Senior Director of Technology

Arlington, Virginia Overview Navaide is entering a defining phase in its evolution. What began as a high-performing, mission-focused services firm has grown into a trusted partner across the U.S. Navy and broader DoD. With a strong foundation of long-term, mission-critical work and deep client relationships, the company is now positioned to take its next step: becoming a technology-driven organization that builds scalable solutions, platforms, and products. The Sr. Director of Technology will play a central role in that transition. This is an opportunity to shape and lead the development of a modern technology organization inside a company with real traction, real revenue, and real mission impact. The right leader will define how Navaide builds software, applies AI, and creates repeatable solutions that extend beyond individual contracts. Responsibilities You will be responsible for establishing and executing Navaide’s technology vision, ensuring that the company’s capabilities evolve in step with its ambitions. At its core, this role is about building. Building a technology organization, building products and platforms, and building the systems, standards, and culture required to operate like a true technology company while remaining grounded in mission delivery. You will operate at the intersection of engineering, product, AI, and client delivery, partnering closely with executive leadership to shape where the company invests, how it differentiates, and how it scales. The right candidate must be equally comfortable setting long-term direction and engaging deeply in how things are built, establishing credibility with engineers while influencing decisions at the executive level. Establish a clear and actionable technology strategy, moving the company from primarily project-based delivery toward reusable platforms and scalable products, including how emerging AI and data capabilities are integrated. Lead the development of Navaide’s product and platform portfolio, turning early-stage concepts into production-ready solutions that deliver measurable value, with a repeatable operating model for how products are conceived, built, and iterated. Build the engineering organization required to support this vision, attracting top-tier talent, establishing modern engineering practices, and setting standards for development, architecture, and delivery. Guide how Navaide designs and deploys intelligent solutions, including agent-based architectures, automation, and decision-support systems, ensuring alignment with evolving DoD expectations around responsible and secure AI. Serve as the senior authority on architecture and technical direction, ensuring that solutions across the company are cohesive, interoperable, and aligned to long-term objectives. Act as a visible technology leader (internally and externally) supporting key pursuits, engaging with clients, and positioning Navaide as a credible and forward-leaning technology partner. Qualifications 10+ years of engineering experience, with at least 2–3 years in a technical leadership or team lead capacity. Hands‑on experience building and deploying AI/ML systems, including model training, evaluation, deployment, and monitoring in production environments. Strong DevOps and platform engineering foundation: CI/CD (GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, Jenkins), container orchestration (Kubernetes, Docker), and infrastructure‑as‑code (Terraform, Ansible). Experience operating in or supporting federal/DoD environments, including familiarity with IL2/IL4/IL5/IL6 cloud environments, ATO processes, and security‑first engineering practices. Proven track record of creating and scaling engineering organizations and delivering real software products or platforms. Technically grounded, with a strong understanding of modern architectures, cloud environments, data systems, and emerging AI capabilities. Equally capable of setting long‑term strategic direction and engaging deeply in the details of how things are built. Comfortable navigating the complexity of federal or defense environments, operating within constraints while driving outcomes that matter. Energized by building something that does not yet fully exist, and motivated by the opportunity to shape the future of a growing company. Must be government clearance eligible. Success Metrics Success in this role will be measured not just by what is built, but by what changes. Within the first 12 to 24 months, Navaide will have a clearly defined and functioning engineering organization, with the standards, talent, and culture expected of a modern technology company. Early product investments will have matured into deployed, scalable solutions. AI capabilities will be meaningfully integrated into both internal offerings and client‑facing work. Most importantly, the company will have begun to shift from delivering primarily bespoke solutions to creating reusable platforms that compound value over time. Benefits Navaide is committed to fostering a supportive, inclusive, and forward‑thinking workplace where our team members can thrive. Our benefits are designed to support your well-being, professional growth, and ability to work at a sustainable pace. Competitive compensation: $210,000 - $250,000 / year (commensurate with experience) Comprehensive benefits, including medical, dental, and vision coverage Flexible time off Professional development opportunities Company perks such as flex spending, wellness initiatives, etc. 401(K) matching Company Culture Navaide honors integrity, curiosity, diligence, and collaboration in everything we do. We believe in building strong relationships with our clients, communities, and teammates, united by a shared purpose of creating a stronger tomorrow. Navaide is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. Equal Opportunity Statement Equal Opportunity Employer: Navaide is an EEO Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. #J-18808-Ljbffr