Chief Software Architect; CSA in Reston

The Intel Sector Office of Technology (OOT) has an opening for a Chief Software Architect (CSA) to lead software architecture strategy, standards, and execution across the Sector.

Position Summary:

The Intel Sector CSA will be responsible for defining and driving next-, mission-ready software architectures that integrate intelligence tradecraft, mission software, cyber, and multi-INT capabilities at speed and scale. This leader will bring an understanding of US Intelligence Community (IC) architecture, mission platforms, and modern software engineering practices to deliver secure, AI-enabled, and operationally deployable systems across all Sector Business Areas (BAs).

The CSA will partner with the Sector and BA CTOs, AI Lead, Solution Architects, and the Sector’s community of developers to architect and deliver platform-based, reusable, and composable software ecosystems that accelerate mission outcomes and differentiate Leidos in the Intelligence Community. The CSA will also collaborate with Leidos SW Accelerator resources and peer teams across other Sectors to leverage evolving and mature patterns found elsewhere in the company for us in the IC.

• Platform-centric architectures
• Agentic AI-enabled workflows and mission systems
• Rapid, AI-assisted software development and deployment
• Integrated multi-INT, TCPED, and cyber capabilities

• Defining the Sector’s SW architecture strategy by ensuring alignment with business strategy, IC architectures, environments, and constraints. Maturing platforms used inside the Sector and across Leidos that support Multi-INT data fusion and analytics, Mission software and cyber, and AI-enabled and agentic systems. Driving transition from system-centric to platform-centric architectures, enabling reuse and interoperability.
• Leading the Sector’s transition to AI- & Modern Software Development by leveraging LLM-powered development (code, review, testing). Establishing Agentic AI frameworks for mission workflows, and championing vibe coding and AI-assisted development paradigms to increase developer velocity and reduce cost and time-to-delivery.
• The CSA will support Growth, Capture, and Customer Engagement by serving as the lead software architect for priority captures and proposals, including shaping differentiated, architecture-led solutions and defining technical baselines and solution roadmaps. The CSA will engage directly with IC and DoD customers to influence requirements and architectures and demonstrate mission-ready platforms and prototypes. Helping lead Leidos to more non-traditional acquisitions (OTA, CSO, etc.)
  
  with rapid prototyping will be critical to success.
• As a leader in the Sector, the CSA will build and lead a Sector-wide software architecture community of practice. They will mentor solution architects and engineers in modern architecture patterns, AI-enabled development, and mission-focused design.
• In collaboration with Leidos OOT, SW Accelerator, CIO, and partner Sectors, the CSA will establish reusable architecture patterns, code libraries and frameworks, and platform services.
• Above all, the CSA will ensure the Intel Sector’s SW solutions are innovative and create revolutionary gains in efficiency and effectiveness. They will help with rapid transition of IRAD and Contract R&D (CRAD) prototypes into operational systems, and will lead demonstrations and prototypes to outpace competitors and disrupt the market.

• Master’s degree or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience). Additional years may be used in lieu of a degree.
• 15+ years of experience in software architecture and engineering for mission-critical systems.
• 7+ years supporting U.S. Intelligence Community or DoD programs.
• Demonstrated experience designing and delivering:
  • Large-scale distributed systems
  • Cloud- and edge architectures
  • Dev Sec Ops  pipelines and secure software systems.
• Experience with:
  • AI/ML systems, including LLMs and agentic workflows
  • Multi-INT or data fusion platforms
  • Cyber and secure system architectures.
• Proven ability to lead architecture for large capture and…