Data Transport Portfolio Architect

Basic Eligibility For A Position With The NRO

• You must be a U.S. Citizen
• You must be able to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI security clearance
• You will be subject to pre-employment and periodic drug testing
• You will be subject to pre-employment and periodic polygraph examinations

The Office of Chief Architect (OCA) is in search of a sharp, critically thinking problem solver to serve as an Enterprise Architect in the Data Transport enterprise capability portfolio area. This position is non-supervisory however the individual will lead a team of 2-3 contractors. OCA advances the NRO Enterprise by defining, assessing, and delivering the future NRO Enterprise Architecture, shaping investment decisions, and enabling enterprise decision-making.

It does so by formulating strategic architecture imperatives for the NRO, developing end-to-end architecture capability at all layers of the Enterprise (space, ground, application, data, facility, infrastructure, etc.), executing long-term strategic planning, driving NRO architecture investments to advance the mission and address strategic challenges. OCA represents the NRO on IC and DoD major architecture initiatives and significant shared programs and advises NRO senior leadership on NRO Enterprise advancement to ensure NRO maintains strategic advantage in today’s rapidly changing national security environment.

The NRO Cadre is collecting resumes for consideration against current and future opportunities for senior level (GG-13), Enterprise Architects, occupational series 0801. For more information on the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) occupational series, .

Your resume may be considered for other positions which your skills and experience may be a good match.

This is a full‑time position that is open from 7 August, 2026 through 21 August, 2026. Resumes must be submitted by 11:59 PM EST on 21 August, 2026.

• This position is open to the public.
• Federal government employees MUST currently be at the grade level or higher as indicated in this announcement. This is NOT a promotion opportunity for current Federal government employees. If selected for the position, Federal government employees will transition laterally at their current grade level and step.
• Federal applicants who exceed the advertised grade may voluntarily request acceptance at the lower grade per IAW DoWI 1400.25 Volume 2006.
• The NRO is only accepting external applicants for this job announcement. Current NRO Cadre employees should apply internally.
• This position may not qualify for the appointment of a reemployed federal annuitant per IAW DoWI 1400.25 Volume 300.

Enterprise Architects in OCA help advance the NRO enterprise in delivering capability by conducting and overseeing technical analyses and assessments to support senior-level decision making, maturing architecture concepts and strategies as necessary, and developing planning guidance to drive investment and assess budget execution. They explore and experiment with new and/or improved concepts, technology, and strategies and work to determine feasibility, enterprise utility, and risk.

Enterprise Architects will execute often ambiguous tasks requiring new enterprise approaches, sophisticated architectural techniques, creative collection solutions, and utilizes enterprise digital engineering models.

As an NRO Enterprise Data Transport Architect you will:

• Define end-to-end data flow architectures from collection to delivery
• Create layered architecture models (physical, data link, network, application)
• Develop requirements for future architectures aligning to user needs and strategic intent
• Define interfaces between space, ground, and tactical edge segments
• Design redundant path architectures to eliminate single points of failure
• Develop architectures that accommodate future growth
• Conduct architecture reviews with stakeholders
• Validate designs against mission requirements and technology options

• Bachelor's degree in Professional Engineering or related field
• Sound understanding of intelligence satellite systems
• Expertise in multidisciplinary engineering concepts, principles, and practices
• Proven critical thinking and analytical writing skills
• Demonstrated project management and leadership abilities

• Knowledge of DoD and Intelligence Community (IC) organizations, missions, relevant policies, and processes
• Understanding of government acquisition processes
• Knowledge of and ability to apply analytic, diagnostic, and qualitative techniques sufficient to produce authoritative analytical products, and the ability to employ new methodological approaches to analyze information
• Experience with commercial, civil, national security, or defense space missions
• Familiarity with digital engineering environments

Qualifying experience may have been acquired in any public or private sector job, but will clearly demonstrate past experience in the application of the particular competencies/knowledge, skills, and abilities…