Head of Engineering - Federal

Bellevue Office, Sunset Corporate Campus

About the Company

Armada is an edge computing startup that provides computing infrastructure to remote areas where connectivity and cloud infrastructure is limited, as well as areas where data needs to be processed locally for real-time analytics and AI at the edge. We’re looking to bring on the most brilliant minds to help further our mission of bridging the digital divide with advanced technology infrastructure that can be rapidly deployed anywhere.

About the Role

The Head of Engineering – Federal leads Armada’s engineering organization responsible for TS/SCI, FedRAMP, and DoD-accredited programs. You will define technical strategy, guide multiple software teams, and ensure delivery of secure, high-performance systems across classified, air‑gapped, and Gov Cloud environments. This position blends technical depth, federal program leadership, and clearance‑level accountability to ensure Armada’s platforms meet the highest compliance and mission standards.

You will work in close partnership with our VP of Federal, aligning engineering delivery with our Federal growth strategy, customer mission priorities, and compliance milestones. Together, you’ll ensure that Armada’s technology meets the technical, operational, and regulatory expectations of our federal partners.

Location. Seattle, WA (preferred)
· Virginia / Washington, DC metro area
· Austin, TX.

• Own technical readiness for FedRAMP Moderate/High and DoD Impact Level 4/5 environments.
• Partner with Security & Compliance to achieve and sustain Authority to Operate (ATO) certifications.
• Implement Zero Trust architecture, enclave segmentation, and continuous monitoring aligned with NIST 800‑53, FISMA, and RMF.
• Lead vulnerability management, compliance automation, and audit evidence generation.
• Serve as the primary engineering contact for 3
  
  PAOs, assessors, and federal partners during accreditation.

• Define and execute the federal engineering roadmap for classified and edge deployments.
• Lead cross‑functional teams building Galleon and Atlas software using Golang, Kubernetes, and distributed systems.
• Ensure architectures are secure‑by‑design and optimized for disconnected or tactical environments.
• Drive Agile execution and deliver high‑quality, predictable releases.
• Provide mentorship and technical oversight across design, integration, and secure APIs.
• Build and lead cleared and clearance‑eligible software and infrastructure teams.
• Foster a mission‑driven, inclusive culture emphasizing accountability, learning, and technical excellence.
• Partner with Recruiting to develop pipelines and onboarding processes for cleared engineers.

• Establish KPIs for velocity, uptime, SLA adherence, and compliance closure rates.
• Oversee Dev Sec Ops  pipelines, release management, and configuration control for secure enclaves.
• Drive Zero Touch Provisioning (ZTP) and automation for distributed Galleon fleets.
• Continuously improve testing, monitoring, and post‑ATO sustainment processes.

Required

• Active TS/SCI clearance or ability to obtain and maintain one.
• 10+ years in software or infrastructure engineering, including 5+ years leading multi‑team organizations.
• Deep experience with backend and distributed systems (Golang, Python, or Java).
• Strong background in Kubernetes, container orchestration, and secure cloud or edge deployments.
• Proven experience delivering systems within FedRAMP or DoD‑accredited environments.

Preferred

• Experience with AWS Gov Cloud, Azure Government, or similar secure cloud platforms.
• Familiarity with air‑gapped or tactical edge deployments.
• Certifications such as CISSP, CCSP, or FedRAMP Practitioner.
• Experience collaborating with system integrators, primes, or federal agencies.

• Competitive base salary and equity
• Medical, dental, and vision (subsidized cost)
• Health savings accounts (HSA), flexible spending accounts (FSA), and dependent care FSAs (DCFSA)
• Retirement plan options, including 401(k) and Roth 401(k)
• Unlimited paid time off (PTO)
• 15 paid company holidays per year

Compensation: $187,360 – $235,000 USD