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

GD Information Technology•Chantilly, VA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

GDIT is seeking a lead engineer to drive end-to-end software engineering for mission and enterprise applications in 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 is onsite in Chantilly, Virginia, and requires an active TS/SCI clearance with Polygraph and U.S. citizenship. The successful candidate will establish architecture and engineering standards, lead software teams delivering a variety of application capabilities, translate requirements into designs and production-ready releases, and modernize or integrate legacy systems. They will partner with platform, security, data, AI, ServiceNow, requirements, and service operations teams, while managing quality, reliability, and security concerns. The role also includes hiring and developing software personnel and briefing Government and program leadership on delivery, risk, quality, and roadmap decisions. GDIT describes its culture as mission-focused and offers career-growth resources, internal mobility support, comprehensive benefits and wellness packages, competitive pay, and paid time off. The likely salary range is $161,500–$218,500; actual compensation may vary based on experience, location, and contractual requirements. Scheduled hours are 40 per week, with no travel required.

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; the position requires U.S. citizenship.
12+ years of professional software development experience, including 5+ years leading development teams and 3+ 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/authorization, testing, observability, and production operations.
Experience establishing secure SDLC/DevSecOps practices using Git, peer review, automated testing, CI/CD, dependency/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/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, hiring, delegation, mentoring, performance management, conflict resolution, and cross-team delivery.
Experience briefing Government customers and translating mission outcomes into executable application plans.

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/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 repository, branching, code review, automated testing, dependency, security scanning, release, documentation, and definition-of-done standards.
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 implement identity and access controls, 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 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, including options with Health Savings Accounts
Dental plan options
Vision plan
401(k) plan with company match
Paid time off, including vacation, sick and personal time, holidays, paid parental, military, bereavement, and jury duty leave
Short- and long-term disability benefits
Life insurance
Accidental death and dismemberment coverage
Personal accident coverage
Critical illness coverage
Business travel and accident insurance
Wellness packages
Career-growth tool and learning opportunities
Internal mobility support
Full flex work weeks where possible
Competitive pay