Computer Systems Architect

NSA is in search of Computer Science professionals to solve complex problems, test innovative approaches and research new solutions to storing, manipulating, and presenting information. We are looking for you to apply your computer science expertise to projects that seek to create new standards for the transformation of information. If you want to develop technologies and tools and be a part of cutting edge innovations; join our team of experts! Help protect national security interests as part of the world’s most advanced team of computer science professionals!

Computer Systems Architects at NSA use commercial and government developed hardware, software, networking, and security products to:

• drive information technology projects
• produce compliance results for established project requirements and IT architecture
• modernize IT architecture through analysis of research and introducing changes based on evolving project requirements
• integrate industry trends, emerging technologies and standards, and new vendor features
• collaborate with experts in technical and application teams to identify, evaluate, and recommend technical solutions to support project requirements
• define and analyze data requirements, mapping legacy data stores and formats to logical and physical data models
• propose standard ways for information transport between IT systems and stored within corporate knowledge databases
• perform architectural alignment of the enterprise logical data model and physical data models

Degree must be in Computer Science (CS). Related fields (e.g., Engineering, Mathematics, Information Technology, Information Systems) may be considered relevant if the programs contain, at minimum, a concentration of courses in the following foundational CS areas: algorithms; computer architecture (not network architecture); programming methodologies and languages; data structures; logic and computation; and advanced mathematics (for example, calculus, discrete mathematics).

Relevant experience must be in the design/development of computer or information systems and include engineering hardware and/or software over their lifecycle (i.e., requirements analysis, design, implementation, testing, integration, deployment/installation, and maintenance), programming, computer systems research, reverse engineering, and/or computer/network security. Completion of military training in a relevant area such as JCAC (Joint Cyber Analysis course) will be considered towards the relevant experience requirement (i.e., 24-week JCAC course will count as 6 months of experience).

FULL PERFORMANCE Entry is with a Bachelor’s degree plus 3 years of relevant experience or a Master’s degree plus 1 year of relevant experience or a Doctoral degree and no experience. An Associate’s degree plus 5 years of relevant experience may be considered for individuals with in-depth experience that is clearly related to the position.

SENIOR Entry is with a Bachelor’s degree plus 6 years of relevant experience or a Master’s degree plus 4 years of relevant experience or a Doctoral degree and 2 years of relevant experience. An Associate’s degree plus 8 years of relevant experience may be considered for individuals with in-depth experience that is clearly related to the position.

EXPERT Entry is with a Bachelor’s degree plus 9 years of relevant experience or a Master’s degree plus 7 years of relevant experience or a Doctoral degree plus 5 years of relevant experience. An Associate’s degree plus 11 years of relevant experience may be considered for individuals with in-depth experience that is clearly related to the position.

Competencies The ideal candidate is a self-starter with a desire for continual learning and strong problem-solving, analytic, and interpersonal skills who is able to:

• work in a team environment
• adapt to change
• provide innovative solutions
• communicate effectively
• multi-task across multiple projects

The ideal candidate will also reflect specialized skill and experience in one or more of the following:

• System administration with Windows, UNIX, and/or Linux
• Programming and scripting experience (e.g., C, C++, Java, Assembly, Python, Perl, Ruby, Bash, Node.js, Spark, Puppet, SALT, KAFKA, HADOOP)
• Database design/development (e.g., NiFi, MongoDB)
• Network protocols and hardware
• Virtualization fundamentals
• Cloud architecture
• Security architectures and appliances
• Firewalls Boundary device solutions/architecture
• High Performance Computing/Data Center

Pay: Salary offers are based on candidates’ education level and years of experience relevant to the position and also take into account information provided by the hiring manager/organization regarding the work level for the position.