We’re seeking a Principal Engineer / Technical Lead to support the Compartmented Enterprise Services Office (CESO) in Arlington, VA. This effort is building a modern Secure Web Service (SWS) operation on a cutting‑edge, highly automated platform designed to support a rapidly expanding customer base. In this role, you’ll help drive CESO’s migration to a high‑security cloud environment, delivering key capabilities such as network and communication services, monitoring services, and system administration. If you’re ready to make an impact on a mission‑critical DISA program and work with a team shaping the next generation of secure enterprise services, apply today!

This position is based in Arlington, VA and is 100% on-site.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Engineering

  • Experience in working on teams utilizing Agile workflows and processes

  • Engineer and architect the database architecture to support modernization initiatives

  • Translate mission outcomes and prioritized product backlog items into technical delivery plans and sprint goals

  • Develop, maintain, and evolve a modernized database architecture aligned to modernization initiatives, including cloud adoption

  • Design, implement, and test database architecture solutions that improve scalability, resilience, security, and performance

  • Re-engineer and transition legacy databases to modernized architectures while enabling coexistence across on-premises and cloud ecosystems

  • Gather, define, and refine database and reporting requirements for internal and external users

  • Maintain enterprise architecture documentation and technical artifacts, including data models, SOPs, installation guides, and related engineering documentation

  • Lead development and integration of secure APIs, data pipelines (structured/unstructured)

  • Experience with software development languages/environments such as: JavaScript, GitLab, Jenkins, Ansible Automation, Java, PSSQL, YAML, and Terraform

  • Develop automated CI/CD build/deployment pipelines using Ansible and Bitbucket/Gitlab.

  • Implement DevSecOps practices, CI/CD pipelines, automated testing, observability, and security controls

  • Implement software release version control, provide release management support throughout a software product's life cycle (initial software development through promotion to Test, QA and Production Environments), ensuring the consistency and reliability of software builds

• Organizational & Technical Leadership

  • Define and drive long-term technical strategy and architectural direction across teams

  • Oversee the design and delivery of scalable, secure, and maintainable software solutions

  • Serve as a senior technical authority and escalation point for cross-team and cross-domain issues

  • Champion engineering excellence, including automated testing, CI/CD, reliability, and security

  • Establish standards, best practices, and governance for software development

  • Guide the responsible adoption of generative AI tools across engineering teams

• People Management & Leadership Development

  • Lead, manage, and develop senior engineers and technical teams

  • Own performance management, career development, succession planning, and talent growth

  • Build and sustain a high-performing, inclusive engineering culture

  • Coach leaders on effective team management, delivery, and technical decision-making

• Delivery & Execution

  • Own delivery outcomes across Agile teams, ensuring predictability and quality

  • Partner with product and business stakeholders to align roadmaps, priorities, and execution

  • Ensure effective Agile practices, metrics, and continuous improvement using Jira

  • Balance near-term delivery with long-term platform and technical investments

  • Incorporate customer feedback, operational insights, and data to drive product improvements

• Cross-Functional & Executive Collaboration

  • Act as a key engineering representative in cross-functional and leadership discussions

  • Communicate technical vision, risks, and progress to senior leadership

  • Influence product strategy through deep understanding of users and technical constraints

  • Drive alignment across engineering, product, design, and operations

Basic Qualifications

• Candidate must have an active TS/SCI security clearance

• BA and 12+ years of experience. Additional years of experience may be considered in lieu of degree.

• Proven track record of leading multiple teams and delivering complex software systems

• Demonstrated leadership skills and attention to detail, including excellent organizational and documentation skills

• Minimum of 10 years of hands-on technical experience in at least three of the following areas: Oracle, SQL Server, Java, engineered systems, cloud technologies, data integration, automated testing and deployments, and DevSecOps

• Demonstrated experience supporting database engineering, architecture, modernization, and Tier III technical support functions in complex enterprise environments

• Strong background in automated testing, CI/CD, and modern software delivery practices

• Experience with software development languages/environments such as: JavaScript, GitLab, Jenkins, Ansible Automation, Java, PSSQL, YAML, and Terraform

• Hands-on full-SDLC Agile Software Development experience, including full software lifecycle automation experience (design, development, test, deployment), including deployment to a production environment

• Experience designing, building, and deploying DevOps pipelines with Bitbucket, Git, Jenkins, Artifactory and Ansible (or equivalent tools)

• Exceptional leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills

• Experience working in a high op-temp, top secret environment

• Previous experience tracking projects in Jira or equivalent Agile Project Management software

• Experience with the following technologies:

  • Gradle

  • PowerShell

  • Java Full Stack

  • Oracle 19c

  • Apache HTTP

  • Apache Tomcat

  • Webservices

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experienced with DISA and DISA’s support to mission partners

• Prior experience leading database modernization and transformation initiatives involving legacy-to-modern platform migration, cloud adoption, or hybrid enterprise environments.

• Experience in high-availability, mission-critical, or large-scale federal enterprise systems requiring strong reliability, performance, and security.

• Demonstrated success leading teams responsible for database architecture standards, engineering governance, integration, and technical problem resolution.

• Experience working in environments that require close coordination with government stakeholders, cross-functional technical teams, and multiple contractors.

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