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Senior Technical Lead — Mission Engineering

Agile Defense

Arlington, VA$180k–$225k / year Posted 30+ days ago
Above market. This role pays above the $161k median for similar USD roles (140 comparable postings in our corpus).
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About Agile Defense   At Agile Defense we know that action defines the outcome and new challenges require new solutions. That’s why we always look to the future and embrace change with an unmovable spirit and the courage to build for what comes next.   Our vision is to bring adaptive innovation to support our nation's most important missions through the seamless integration of advanced technologies, elite minds, and unparalleled agility—leveraging a foundation of speed, flexibility, and ingenuity to strengthen and protect our nation’s vital interests. Requisition #: 1636 Job Title: Senior Technical Lead — Mission Engineering Location: Arlington, VA Clearance Level: Secret, Must Have Clearance to Start   JOB DESCRIPTION Agile Defense is seeking a Senior Technical Lead to support distributed software modernization efforts across Combatant Command and mission-partner environments within the Department of Defense. This role will serve as a hands-on technical modernization lead focused on operational coordination, mission engineering alignment, and execution support across geographically dispersed modernization initiatives.   This opportunity is centered on helping align technical execution, modernization approaches, and operational collaboration across embedded mission teams, enterprise modernization partners, acquisition stakeholders, and technical delivery organizations. The Senior Technical Lead will help support agile software delivery, DevSecOps enablement, cloud-native adoption, API/data integration, and modernization strategy efforts supporting complex operational environments.   The ideal candidate combines strong engineering leadership, operational awareness, and modernization experience with the ability to coordinate distributed technical efforts and support fast-moving mission-focused initiatives. They are comfortable operating across organizational boundaries, helping align cross-functional teams, and translating modernization objectives into practical engineering approaches and executable delivery efforts.   As part of Agile Defense’s broader modernization ecosystem, this role will help support day-to-day coordination across distributed modernization initiatives while contributing to reusable engineering frameworks, operational patterns, and modernization best practices supporting long-term mission growth across multiple defense organizations and operational environments.     Technical Leadership and Mission Engineering Support development of reusable modernization engineering approaches supporting mission-focused software delivery across distributed operational environments Help align technical modernization strategies across multiple mission efforts and geographically dispersed stakeholders Support modernization initiatives involving cloud-native delivery, API integration, DevSecOps enablement, secure software delivery, and operational data interoperability Contribute to scalable engineering patterns, modernization guidance, and technical implementation frameworks supporting long-term modernization efforts Assist mission teams in translating operational modernization needs into actionable engineering approaches and delivery strategies   Distributed Team Coordination and Operational Support Serve as a day-to-day operational coordination lead supporting distributed modernization efforts spanning enterprise and forward-deployed mission environments Help maintain execution alignment across modernization initiatives, mission engagements, and cross-functional technical efforts Coordinate closely with embedded operational leads, acquisition specialists, and enterprise modernization partners to support integrated mission outcomes Support onboarding, collaboration, and operational integration efforts across geographically dispersed modernization teams Help establish operational cadence, communication patterns, and coordination workflows supporting distributed mission execution Provide concise executive-level reporting on modernization progress, operational risks, and technical integration efforts   Enterprise Modernization Integration Develop reusable engineering frameworks, modernization playbooks, integration patterns, and operational guidance supporting scalable mission modernization efforts Translate operational modernization lessons learned into enterprise modernization recommendations and technical best practices Support cross-functional modernization efforts spanning operational users, technical teams, and mission stakeholders across multiple environments Contribute to Agile Defense modernization initiatives supporting long-term mission growth and enterprise modernization strategy EDUCATION AND BACKGROUND * 10+ years of experience across software engineering, systems architecture, platform engineering, DevSecOps, or defense modernization environments * 3+ years in a senior technical leadership role supporting modernization initiatives or complex mission-focused technology environments YEARS OF EXPERIENCE 10+ years REQUIRED SKILLS * Strong understanding of modern software delivery practices including cloud-native engineering, API integration, DevSecOps, CI/CD, and secure software delivery principles * Experience supporting distributed technical teams, modernization initiatives, or enterprise engineering efforts across complex organizations * Ability to translate operational modernization needs into actionable technical strategies and scalable engineering approaches * Experience operating across technical, operational, and stakeholder environments requiring cross-functional coordination and execution * Strong communication, stakeholder engagement, and operational coordination skills PREFERRED SKILLS * Active TS/SCI clearance * Experience supporting software modernization initiatives within Combatant Command, joint, or operational defense environments * Familiarity with modern defense software delivery ecosystems, software factories, or mission-focused engineering organizations * Experience supporting operational data integration, command-and-control environments, or distributed mission systems * Familiarity with secure cloud delivery models, DevSecOps enablement, and modern deployment approaches within regulated environments * Exposure to AI/ML-enabled workflows, mission-focused software delivery, or operational technology modernization efforts preferred * Experience working within fast-moving modernization, innovation, or transformation-focused organizations preferred WORKING CONDITIONS Primary work will be conducted on-site within the Northern Virginia / Pentagon corridor area in support of distributed modernization efforts and mission stakeholder engagement. CONUS and limited OCONUS travel (e.g. HI, US) supporting operational modernization initiatives and mission coordination is expected. Our Core Values   Employees of Agile Defense are our number one priority, and the importance we place on our culture here is fundamental. Our culture is alive and evolving, but it always stays true to its roots. Here, you are valued as a family member, and we believe that we can accomplish great things together. Agile Defense has been highly successful in the past few years due to our employees and the culture we create together.    What makes us Agile? We call it the 6Hs, the values that define our culture and guide everything we do. Together, these values infuse vibrancy, integrity, and a tireless work ethic into advancing the most important national security and critical civilian missions. It's how we show up every day. It's who we are.   * Happy - Be Infectious. Happiness multiplies and creates a positive and connected environment where motivation and satisfaction have an outsized effect on everything we do. * Helpful - Be Supportive. Being helpful is the foundation of teamwork, resulting in a supportive atmosphere where collaboration flourishes, and collective success is celebrated. * Honest - Be Trustworthy. Honesty serves as our compass, ensuring transparent communication and ethical conduct, essential to who we are and the complex domains we support. * Humble - Be Grounded. Success is not achieved alone, humility ensures a culture of mutual respect, encouraging open communication, and a willingness to learn from one another and take on any task. * Hungry - Be Eager. Our hunger for excellence drives an insatiable appetite for innovation and continuous improvement, propelling us forward in the face of new and unprecedented challenges. * Hustle - Be Driven. Hustle is reflected in our relentless work ethic, where we are each committed to going above and beyond to advance the mission and achieve success.   Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

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