization.
• Familiarity with DoD/IC Risk Management Framework (RMF) and Authority to Operate (ATO) processes.
• Cloud architecture certification (AWS or Azure Solutions Architect).
• Experience leading technical teams on federal programs.

Education And Work Experience

6-15 years of relevant experience, with placement (Senior or Lead Architect) commensurate with demonstrated experience. Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field preferred; Master's a plus. Equivalent professional experience will be considered in lieu of a degree.

About Finch AI

Finch AI is a fast-growing, fast-paced software development organization; our mission is to build new ways of interacting with information. We do that by leveraging game-changing intellectual property, cloud infrastructure expertise, and a staff that is second to none. Together, we build and support products that address complex, real-time data and analytics needs in the enterprise.

Our teams are comprised of successful people that enjoy solving problems, engaging in substantive technical discussions and have passion for their work. We have very high expectations in terms of skill, motivation, self-organization and productivity. We look for people who excel working in groups, virtual and collocated, as well as those who are comfortable with fast paced agile development.

Finch AI is an equal opportunity employer.