Software Engineering Lead and Application Architect - TS/SCI with Polygraph

General Dynamics Information Technology•Chantilly, VA

3d•$161,500 - $218,500•Onsite

About The Position

GDIT is seeking a Lead Engineer to drive the end-to-end software engineering function for mission and enterprise applications across classified environments. The role is accountable for application architecture, secure development standards, the full development lifecycle, and the technical health of the application portfolio, including technical debt, code quality, integration patterns, and production readiness. The position leads software teams delivering web, backend, API, workflow, data-integrated, ServiceNow-adjacent, and AI-enabled mission capabilities. It establishes engineering standards and practices, translates approved requirements into solution designs and production-ready releases, and guides modernization and integration of legacy systems. The role also partners with platform, security, data, AI, ServiceNow, requirements, and operations teams; develops software personnel; and briefs Government and program leadership on delivery, risks, quality, and roadmap decisions. This is an onsite role in Chantilly, Virginia. An active TS/SCI clearance with Polygraph and U.S. citizenship are required. The stated likely salary range is $161,500–$218,500, with actual compensation dependent on experience, location, and potentially contractual requirements.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field, or approved equivalent experience.
Active TS/SCI clearance with Polygraph.
U.S. citizenship.
12 or more years of professional software development experience, including 5 or more years leading development teams and 3 or more years in application architecture or technical-lead authority.
Deep production experience in at least two enterprise language stacks, such as Python, Java, C#/.NET, TypeScript/JavaScript/Node, Go, or C++.
Strong experience with web/API architecture, relational and non-relational data, integration, authentication and authorization, testing, observability, and production operations.
Experience establishing secure SDLC/DevSecOps practices using Git, peer review, automated testing, CI/CD, dependency and container scanning, artifact promotion, and release controls.
Experience modernizing or integrating legacy enterprise systems under uptime, security, and compatibility constraints.
Working knowledge of containers, Kubernetes/OpenShift, Azure or government cloud, internal artifact management, and disconnected development.
Strong understanding of RMF/STIG, secure coding, data handling, auditability, vulnerability remediation, and production-readiness evidence.
Demonstrated people leadership, including hiring, delegation, mentoring, performance management, conflict resolution, and cross-team delivery.
Experience briefing Government customers and translating mission outcomes into executable application plans.
Ability to work onsite.

Nice To Haves

Experience with AI-enabled application patterns, RAG integration, ServiceNow development or integration, workflow automation, or operational analytics.
Experience with microservices and modular monoliths, event-driven architecture, API gateways, message queues, and contract/schema governance.
Experience with SRE practices, performance testing, resilience, feature flags, progressive delivery, and accessibility.
CSSLP, Azure Solutions Architect Expert, DevOps Engineer Expert, or relevant architecture, agile, or SAFe credentials.
Prior DoW/IC application delivery in a disconnected environment.

Responsibilities

Own application architecture principles, reference patterns, technology and coding standards, API and event patterns, UI practices, and technical exception decisions.
Lead software teams delivering web, backend, API, workflow, data-integrated, ServiceNow-adjacent, and AI-enabled mission capabilities.
Establish standards for repositories, branching, code review, automated testing, dependencies, security scanning, releases, documentation, and definition of done.
Translate approved requirements and acceptance criteria into solution designs, increments, technical backlogs, estimates, risks, and production-ready releases.
Design integration and modernization approaches for legacy systems using adapters, APIs, events, strangler patterns, feature flags, and graceful degradation.
Ensure applications meet identity and access, data classification, validation, audit and logging, error handling, accessibility and usability, resilience, and performance requirements.
Partner with Platform/DevSecOps, Security, Data, AI, ServiceNow, Requirements, and Service Operations teams on lifecycle gates and operational handoff.
Manage technical debt, architecture drift, defect trends, test coverage, vulnerability remediation, performance, and reliability improvement.
Hire, lead, mentor, assign, review, and develop software personnel; address performance issues and create progression paths.
Brief Government and program leadership on delivery status, technical risk, alternatives, product quality, and roadmap decisions.

Benefits

Medical plan options, some with Health Savings Accounts.
Dental plan options.
Vision plan.
401(k) plan with company match.
Full flexible work weeks where possible.
Paid time off plans, including vacation, sick and personal time, holidays, and 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.
Wellness packages.
Competitive pay and paid time off.