Security Architect - MDC

SteerBridge
Vienna, VA
Hybrid

Who this role is best for

Federal cybersecurity professionals with cloud architecture experience will find this hybrid role emphasizes mission-critical security design and compliance frameworks.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with federal cybersecurity experience and cloud architecture expertise in AWS GovCloud
    — “designing security architectures for complex cloud or enterprise systems, with expertise in multi-account AWS security”
  • Individuals familiar with NIST SP 800-53 and RMF frameworks who can translate policy into technical requirements
    — “Deep expertise with federal security requirements, including FISMA, FedRAMP, NIST SP 800-53, and RMF”
  • Professionals who can lead technical reviews and produce documentation like architecture decision records
    — “produce clear security diagrams and architecture decision records”

Things to consider

  • U.S. citizenship is mandatory due to security clearance requirements
    — “U.S. citizenship required and ability to obtain and maintain the security clearance required for the role”
  • The position demands a hybrid work arrangement with a base in Vienna, VA
    — “This is a hybrid position based in Vienna, VA”

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience with multi-account AWS security and federal compliance frameworks in your resume
    — “expertise in multi-account AWS security (identity and access management, network segmentation, encryption and key management, and centralized logging)”
  • Demonstrate familiarity with creating and maintaining SSPs and ATO packages
    — “creating and maintaining SSPs and ATO packages through assessment, continuous monitoring, and reauthorization”
  • Showcase your skills in threat modeling and risk prioritization based on mission impact
    — “prioritizing risks and defining mitigation and validation requirements”
  • Include experience with DevSecOps and secure CI/CD workflows in your application
    — “review Terraform and Terragrunt designs, cloud configurations, and GitLab CI/CD workflows”
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · Team

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • secure cloud architecture
  • compliance with federal cybersecurity standards
  • successful threat mitigation
Typical background
security architecturecloud security

Skills & requirements

Required

Cloud SecurityZero-trust ArchitectureThreat ModelingSecurity Operations

Preferred

AWS Govcloud ExperienceFederal Cybersecurity Frameworks

Stack & domain

AWS GovcloudCloud SecurityHybrid InfrastructureIdentity And Access ManagementZero-trust ArchitectureEncryptionKey And Secrets ManagementTerraformTerragruntGitlab Ci/cdSbomsMicrosoft SentinelThreat ModelingArchitecture DesignDevSecOpsCollaborationCommunicationLeadershipProblem-solvingDecision-makingProject ManagementCybersecurityCloud ComputingFederal AcquisitionDigital TransformationEmerging Technologies

About the role

Original posting from SteerBridge via Lever

SteerBridge is a modern technology company delivering innovative, mission‑focused solutions to the U.S. Government and private sector. Leveraging deep expertise in federal acquisition, digital transformation, and emerging technologies, we deliver agile, commercial‑grade capabilities that accelerate operational effectiveness and drive measurable mission success.

At the core of SteerBridge is our people—especially the veterans whose leadership, problem‑solving mindset, and commitment to excellence elevate every project we support. We don’t simply hire exceptional talent; we cultivate it, creating meaningful career pathways for veterans, military spouses, and professionals who share our passion for advancing technology and strengthening the missions we serve.

Position Overview

SteerBridge is seeking an experienced Security Architect to lead security architecture for a mission-critical VA Disability Claims platform that supports Veterans and federal customers in AWS GovCloud. This role defines the security design, standards, and roadmap across cloud and hybrid infrastructure, applications, data, identity, and external integrations, translating mission needs, federal cybersecurity frameworks, and applicable commercial security requirements into secure, compliant, and scalable architectures.

The architect partners with cloud and solutions architects, DevSecOps engineers, application developers, the security operations team, compliance stakeholders, and program leadership. The architect establishes security requirements and design patterns, reviews implementation evidence, and guides remediation; engineering teams implement and operate the controls, while security operations monitors the environment and leads incident response.

This is a technical leadership role with hands-on design validation. The ideal candidate leads threat modeling and architecture reviews, produces clear security diagrams and architecture decision records, evaluates implementation tradeoffs, and validates critical controls through prototypes and technical reviews. They communicate residual risk and recommendations to the stakeholders authorized to make risk acceptance decisions.

This is a hybrid position based in Vienna, VA.

Key Responsibilities

Define and maintain the target security architecture and roadmap for a multi-account AWS GovCloud environment, including trust boundaries, data flows, shared services, hybrid connections, and external integrations, and advise program leadership on security, mission, cost, and delivery tradeoffs.

Lead threat modeling and security design reviews for new capabilities and material changes, prioritizing risks and defining mitigation and validation requirements.

Define secure cloud and hybrid baselines and reference architectures for hardening, identity federation, least-privilege access, network segmentation, zero-trust access, encryption, and key and secrets management.

Design protection for sensitive claims data throughout its lifecycle, including API access, storage, retention, backup, recovery, and auditability, in accordance with organizational security and privacy policies.

Review Terraform and Terragrunt designs, cloud configurations, and GitLab CI/CD workflows, set software supply chain requirements for dependencies, containers, artifact integrity, and SBOMs, and mentor engineering teams on secure delivery.

Define logging, retention, and detection coverage requirements with security operations, review Microsoft Sentinel and AWS logging designs, and support audits, penetration testing, and incident response planning.

Conduct risk assessments, gap analyses, and vulnerability assessments, prioritize findings by mission impact, validate remediation with engineering teams, and escalate exceptions and residual risk to designated authorities.

Develop, maintain, and own SSPs and ATO packages, including boundary diagrams, control narratives, assessment evidence, and POA&Ms, applying NIST SP 800-53 and RMF through assessment, continuous monitoring, and reauthorization.

Required Qualifications

Eligibility requirements: U.S. citizenship required and ability to obtain and maintain the security clearance required for the role.

Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Cybersecurity, Computer Science, Information Systems, Data Science, or Software Engineering.

8+ years of experience in cybersecurity, cloud security, or security engineering, including 3+ years designing security architectures for complex cloud or enterprise systems, with expertise in multi-account AWS security (identity and access management, network segmentation, encryption and key management, and centralized logging).

Deep expertise with federal security requirements, including FISMA, FedRAMP, NIST SP 800-53, and RMF, including creating and maintaining SSPs and ATO packages through assessment, continuous monitoring, and reauthorization.

Preferred Qualifications

Benefits:

  • Health insurance
  • Dental insurance
  • Vision insurance
  • Life Insurance
  • 401(k) Retirement Plan with matching
  • Paid Time Off
  • Paid Federal Holidays

Compensation:

The posted compensation range reflects the scope and requirements of this position. A final offer will be determined based on the candidate’s relevant experience, skills, education, certifications, and work location, along with the responsibilities of the position. Where applicable, contract requirements, wage determinations, and federal contract labor categories may also inform the offer.

SteerBridge also offers benefits that may include health and life insurance, paid time off, paid holidays, disability coverage, retirement savings, and professional development opportunities. Benefits vary by position and eligibility.

SteerBridge is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where all qualified applicants and employees are treated with respect and dignity—regardless of race, color, gender, age, religion, national origin, ancestry, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by law.

We also provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities in accordance with applicable laws. If you require assistance during the application process, we encourage you to reach out so we can support your needs.

Source: SteerBridge careers (Lever)

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