System and Software Architect Security Clearance

Responsibilities

NSA's Laboratory for Physical Sciences (LPS) leads the design and investigation of large‑scale high‑performance computing systems, focusing on computer architectures, processing/memory subsystems, and next‑generation computing beyond Moore's Law. As a System and Software Architect, you will shape future U.S. technology interests by directing complex software and hardware projects, collaborating with engineers and scientists, managing architectural risks, and incorporating emerging technologies.

• Guiding the development of hardware and/or software of future computing technologies
• Collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to design and develop novel hardware and/or software system architectures (including early or exploratory technologies)
• Staying abreast of the latest research, summarizing key findings for stakeholders, and incorporating cutting‑edge ideas into system architecture designs
• Evaluating system architecture designs via modeling and simulation
• Identifying, managing, and actively reducing architectural risks; measuring progress across various efforts, maximizing reuse of previous efforts, and managing highly dynamic architectures
• Evaluating, testing, and validating design, implementation, enhancement, and deployment of debugging tools; evaluating technical architectures
• Supporting stakeholders in setting up problems, running systems, and analyzing results

Your work will have global impact, contributing to the safety of U.S. citizens and the operational success of U.S. and allied soldiers.

The qualifications listed are the minimum acceptable to be considered for the position. Degree must be in either (1) Engineering, (2) Physics or Astronomy from an accredited college, or (3) a relevant professional technical field (e.g., chemistry, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, geology). For Engineering degrees that are not ABET accredited, the program must include specified coursework: differential and integral calculus plus at least five of the following areas:

• Statics or dynamics
• Strength of materials / stress‑strain relationships
• Fluid mechanics / hydraulics
• Thermodynamics
• Electromagnetic fields
• Nature and properties of materials / relating particle and aggregate structure to properties
• Solid‑state electronics
• Microprocessor applications
• Computer systems
• Signal processing
• Digital design
• Systems and control theory
• Circuits or generalized circuits
• Communication systems
• Power systems
• Computer networks
• Software development
• Any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics (e.g., optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics)

• Senior level – Bachelor’s degree + 7 years relevant experience, Master’s degree + 5 years relevant experience, PhD + 3 years relevant experience
• Expert level – Bachelor’s degree + 10 years relevant experience, Master’s degree + 8 years relevant experience, PhD + 6 years relevant experience

• Computer architecture and engineering
• C/C++ and Python
• Mathematics and/or physics research
• Designing, developing, managing, and maintaining systems hardware and/or software, ensuring performance, security, scalability, maintainability, and reliability

Salary offers are based on candidates’ education level and years of experience relevant to the position and also take into account information provided by the hiring manager/organization regarding the work level for the position.