Computer Scientist (Enterprise Architect)
Department of Defense
Summary
DCSA Acquisition and Technology, National Background Investigation Services (NBIS) is seeking a Lead Software Architect to engineer enterprise-level software architectures supporting critical national security. The incumbent will drive the shift from waterfall to Agile/MVP releases, establish security controls, govern technical debt, & lead microservices initiatives using the Software Acquisition Pathway. Visit www.dcsa.mil to learn more about DCSA, America’s Gatekeeper!
Duties
- As a COMPUTER SCIENTIST (ENTERPRISE ARCHITECT) you will be responsible for the following duties: Demonstrated experience transitioning from waterfall development to Agile environments, focusing on defining Minimum Viable Products (MVPs) and managing iterative software releases.
- Expert ability to design and implement complex enterprise software architectures, specifically leveraging microservices and API-first initiatives for national security operations.
- Proven experience utilizing the DoD Software Acquisition Pathway (DODI 5000.87) to oversee programmatic documentation, evaluate financial inputs, and monitor project expenditures.
- Ability to establish and enforce strict security controls and technical debt governance across multidisciplinary development teams to mitigate risk and ensure system resilience.
- Experience serving as an authoritative technical advisor, delivering briefings to executive stakeholders (e.g., OSW, CDAO) to synchronize inter-agency architectural objectives.
Education
Substitution of education may not be used in lieu of specialized experience for this grade level.
Required Documents
Prepare the documents below before applying. Always confirm the exact requirements on the official announcement, since they vary by position:
- The documents you are required to submit vary based on the authority you are using to apply (i.e., applying as a veteran, applying as a current permanent Federal employee, applying as a reinstatement, etc.).
- Your complete application includes your COMPLETE resume, your responses to the online questionnaire, and documents which prove your eligibility to apply.
- If you fail to provide these documents, you will be marked as having an incomplete application package and you will not be considered any further.
- Your resume: IMPORTANT UPDATE: Your resume must not exceed two (2) pages.
- If your resume exceeds the two-page limit, you will be removed from consideration for this announcement.
- The resume and required supporting documentation should provide the minimum qualifications and relevant experience for the announced position.
- Must include the work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment, and duties performed.
- If multiple resumes are submitted by an applicant, only the last resume submitted will be reviewed for qualifications and referred for selection consideration, if eligible.
- The resume must not be more than 5MB and should be saved and uploaded as a PDF to maintain formatting and number of pages.
- We also accept GIF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, RTF, TXT, PDF, ODT or Word (DOC or DOCX).
About this role
The Computer Scientist (enterprise Architect) position with the Department of Defense is based in Fort Meade, Maryland. DCSA Acquisition and Technology, National Background Investigation Services (NBIS) is seeking a Lead Software Architect to engineer enterprise-level software architectures supporting critical national security. The role pays $167,446 to $197,200 per year.
Day to day, the work involves the core duties of the Computer Scientist role as detailed in the announcement below. The full list of duties, conditions, and required documents appears in the official announcement linked on this page.
Who should apply
This role calls for the ability to obtain and hold a security clearance. Match your federal resume directly to the announcement's wording so a reviewer can confirm each requirement in writing. For this Computer Scientist (enterprise Architect) position with the Department of Defense in Fort Meade, Maryland, confirm you meet each requirement before applying.
How competitive it is
At $167,446 to $197,200 per year, this is a mid-to-senior role where a precisely tailored application matters most. The security clearance requirement means a longer hiring timeline, so patience and an early application help. Based in Fort Meade, Maryland, it competes within that local market, which can mean lighter competition than major metropolitan postings. The announcement closes on July 6, 2026, and federal postings can close early once enough applications arrive, so applying promptly is wise.
This overview is general guidance from Job Army to help you understand the role. Always read the official announcement for exact duties, qualifications, and requirements before applying.