Chief Platform Architect

DescriptionMarkon is seeking a highly skilled Chief Architect - Platform SME to provide Systems Engineering and Technical Advisory (SETA) support to a mission critical program in Chantilly, VA. In this role, you will directly support the National Reconnaissance Office’s (NRO) Ground Enterprise Directorate (GED), the organization responsible for architecting, acquiring, and sustaining the nation’s most advanced space and ground systems across their full lifecycle. Responsibilities

• Provide DevSecOps technical guidance to strengthen mission systems through automation, security integration, and compliance with IC and federal standards.
• Analyze and refine system requirements, shaping system design and advocating for test driven development and secure by design engineering practices.
• Review architectures and match against client requirements, coordinate EPICs, and provide feedback to the end client(s).
• Define and oversee CI/CD pipelines, resolving technical challenges and ensuring development workflows align with security frameworks such as NIST.
• Guide automation strategies to improve system performance, reliability, and maintainability across complex mission environments.
• Embed security into engineering workflows, fostering strong partnerships with developers and ensuring security is integrated from concept through deployment.
• Develop DevSecOps maturity models to benchmark progress, accelerate adoption, and inform enterprise level transformation strategies.
• Identify engineering risks and mitigation strategies, providing clear, actionable recommendations to government leadership.
• Deliver technical advice and systems engineering insight to government partners, ensuring mission priorities are reflected in technical execution.
• Engage with multi sector engineering teams, contributing to design reviews, sprint planning, and cross functional technical discussions.
• Craft and deliver concise technical briefings to senior leaders, stakeholders, and diverse audiences across the mission space.

QualificationsRequired Qualifications

• Bachelors and twelve (12) years or more experience; Masters and ten (10) years or more experience; PhD or JD and six (6) years or more experience.
• Active Top Secret/SCI clearance with Poly (preferrably from this client).
• 7+ years of experience with DevSecOps and tools.
• 3+ years of platform architecture review, client consultation, and technical leadership experience.
• Ability to provide technical and programmatic direction on the development, integration, and use of digital engineering/model-based engineering and model-based systems engineering concepts and structures.
• Experience with systems development methodologies (e.g., Agile, DevSecOps).
• Knowledge of Cloud technologies (e.g., AWS, Azure).
• Experience with CONOPS requirements development, interface control documentation, technical specification review, architecture development.
• Program lifecycle experience from concept development and design to deployment, operations, and maintenance, decommission.
• Self-starter proactively addresses customer requirements with limited supervision; excels at defining solutions for broad, abstract topics.
• Polished communicator (written/verbal); impeccable interpersonal skills and personal judgment.
• Proficient with MS Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel), MS Outlook, MS Project).

Salary RangeUSD $175,000.00 - USD $210,000.00 /Yr.The Markon pay range for this position is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law. Overview

Eager to join a team where your skills are valued, your growth is nurtured, and your impact is profound? Look no further than Markon, a premier consulting firm deeply dedicated to advancing our nation's most critical missions.

At Markon, we don't just offer jobs – we offer opportunities for personal and professional transformation. Empowering our employees to lead, innovate, and excel, we foster an environment where new ideas are not just welcomed but celebrated. As a perennial Washington Post Top Workplace, we prioritize the well-being and success of our team members, ensuring they can bring their best selves to work.

Headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, Markon has garnered national recognition for our unwavering dedication to excellence in serving the intelligence community, as well as federal civilian and defense agencies. Our growing reach extends across 17 states, 116 countries, and 5 continents, where our team of dynamic professionals collaborates to deliver unparalleled program and project management services.

Markon values people and the tremendous impact each individual can make – which is why we’re consistently recognized as one of the best places to work in federal government consulting. Here, you can help solve the nation’s most important challenges, surrounded by colleagues who help you grow, advance, and succeed. We are deeply dedicated to what matters – bringing out the best in each other to advance our clients’ missions.Join us and make a meaningful impact.

Markon is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, protected veteran status, or disability status. This job posting will remain open until the position is filled.

Benefits Offered: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, 401(k) match, Flexible Spending Accounts, EAP, Training and Tuition Assistance, Paid Time Off, and Holidays