Senior Principal Cloud Architect

Annapolis Junction, MD Sterling, VA Full time

JR101953

Nightwing provides technically advanced full-spectrum cyber, data operations, systems integration and intelligence mission support services to meet our customers’ most demanding challenges. Our capabilities include cyber space operations, cyber defense and resiliency, vulnerability research, ubiquitous technical surveillance, data intelligence, lifecycle mission enablement, and software modernization. Nightwing brings disruptive technologies, agility, and competitive offerings to customers in the intelligence community, defense, civil, and commercial markets. Cloud Architect – AWS GovCloud Development Environment Position Overview We are seeking an experienced Cloud Solutions Architect to lead a critical program effort to establish a unified software development environment in AWS GovCloud and migrate existing separate development networks into a single, common development environment. This role focuses on designing scalable, secure, and high-performance cloud architectures that consolidate disparate development infrastructures while maintaining the rigor, consistency, and reliability required for mission-critical operations. The ideal candidate fundamentally favors automated, repeatable workflows over repetitive manual operational tasks, trusting mature automated resources to deploy systems more accurately and consistently than manual deployment. Responsibilities Lead the design and architecture of a consolidated, maintainable cloud development environment in AWS GovCloud aligned with program and mission requirements Plan and execute the migration of our separate development networks into a single, unified development environment Develop automation frameworks and infrastructure-as-code templates to streamline provisioning, deployment, and network consolidation Provide systems engineering project leadership in support of a large, leading-edge development effort Interface directly with the customer, stakeholders, and end-users regarding priorities, capability architectures, requirements, and use cases to derive and decompose migration specifications Implement security controls including encryption, hardened configurations, and compliance safeguards appropriate for a classified environment Collaborate with DevOps engineers to enhance CI/CD pipelines within the consolidated environment Support risk assessments and develop risk mitigation countermeasures during network migration and consolidation Conduct architecture reviews and provide technical guidance to implementation teams Evaluate and recommend new cloud services and technologies to improve operational capabilities Support troubleshooting of complex architectural issues during migration and active operations Required Skills U.S. Citizenship Active TS/SCI clearance 8+ years of directly relevant experience 5+ years of experience designing cloud architectures, preferably on AWS Strong expertise in AWS services including EC2, S3, VPC, IAM, Lambda, and CloudFormation Experience with infrastructure-as-code tools (Terraform, CloudFormation, Ansible, etc.) Deep understanding of cloud security best practices and compliance requirements Proven ability to design scalable, resilient, and cost-effective solutions Demonstrated experience leading migration and consolidation of multiple networks or environments Proven leadership skills and meaningful experience successfully leading teams Experience working in an Agile development environment Strong documentation and technical communication skills Experience with automation and scripting (Python, Bash, PowerShell) Working networking knowledge — network infrastructure, protocols, TLS encryption, and VPC firewall management Desired Skills Prior experience working in AWS GovCloud environments Experience designing solutions for cybersecurity or incident response operations Knowledge of multi-cloud or hybrid cloud architectures Experience with container orchestration (Kubernetes, ECS) Experience and familiarity with the Risk Management Framework (RMF) and security and privacy controls (NIST 800-37 and NIST 800-53) Background in systems engineering, system administration, or DevOps Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and automation Required Education Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Systems Engineering, Information Systems, or a related technical field. In lieu of a degree, a High School diploma with 10+ years of directly relevant experience may be considered. Desired Certifications AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional AWS Cloud-related certifications Salary & Benefits The salary associated with this position ($122,000-$253,000) is commensurate with the selected candidate’s qualifications, years of relevant experience, and demonstrated level of expertise. Compensation will be determined based on these factors to ensure alignment with skills, responsibilities, and market standards. Nightwing offers medical, vision and dental insurance coverage in addition to a 401k plan, PTO, Holidays, and additional insurances. Nightwing is An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status, age or any other federally protected class. Previously part of a leading Fortune 100 company and headquartered in Dulles, VA; Nightwing became independent in 2024 but continues to support the nation’s most mission impactful initiatives. When we formed Nightwing, we brought a deep set of credentials and an unfaltering commitment to the mission. For over four decades, our team has been providing some of the world’s most technically advanced full-spectrum cyber, data operations, systems integration and intelligence support services to the U.S. government on its most important missions. At Nightwing, we value collaboration and teamwork. You’ll have the opportunity to work alongside talented individuals who are passionate about what they do. Together, we’ll leverage our collective expertise to drive innovation, solve complex problems, and deliver exceptional results for our clients. Thank you for considering joining us as we embark on this new journey and shape the future of cybersecurity and intelligence together as part of the Nightwing team. Nightwing