White House Military Office - Senior Advisor for Mission Critical Systems

Under Secretary of War for Research & Engineering•Arlington, VA

14h•$169,279 - $228,000•Onsite

About The Position

Senior Advisor for Mission Critical Systems White House Military Office (WHMO) Highly Qualified Expert (HQE) Appointment Pay Scale:$169,279-$228,000+ Location: Washington, D.C. area The White House Military Office (WHMO) is seeking a nationally recognized expert in secure communications and mission-critical systems to serve as Senior Advisor under the Highly Qualified Expert (HQE) authority. This executive-level position serves as the senior-most technical authority responsible for the design, modernization, and protection of resilient communications supporting the Executive Office of the President. The incumbent will define the architectural vision for “no-fail” connectivity—ensuring secure voice, data, and video communications remain operational across global, contested, and crisis environments. This is a role for a proven innovator and systems architect capable of shaping the future of presidential communications in an era of accelerating technological and geopolitical complexity. This position is being filled under the Highly Qualified Expert (HQE) hiring authority pursuant to 10 U.S.C. §9903, which enables the Department of Defense to recruit distinguished professionals with exceptional expertise to support critical national security missions. HQE appointments are made in the Excepted Service and are time-limited in nature. This appointment does not confer eligibility for conversion to the Competitive Service. This position is located within the White House Military Office in Washington, D.C. Compensation will be set commensurate with the selectee’s qualifications and experience within the authorized pay band for Highly Qualified Experts. This announcement will close for submissions on March 25th, 2026, at 11:59 PM (ET).

Requirements

Nationally recognized authority in AI/ML engineering, data science, digital architecture, or resilient systems-of-systems design.
Executive-level experience in national security, defense, or intelligence environments.
Demonstrated ability to lead enterprise modernization efforts in classified, high-stakes settings.
Deep expertise in Zero Trust architecture, advanced cybersecurity frameworks, and secure cloud/data engineering.
Experience integrating legacy systems with modern cloud-native and AI-enabled platforms.
Proven success advising senior government or military leadership on technology strategy and investment.
Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/SCI clearance.
Appointment under the Highly Qualified Expert (HQE) authority.
Experience operating in time-sensitive, mission-critical environments.
Willingness to travel domestically and internationally in support of presidential missions (estimated 25%).
U.S. Citizenship is required.
Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service https://www.sss.gov/Home/Registration
This position is subject to provisions of the WHS/OSD Priority Placement Program (please see details below)
Must be determined suitable for federal employment.
Required to participate in the direct deposit program.
This position is subject to pre-employment and random drug testing.
We may use this announcement to fill additional vacancies within 90 days of the closing date.
Recruitment, relocation, or retention incentives may be authorized based on the availability of funds.
This position requires a Top Secret/ Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) security clearance.

Responsibilities

Serve as the principal technical authority for modernization of secure global communications supporting WHMO missions.
Develop enterprise architectures spanning classified data systems, mobile platforms, satellite networks, and executive communications.
Establish long-term technology roadmaps to ensure infrastructure remains ahead of emerging threats and technological advances.
Lead integration of next-generation technologies, including: Advanced SATCOM (LEO/MEO architectures) Secure 5G and mobile edge capabilities AI-enhanced network optimization Quantum-resistant cryptography
Architect and optimize secure, high-fidelity voice and immersive video teleconferencing systems for executive-level decision-making.
Lead engineering efforts focused on encryption, hardened networks, secure protocols, and zero-trust architectures.
Provide senior-level expertise on National Security Systems (NSS) and post-quantum cryptographic transitions.
Design survivable systems incorporating anti-jam capabilities, EMP resilience, alternate routing, and contested-environment operability.
Develop Continuity of Government (COG) and Continuity of Operations (COOP) communications architectures.
Ensure secure, resilient voice and video streams in degraded or adversarial conditions.
Advise senior national security leadership on acquisition strategy, modernization investments, and vendor technical proposals.
Coordinate across federal agencies and national security partners to ensure interoperability and compliance with national directives.
Chair governance bodies overseeing communications standards and architectural compliance.
Advocate and enforce zero-trust cybersecurity principles across mission systems.