Associate Principal Architect Jobs in Reston, VA

The Information Systems and Cyber Division (ISCD) is a unique engineering division partnering across the full space enterprise to advance next-generation software and AI-enabled mission capabilities. With customers spanning the DoD, Intelligence Community (IC), civil and commercial space, ISCD blendsexpertisein modern software engineering, AI/ML systems, data platforms and architecture, advanced cloud and edge infrastructure, cybersecurity, and full-stack development through mission-focused, collaborative, multi-disciplinary teams. These teamsleverageagile software practices, hands-on prototyping, and applied R&D to support customer concepts, digital architectures, and the integration ofcutting-edgetechnologies into mission environments.

We areseekingan innovative and energetic leader to serve as both the Associate Principal Director for SMSS and the senior ISCD leader in the National Capital Region, based in Chantilly, VA. This role provides integrating leadership and strategic coordination across all ISCD subdivisions and programs in the region. The Associate Principal Director will work closely with ISCD leadership to advance the organization's mission as the corporation's focal point for AI-enabled capabilities, modern digitalinfrastructure,andintegratingexpertiseacross software engineering.

This role offers unparalleled access across the space enterprise toidentifyhigh-impact mission challenges, architect scalable software solutions, advance next-generation digital foundations, and guide the strategic application of AI technologies in support of national security, civil, and commercial space missions. Working across commercial industry, government, and academia, this Associate Principal Director will help shape how emerging software technologies and AI capabilities are rapidly adopted by a growing and increasingly innovative aerospace customer base while building and strengthening ISCD's presence and impact in the Chantilly region.

This is a fulltime position based in Chantilly, Va , which requires 100% insite work

What You'll Be Doing

The Associate Principal Director of SMSS will serve as the senior ISCD leader in the Chantilly region, focusing on operational integration, team development, and customer engagement across all ISCD subdivisions. This leader will be instrumental in expanding Aerospace's role with East Coast customers in national security space and building partnerships across the company and community to bring the latest software engineeringpractices, AI technologies, and digital capabilities to our customers and internal engineering staff.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Serve as the senior ISCD leader in the Chantilly region, coordinating operations, facilities, infrastructure, hiring, workforce development, and strategic planning across all ISCD subdivisions

• Build and strengthen relationships with DoD, Intelligence Community, and other National Capital Region customers to expand ISCD's mission portfolio and impact

• Engage directly with customers toidentifyhigh-impact mission opportunities for modern software solutions and digital foundations

• Integrate prototypesoftwarecapabilitiesinto missionsolutions, ensuring alignment with customer needsand operational requirementsandleveragingthe latestdigitaltechnologies

• Develop and implement talent strategies that attract,retain, and grow top technical talent

• Collaborate as core team member with broader ISCD leadership to ensure consistent culture, technical excellence, and operational effectiveness across ISCD

What You Need to Be Successful

MinimumRequirements for Associate Principal Director:

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, data science, electrical engineering, computer engineering, information systems, or a related STEM field

• 10 or more years of experience withdemonstratedimpact leading multidisciplinary technical teams supporting complex government or national security missions

• Strong executive presence and strategic thinking, with ability to influence across organizational boundaries and drive alignment on complex initiatives

• Proven ability to lead, mentor, and scale engineering teams practicing modern software development methodologies (CI/CD, microservices, cloud-native architectures), guide architectural decisions around contemporary frameworks and technology stacks, and drive organizational strategy for integrating AI/ML capabilities into product roadmaps

• Strong customer-facing skills, with experience partnering with government stakeholders to translate mission needs into scalable digital solutions

• Success building and leading integrated, multidisciplinary teams with a focus on reuse, scalability, and mission impact

• Experience coordinating across multiple technical organizationsand fostering collaborative, cross-functional environments

• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to convey complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences, and to effectively present to senior leadership

• Demonstrated ability to manage organizational change, navigate ambiguity, and drive strategic initiatives to completion

• Willingness to travel occasionally to work locations or customer sites (approximately 10-20%)

• Ability to obtain andmaintaina U.S. government security clearance (TS/SCI level and higher). U.S. citizenship isrequired

How You Can Stand Out

It would be impressive if youhaveone or more of the following:

• Experienceestablishingor growing technical organizations or operations in new geographic regions

• Track recordof successful organizational transformation or culture change initiatives

• Experience building strategic partnershipswith government agencies, industry partners, and academic institutions

• Experience delivering AI-enabled mission solutions in domains such as autonomous systems, space domain awareness, cyber detection, predictive analytics, digital engineering, or physics-informed ML

• Experience managingsoftwareportfolios, including evaluation of emerging technologies, responsible AI practices, andMLOpsat scale

• Deep familiarity with secure and multi-level environments, including cross-domain architectures and deployment across classification boundaries

• Exposure to space, defense, or intelligence mission areas such as space control, missile warning, remote sensing, or commercial space data exploitation

• Experience managing research and development portfolios, including transitioning research into operational systems or sustained mission use

• Established relationships with National Capital Region customers in DoD or Intelligence Community space programs

• Experience with workforce planning, talent development programs, and succession planning

• Demonstrates enterprise-level perspective with prior Program Office(s) and ETG experience