Defensive Cyber Solution Architect

Leidos's Office of Technology, Digital Modernization Sector team currently has an immediate opening for a Senior Cyber Security Solution Architect with a domain specialty in Defensive Cyber Operations and concentrations in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data Management/Content Development at scale. In this position, you will architect, design and lead cyber security solutions in support of federal civilian agencies and Department of Defense (DoD) customers in the U.S. and worldwide. You will work closely with business development, internal research & development (IRAD) and other subject matter expert (SME) staff to support new business development, including pre-proposal capture support and proposal development. You will help prospective customers and partners understand the value and benefits of the Leidos solution, explain technical features and transformation strategies and engage in demonstrations. Additionally, your responsibilities could include supporting IRAD projects to develop mission focused solutions and delivering technical innovations for existing customers. Opportunities may require up to 25% domestic travel as needed to support customer meetings, attend conferences and work onsite with proposal teams. Candidates should either possess or be capable of obtaining a DoD Clearance at the SECRET level.

A Leidos Solution Architect (SA) is a skilled technical professional who has developed broader skillsets needed to provide full scope solutions for internal or external technical needs, ranging from solution development on a capture, supporting an active program, and supporting growth initiatives. An SA supports these assignments with a growth and innovation mindset while continuously refining their skillsets.

Primary Responsibilities
Serve as a lead technical architect across the new business pursuit lifecycle and within an integrated growth team, including proposal, capture, and business development activities on key capture opportunities.
Mentor and coach other technical staff
Provide end-to-end thought leadership across proposal responses that include elements such as technical solution, partners, staffing, implementation schedule, and BOE.
Provide technical writing capabilities in the development of technical artifacts, white papers, statements of work, briefings, and proposals, etc.
Support customer meetings to understand customer requirements and provide solution presentations to the customer.
Lead responses to customer RFI's, White Papers and RFPs leveraging Leidos and Partner solutions and collaborating with other experts in the field.
Work with teaming partners and product vendors to develop technical solutions, integration of teaming partners' capabilities, and pricing strategies, etc.
Work with engineering staff to extract information in a structured process to create winning technical solutions for proposals
Support the startup of our winning proposals
Stay up-to-date on evolving cyber security policies and federal industry standards and mandates
Design, develop and potentially deploy AI and machine learning models for cybersecurity applications.
Design data management frameworks for efficiently processing and analyzing large datasets, ensuring scalability and performance.

Basic Qualifications
Education: Typically requires Master's (15-20 years) in relevant experience. Additional years experience may be used in lieu of degree.
Leadership: 7+ years leading technical teams and managing proposal efforts.
Communication: Strong communication skills, especially with executive leadership.
Experience: Expertise in IT systems engineering, architecture, and project management. Expertise in proposal development and leading large proposals valued at over $1B.
Certifications: 8570 IASAE II (CASP+ CE, CISSP (or Associate), CSSLP).
Clearance: Eligible for DoD Secret clearance.
Expertise: Recognized Subject Matter Expert in cyber operations, including both offensive and defensive cyber operations on government contracts.
Viewed as a Subject Matter Expert within the field by peers within and outside the organization
Expertise in large-scale data architecture, data analytics, and data pipelines.
Proficiency in security tools, technologies, and methodologies (e.g., SIEM, IDS/IPS, firewalls, etc.).
Strong understanding of AI and machine learning algorithms, with hands-on experience in applying these technologies to security operations.
Practical experience operationalizing MITRE ATT&CK
Worked in, operated, and or lead a 24/7 Network Security Operations Center (NOSC) or Security Operations Center (SOC) for Federal Government

Desired Qualifications
Leadership: Proven experience as an Operations Manager, leading Security Operations teams in commercial or federal environments.
Expertise: Deep knowledge of advanced technologies and the ability to inject new technological advancements into operations.
Cost & Planning: Experience estimating technical and operational costs and managing IT project delivery, developing a Basis of Estimate (BOE)
Impact Assessment: Ability to evaluate business impacts of proposed changes to technical solutions or enterprise operations.
Business Growth: Track record of driving business growth by innovating and introducing new technologies to existing programs.
Executive Communication: Strong communication with senior leadership on strategic matters.
Certifications: ITIL Foundations certification.
Core Competencies: Leadership, program management, business development, conflict management, mentoring, negotiation, problem-solving, and team building.
Federal Policy Knowledge: Familiarity with federal policies affecting critical infrastructure and the federal civilian enterprise (FCEB), State Local Tribal Territorial (SLTT) and 16 Critical Infrastructure sectors to include (OMB, PDD, EO, etc)
Location: Telecommute-friendly, ideally based in the Washington DC Metro area but not required.
Expertise in Zero Trust principles and the application of secure development practices for cloud-based and hybrid infrastructure environments.
Lead and manage large-scale cyber operations with a focus on AI-driven threat detection, mitigation, and response strategies.
Hands-on experience implementing and leveraging security solutions in cloud-based security stacks and large-scale Trusted Internet Connections (TIC).
Familiarity with distributed computing and big data technologies (e.g., Hadoop, Spark, Kafka).
Prior experience with security in AI and data-driven environments (e.g., securing AI models, preventing adversarial attacks).
Demonstrated experience operationalizing SOAR tools
Demonstrated experience triaging and responding to APT activities
Demonstrated experience planning and executing threat hunt missions

If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo - because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 - and moving faster than anyone else dares.

Original Posting:
January 21, 2026

For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.

Pay Range:
Pay Range $154,050.00 - $278,475.00

The Leidos pay range for this job level 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.