ECS

Software Engineering and Development Technical Lead/Architect SME

ECS$120K — $160K *
Aerospace & Defense
11 - 15 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Current Secret security clearance with ability to obtain Top Secret (TS) clearance with SCI
  • Minimum 12 years in enterprise software engineering or technical leadership within federal environments
  • Experience with authoring Software Engineering Plans (SWP) and technical architecture documentation
  • Proven expertise in leading DevSecOps across CI/CD platforms like GitLab
  • Hands-on experience with IaC, CaC, STIG hardening, and SAFe methodologies
  • Strong problem-solving and decision-making capabilities
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

Responsibilities

  • Define and govern technical baseline for software engineering activities across WDP environments.
  • Author technical architecture and standards in Software Engineering Plans (SWP).
  • Conduct technical reviews of product requirements and development plans.
  • Audit software tooling and pipeline compliance against configuration baselines.
  • Mentor engineering personnel on tool usage and secure coding practices.
  • Support agile prioritization with technical input and workload estimation.
  • Maintain architectural documentation and component interface specifications.

Benefits

  • Opportunities for professional development and mentorship
  • Engagement in high-impact projects within the Department of War
  • Collaboration with top stakeholders and leaders in the field
  • Access to cutting-edge technology in the defense sector
  • Dynamic work environment with a focus on innovation.
Full Job Description
Everforth ECS is seeking a Software Engineering and Development Technical Lead/Architect SME to work in the National Capital Region covering the Pentagon, Falls Church, and Fairfax. Please Note: This position is contingent upon contract award.

The War Data Platform (WDP) is a key initiative within the U.S. Department of War's (DoW) AI-First strategy introduced in early 2026. The WDP focuses on operational warfighting data and aims to accelerate the deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) on the battlefield. The WDP extends to Unclassified, Secret, and Top Secret environments, and supports collaboration between Combatant Commands, Joint Staff directorates, Senior Executive Service leaders, and operational analysts.

This role defines, documents, and governs the technical baseline supporting full lifecycle software engineering activities across WDP Core Integration's classified and unclassified environments, providing authoritative architectural leadership and DevSecOps governance across development, integration, and production enclaves to ensure compliant, scalable, and mission-ready software delivery.
• Defines, documents, and governs the technical baseline supporting full lifecycle software engineering activities across War Data Platform (WDP) Core Integration's classified and unclassified environments.
• Authors the technical architecture and standards sections of the Software Engineering Plan (SWP), aligning component designs, DevSecOps workflows, CI/CD pipelines, and code management practices with enterprise architectures and cybersecurity mandates.
• Conducts rigorous technical reviews of product requirements, development plans, and agile artifacts to verify architectural consistency, integration feasibility, and testability across Development, Integration, and Production enclaves.
• Audits software tooling, secure factory operations, and pipeline compliance against approved configuration baselines and DevSecOps automation thresholds.
• Mentors engineering personnel through structured knowledge transfer engagements focused on tool usage, artifact traceability, secure coding, IaC/CaC authoring, and STIG alignment.
• Supports Government-led agile prioritization with technical input, workload estimation, and dependency analysis.
• Reviews mission objectives, performance KPIs, and test metrics to validate software readiness for staging and operational release.
• Maintains architectural documentation, versioned design artifacts, and component interface specifications supporting traceability across subtask deliveries.
• Partners with system security, environment sustainment, and program management teams to drive technical excellence, code reuse, and maintainability.
• Advances War Data Platform (WDP) Core Integration program outcomes by delivering scalable architecture patterns, hardened infrastructure components, and compliant software capabilities aligned with Department of War mission imperatives.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Current Secret security clearance with the ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret (TS) security clearance with Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI).
• Minimum 12 years of experience in enterprise software engineering, software architecture, or technical leadership roles within classified or federal environments.
• Demonstrated experience authoring and maintaining Software Engineering Plans (SWP), technical architecture documentation, and component interface specifications in support of large-scale, multi-enclave software programs.
• Proven expertise leading DevSecOps pipeline governance across CI/CD platforms such as GitLab, including enforcement of automated security gates, configuration baselines, and artifact traceability requirements.
• Hands-on experience with Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC), Configuration-as-Code (CaC), STIG hardening, and Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) methodologies as applied to DoW software lifecycle programs.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making capabilities, with a proven ability to weigh the relative costs and benefits of potential actions and identify the most appropriate solution.
• Highly developed interpersonal and oral/written communication skills, with the ability to effectively and professionally interact with a diverse set of stakeholders (from peers to end-users to executive management).

About ECS

ECS is a leading provider of digital solutions and services to the federal government. The company was founded in 2001 by Roy Kapani and has since grown to become a trusted partner to a wide range of government agencies. ECS offers a broad range of services, including cloud computing, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence. The company has been recognized for its innovative solutions and has won numerous awards, including the AWS Public Sector Partner of the Year award.
Learn more about ECS
Size
2,000 employees
Industry

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