Chief Architect Software Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Unissant, Inc. delivers innovative capabilities to the agencies that keep our nation healthy and safe. We apply our domain expertise, data acumen, and technology know-how to achieve breakthrough results for our clients. Working collaboratively, we advance missions and careers through a focus on honesty, integrity, and dependability. We continuously look for talent, excited to join that effort.

We are seeking a Senior Enterprise Systems Architect, AI/ML Strategist & Evangelist, to join our team and support our federal client in Ashburn, VA.

The ideal candidate is a senior AI/ML thought leader who can connect enterprise strategy, architecture, and hands-on technical execution to real mission outcomes. This individual will lead the adoption and operationalization of AI/ML capabilities across the organization and customer environments, identify high-value opportunities for innovation, and guide secure, scalable implementation of modern AI solutions. The successful candidate will be equally comfortable advising executives, collaborating with cross-functional technical teams, and shaping enterprise roadmaps that align AI investments with broader business, mission, data, infrastructure, and modernization goals.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead enterprise-wide AI/ML strategy, adoption, and roadmap development across programs, customers, and technical teams.
• Identify opportunities where AI/ML can improve mission performance, decision-making, operational efficiency, automation, and customer services.
• Evaluate emerging technologies including Generative AI, Large Language Models, Agentic AI, Retrieval-Augmented Generation, intelligent automation, and related enterprise AI capabilities.
• Design secure, scalable enterprise AI/ML architectures across hybrid-cloud, multi-cloud, and on-premises environments.
• Guide implementation of AI platforms, MLOps environments, data pipelines, vector databases, agent frameworks, and cloud-native AI solutions.
• Partner with engineering, operations, cybersecurity, data, cloud, and enterprise architecture teams to align AI solutions with existing systems and target-state architectures.
• Conduct architecture reviews and technical assessments to ensure solutions align with governance, interoperability, scalability, privacy, and security requirements.
• Build prototypes and proof-of-concept solutions and provide technical leadership, mentoring, and implementation guidance to delivery teams.
• Serve as a senior AI advisor to customer stakeholders and executive leadership through workshops, demonstrations, solution reviews, and strategic briefings.
• Support business development, solutioning, capture efforts, proposals, and customer demonstrations related to AI-enabled opportunities.

Work Experience and Job Skills

• Minimum 15 years of experience in enterprise technology leadership, software engineering, cloud architecture, systems engineering, or related disciplines.
• Minimum 8 years of experience delivering AI/ML solutions in enterprise, regulated, or mission-critical environments.
• Demonstrated experience driving adoption of emerging technologies across multiple teams and stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing, generative AI, agent-based systems, data science, and enterprise architecture.
• Demonstrated experience serving as an Enterprise Architect, Chief Architect, Solutions Architect, or Lead Systems Architect for large-scale enterprise environments.
• Strong knowledge of enterprise architecture frameworks such as TOGAF, FEAF, DoDAF, Zachman, or equivalent methodologies.
• Experience developing enterprise roadmaps, reference architectures, technology standards, and governance processes across multiple technology domains.
• Experience architecting complex hybrid-cloud, multi-cloud, and on-premises environments supporting mission-critical operations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to engage technical and executive audiences.
• Proven ability to influence without direct authority and work effectively across internal and external organizations.

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, Mathematics, Information Systems, or related field is required.

Communication Skills

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to present complex technical concepts clearly and effectively.
• Ability to interface, inspire, and influence stakeholders at multiple levels of the organization.
• Ability to communicate highly technical information to both technical and non-technical audiences.

Clearance Requirements

• DHS CBP or TS/SCI clearance is required.
• Active security clearance is preferred.

Travel

• Local candidates are required.
• Must be onsite in Ashburn, VA five days per week for the first year.

Environmental Requirements

• Mainly a routine office environment.
• May be required to lift up to ten (10) pounds.
• Flexible in working extended hours.
• Eastern Time work hours aligned with the client workday.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the individual(s) assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and skills required. Unissant management reserves the right to modify, add, or remove duties and to assign other duties as necessary. In addition, where applicable and available, reasonable accommodation(s) may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions of this position.

Please note: Candidate(s) will be required to go through pre-employment screening.

Unissant, Inc. is a proud Equal Opportunity Employer! (EOE; M/F/Disability/Vets)