Principal Architect - Active Top Secret required

General Dynamics Information Technology • Washington, DC

3d • $165,750 - $224,250 • Onsite

About The Position

GDIT is seeking an experienced Principal Architect to provide technical leadership and architectural guidance for a complex enterprise IT environment. The role develops scalable, secure, and resilient technical solutions while supporting operational excellence and long-term modernization objectives. The Principal Architect works with customer leadership, program management, and engineering teams to define future-state architectures, evaluate emerging technologies, and guide technical execution across the enterprise.

Requirements

• Must currently possess an active Top Secret clearance; must be able to obtain Top Secret/SCI.
• U.S. citizenship required.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related field; experience may be substituted for education.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in enterprise architecture, systems engineering, or technical leadership roles.
• Expertise in enterprise architecture, infrastructure architecture, security architecture, and cloud and hybrid environments.
• Experience developing architecture roadmaps and modernization strategies.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Nice To Haves

• Azure or AWS Solution Architect certification.
• Active CISSP or CSSIP certification.
• Microsoft Certified Windows Server Hybrid Administrator certification.
• Experience leading modernization initiatives.
• Enterprise architecture framework experience.

Responsibilities

• Develop enterprise architecture strategies aligned to customer objectives.
• Design scalable, secure, and resilient technical solutions.
• Lead architecture reviews and design sessions.
• Evaluate current-state environments and identify improvement opportunities.
• Define target-state architectures and modernization roadmaps.
• Assess technology solutions and recommend strategic investments.
• Support technical decision-making through analysis, prototyping, and proof-of-concept activities.
• Identify technical debt and develop remediation strategies.
• Provide architectural leadership for modernization and transformation efforts.
• Collaborate with engineering teams to ensure successful implementation of architectural designs.
• Present technical recommendations to customer and program leadership.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits and wellness packages.
• 401(k) with company match.
• Competitive pay and paid time off.
• Medical plan options, some with Health Savings Accounts.
• Dental plan options and vision plan.
• Full flex work weeks where possible.
• Vacation, sick and personal time, holidays, paid parental, military, bereavement, and jury duty leave.
• Short- and long-term disability benefits.
• Life, accidental death and dismemberment, personal accident, critical illness, and business travel and accident insurance.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Principal