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Software Architect Contract Jobs in Reston, VA (NOW HIRING)

Parsons Corporation

Software Architect

Reston, VA · On-site

Own the overall software architecture for a distributed microservices platform running across ... Define and govern architecture across: * service boundaries and contracts * data flows and event ...

Parsons

Software Architect

Reston, VA · Remote

Own the overall software architecture for a distributed microservices platform running across ... Define and govern architecture across: * service boundaries and contracts * data flows and event ...

PARSONS COMPANY, INC

Software Architect

Reston, VA · Remote

Own the overall software architecture for a distributed microservices platform running across ... Define and govern architecture across: * service boundaries and contracts * data flows and event ...

Default

Software Architect

Herndon, VA · Hybrid

Full-time, Contract Description Position: Software Architect Durations: Longterm Location: Herndon, VA(Hybrid Work) Client: (Department of state) DOS Clearance: Active Secret clearance Description As ...

Peraton

Software Architect

Herndon, VA · Hybrid

$104K - $166K/yr

Responsibilities Peraton is seeking a Software Architect to join our team of qualified, diverse ... and contract considerations. Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime ...

Peraton

Software Architect

Herndon, VA · Hybrid

$104K - $166K/yr

Responsibilities Peraton is seeking a Software Architect to join our team of qualified, diverse ... and contract considerations. Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime ...

Peraton

Software Architect

Herndon, VA · On-site

$104K - $166K/yr

Responsibilities Peraton is seeking a Software Architect to join our team of qualified, diverse ... and contract considerations. Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime ...

Cymertek

HPC Software Architect

Tysons, VA · On-site

HPC Software Architect LOCATION Tysons, VA 22182 CLEARANCE TS/SCI Full Poly (Please note this ... Most contracts allow additional experience (4-5 years) in lieu of a Bachelor's Degree. Some ...

Cymertek

HPC Software Architect

Reston, VA · On-site

HPC Software Architect LOCATION Reston, VA 20190 CLEARANCE TS/SCI Full Poly (Please note this ... Most contracts allow additional experience (4-5 years) in lieu of a Bachelor's Degree. Some ...

Cymertek Corporation

HPC Software Architect

Reston, VA · On-site

$150 - $190/hr

HPC Software Architect LOCATION Reston, VA 20190 CLEARANCE TS/SCI Full Poly (Please note this ... Most contracts allow additional experience (4-5 years) in lieu of a Bachelor's Degree. Some ...

Cymertek

HPC Software Architect

Chantilly, VA · On-site

HPC Software Architect LOCATION Chantilly, VA 20151 CLEARANCE TS/SCI Full Poly (Please note this ... Most contracts allow additional experience (4-5 years) in lieu of a Bachelor's Degree. Some ...

Booz Allen Hamilton

Software Architect

Chantilly, VA · On-site

$86K - $198K/yr

Software Architect The Opportunity: At a certain point, software design can start to look like ... as well as contract-specific affordability and organizational requirements. The projected ...

Cymertek Corporation

HPC Software Architect

Chantilly, VA · On-site

$140 - $210/hr

HPC Software Architect LOCATION Chantilly, VA 20151 CLEARANCE TS/SCI Full Poly (Please note this ... Most contracts allow additional experience (4-5 years) in lieu of a Bachelor's Degree. Some ...

Credence

Senior Associate - Software Architect

Mclean, VA · On-site

$130K - $177K/yr

With more than 1,700+ team members, 1,500+ AI & data experts, and 100+ prime contracts, we deliver ... Unlike a traditional software architect or software development role, this position is focused on ...

Credence

Senior Associate - Software Architect

Mclean, VA · On-site

$130K - $177K/yr

With more than 1,700+ team members, 1,500+ AI & data experts, and 100+ prime contracts, we deliver ... Unlike a traditional software architect or software development role, this position is focused on ...

Credence

Senior Associate - Software Architect

Mclean, VA · On-site

$130K - $177K/yr

With more than 1,700+ team members, 1,500+ AI & data experts, and 100+ prime contracts, we deliver ... Unlike a traditional software architect or software development role, this position is focused on ...

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All JobsSoftware Architect Contract JobsSoftware Architect Contract Jobs in Reston, VA

Software Architect Contract information

See Reston, VA salary details

$82.2K

$181K

$214.3K

How much do software architect contract jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 29, 2026, the average yearly pay for software architect contract in Reston, VA is $181,039.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $147,200.00 and $213,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a software architect contract?

A Software Architect Contract is an agreement where a company hires a software architect on a temporary or project-based basis rather than as a full-time employee. Software architects in this role are responsible for designing high-level structures for software systems, making key technology choices, and ensuring the final product meets both technical and business requirements. Contractors often bring specialized expertise to specific projects and may work for multiple clients. This arrangement offers flexibility for both the architect and the hiring company, making it ideal for projects with defined durations or unique technical challenges.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a software architect contract?

To thrive as a Software Architect (Contract), you need deep expertise in software design, architecture patterns, and programming languages, typically supported by a degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with tools like UML, cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure), and experience with architectural frameworks such as TOGAF or certification in relevant technologies is important. Strong communication, problem-solving skills, and the ability to lead and collaborate with diverse technical teams make someone stand out in this role. These skills ensure robust, scalable software solutions and effective coordination with stakeholders, which are crucial for project success in fast-paced contract environments.

What are some common challenges faced by software architects working on contract and how can they be addressed?

Contract software architects often face challenges such as quickly understanding existing systems, aligning with diverse client expectations, and integrating with new teams in a short timeframe. To address these, it's important to prioritize effective communication, document findings thoroughly, and actively seek feedback from stakeholders. Building rapport with development teams early on and staying adaptable to shifting project scopes can also help ensure successful project outcomes.

What is the difference between Software Architect Contract vs Software Developer?

AspectSoftware Architect ContractSoftware Developer
CredentialsTypically requires extensive experience in software architecture, certifications like TOGAF or AWS, and strong technical expertise.Requires programming skills, degrees in computer science or related fields, and possibly certifications like Microsoft Certified or Java certifications.
Work EnvironmentOften works on high-level design, project planning, and system architecture in consulting or contract roles.Focuses on coding, debugging, and implementing software solutions in various development teams.
Employer & Industry UsageCommonly hired by organizations for project-based or temporary architecture needs across industries.Employed by companies or as freelancers to develop software applications across industries.

While both roles require strong technical skills, a Software Architect Contract focuses on designing and planning software systems, whereas a Software Developer primarily implements and codes those systems. Understanding these differences helps in choosing the right career path or job opportunity.

Do software architects make a lot of money?

Software architects typically earn high salaries due to their advanced technical skills and experience in designing complex systems. Their compensation often reflects their expertise in areas like system architecture, cloud platforms, and programming languages, with salaries varying based on industry, location, and company size.

Is a software architect in demand?

Yes, software architects are in high demand due to the increasing complexity of software systems and the need for technical leadership. Organizations seek experienced professionals with skills in system design, cloud platforms, and programming to lead development projects and ensure scalable, efficient solutions.

What are popular job titles related to Software Architect Contract jobs in Reston, VA?

For Software Architect Contract jobs in Reston, VA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Software Architect Contract jobs in Reston, VA look for?

The top searched job categories for Software Architect Contract jobs in Reston, VA are:

What cities near Reston, VA are hiring for Software Architect Contract jobs?

Cities near Reston, VA with the most Software Architect Contract job openings:

Software Architect Contract jobs near you
Infographic showing various Software Architect Contract job openings in Reston, VA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 90% Full Time, and 10% Contract. Highlights an 80% In-person, and 20% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $181,039 per year, or $87 per hour.

Software Architect

Reston, VA • On-site

Parsons Corporation
Civil Engineering Construction • 10K+ employees

7.7

Company rating: 7.7 out of 10

Based on 46 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

266th of 450 rated engineering

People enjoy working here

Good employer

Recommended by students

Learn more about Parsons Corporationexternal

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 11 days ago

Job description

In a world of possibilities, pursue one with endless opportunities. Imagine Next!
At Parsons, you can imagine a career where you thrive, work with exceptional people, and be yourself. Guided by our leadership vision of valuing people, embracing agility, and fostering growth, we cultivate an innovative culture that empowers you to achieve your full potential. Unleash your talent and redefine what's possible.
Job Description:
Parsons is looking for an amazingly talented Software Architect to join our team!
In this role you will lead the architecture, technical evolution, and operational design of a large-scale, globally distributed mission platform deployed across multiple countries and managed remotely from the United States.
This platform supports real-time transaction processing, distributed data management, integration with external government and commercial systems, peripheral/device orchestration, and centralized observability and administration.
The successful candidate will be the overall software architecture authority for a modern Linux-based platform composed of approximately 25 core microservices and a broad set of supporting/integration services. The environment is cloud-heavy, distributed, operationally critical, and deployed in both constrained edge settings and larger centralized/cloud environments.
This role requires someone who can define and govern architecture while remaining grounded in the realities of runtime operations, resilience, fieldability, and maintainability.
What You'll Be Doing:
  • Own the overall software architecture for a distributed microservices platform running across global environments
  • Maintain and evolve an ecosystem of approximately:
    • 25 core Java-based microservices
    • a comparable set of supporting and integration services
  • Define and govern architecture across:
    • service boundaries and contracts
    • data flows and event patterns
    • control plane and backplane behavior
    • node roles and deployment topologies
    • observability, fault tolerance, and service recovery
  • Lead architecture for a platform based on:
    • RHEL / Rocky Linux
    • Java (JDK 21+)
    • Vue.js 3 frontends
    • MongoDB for persistent data
    • Elasticsearch / Logstash and RabbitMQ for ephemeral/search/event data flows
    • Consul, Nomad, and Vault for service discovery, orchestration, and secrets management
  • Architect deployment patterns for multiple node types, including:
    • server nodes
    • data nodes
    • arbiter nodes
    • workstation/user-facing nodes
  • Guide the technical design of core operational services responsible for:
    • transactional processing
    • rules/screening/correlation workflows
    • authorization and access control
    • reference/master data management
    • language/internationalization support
    • health/status services
    • biometric or matching-oriented services built on open-source components
  • Oversee architecture for peripheral/device services supporting integration with a broad set of external devices and sensors
  • Lead integration architecture for external standards-based and partner system interfaces, including:
    • third-party government systems
    • commercial travel/identity/manifest-style systems
    • country/customer-specific extensions
  • Ensure the platform remains remotely observable, supportable, and maintainable across all deployments
  • Partner with cloud, network, security, data, field engineering, and operations teams to align architecture with deployment realities
  • Review and guide software design decisions, technical debt reduction, modernization priorities, and roadmap sequencing
  • Serve as a senior technical authority in design reviews, readiness reviews, problem resolution, and major incident analysis

What Required Skills You'll Bring:
  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Data Engineering, Information Systems, or related technical field. 4 Additional years of experience can substitute for a degree.
  • 12+ years of software engineering experience, including significant time in software architecture roles for distributed or mission-critical systems
  • 5+ years architecting microservices-based platforms in production
  • Demonstrated ability to serve as the technical authority over a multi-service software ecosystem
  • Experience guiding multiple development teams and reviewing architecture across service boundaries
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills, including ability to produce design artifacts and present architecture decisions clearly
  • Experience balancing long-term architecture quality with delivery constraints and operational realities
  • Deep hands-on expertise with:
    • Java on modern JDKs, preferably JDK 21+
    • Linux-based production environments, preferably RHEL / Rocky Linux
    • distributed service design and operational patterns
  • Strong experience with:
    • MongoDB
    • Elasticsearch / Logstash
    • RabbitMQ or equivalent event/messaging platforms
    • service discovery/orchestration/secrets technologies such as Consul, Nomad, Vault, Kubernetes, or similar
  • Experience designing systems that operate across:
    • constrained edge environments
    • centralized or cloud-heavy environments
    • globally distributed deployments with intermittent or variable connectivity
  • Proven ability to architect for:
    • resilience and graceful degradation
    • observability and diagnosability
    • secure service-to-service communication
    • multi-role user administration and authorization
    • remote support and lifecycle management
  • TS/SCI minimum clearance required.
  • Domestic and/or international project travel may be required.

What Desired Skills You'll Bring:
  • Master's degree in Data Engineering, Computer Science, Analytics, or related field
  • Experience with Vue.js 3 and modern frontend architecture patterns for administrative or operational interfaces
  • Experience with hybrid cloud and cloud-heavy deployments where backend services are centralized and edge nodes are thin
  • Experience integrating with external standards-based government, identity, travel, or partner ecosystems
  • Experience designing platforms that manage or integrate with peripherals/devices such as scanners, readers, imaging devices, kiosks, or other edge hardware
  • Experience with Nomad/Consul/Vault specifically in production
  • Experience architecting systems with zero/low downtime upgrade paths
  • Experience with semantic, cognitive, or advanced search use cases on Elasticsearch
  • Familiarity with event replay, reconciliation, and offline-sync patterns
  • Experience working closely with field engineering or remote deployment teams
  • Experience with large-scale modernization of legacy monoliths to service-oriented or microservices-based platforms
  • Familiarity with open-source biometric, matching, search, or image processing components
  • Experience with multilingual/internationalized systems deployed across multiple countries or regions
  • Experience supporting operational analytics/reporting services built on transaction/event data
  • Experience with CI/CD pipelines and release discipline for multi-service distributed systems

Security Clearance Requirement:
An active Top Secret SCI security clearance is required for this position.
This position is part of our Federal Solutions team.
The Federal Solutions segment delivers resources to our US government customers that ensure the success of missions around the globe. Our intelligent employees drive the state of the art as they provide services and solutions in the areas of defense, security, intelligence, infrastructure, and environmental. We promote a culture of excellence and close-knit teams that take pride in delivering, protecting, and sustaining our nation's most critical assets, from Earth to cyberspace. Throughout the company, our people are anticipating what's next to deliver the solutions our customers need now.
Salary Range: $148,300.00 - $266,900.00
We value our employees and want our employees to take care of their overall wellbeing, which is why we offer best-in-class benefits such as medical, dental, vision, paid time off, Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), 401(k), life insurance, flexible work schedules, and holidays to fit your busy lifestyle!
Parsons is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other protected status.
We truly invest and care about our employee's wellbeing and provide endless growth opportunities as the sky is the limit, so aim for the stars! Imagine next and join the Parsons quest-APPLY TODAY!
Parsons is aware of fraudulent recruitment practices. To learn more about recruitment fraud and how to report it, please refer to https://www.parsons.com/fraudulent-recruitment/.

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