Jobs and Careers

Security Architect SME

Washington, United Statesfull_timeVerifiedPosted 29 Apr 2025

💰 $175,000/yr($150,000/yr – $175,000/yr)

About the role

Position Description

Valiant Solutions is seeking a Security Architect SME in the Washington DC Metro area to join our rapidly growing and innovative cybersecurity team!

Valiant Solutions is seeking a Security Architect SME to join our rapidly growing and innovative cybersecurity team! The Security Architect SME will lead the development of security architecture guidance, standards, and reference diagrams for on-premise and cloud platforms and systems. This position requires a deep level of understanding of NIST Special Publications used to secure federal systems, including NIST SP 800-53. This knowledge must be combined with experience designing and assessing security architectures for both cloud and on-premise systems to protect the confidentiality, availability, and integrity of systems and their data using COTS tools, cloud native services, and component-level configuration settings. In this role you will lead from the front as the key subject matter expert guiding our valued client.

Named one of the Best Places to Work in the Washington DC area for 11 consecutive years, Valiant is proud of our employee-centric culture and commitment to excellence. If you are interested in learning more about Valiant and this opportunity, we invite you to apply now!

This position should expect to report onsite, but may allow for remote work. Remote work necessitates a high-level trust in our employees and we strictly adhere to the details found below in our Remote Work Policy.

U.S. Citizenship is required due to federal contract obligations, along with the ability to successfully pass a federal background investigation.

Required Experience

7+ years of relevant cybersecurity experience.
Experience designing security architectures by referencing NIST security controls, agency policy, and government-wide security requirements. This experience must include the design of on-premise and cloud security fabrics for all layers of the system (application down to CSP).
Experience assessing/reviewing security architectures, writing reports with detailed explanatory findings, and providing briefings on your findings.
Developing security architecture guidance to include policy language, Standard Operating Procedures, and as-code hardening standards.
Extensive knowledge of NIST 800- 53rev5 and other NIST Special Publications.
Current knowledge of government-wide security mandates and CISA Directives.
Ability to define and document system security boundaries and categorize systems based on security and privacy requirements.
Skilled in analyzing user needs to inform and guide secure architecture planning.
Proven ability to assess and evaluate enterprise security postures and identify impacts from new systems or interfaces.
Experience developing technical documentation, including written documents and diagrams.
Experience developing presentation slide decks and presenting to technical and non-technical personnel.
Experience identifying and documenting system and organizational security and privacy requirements, including personal data handling.
Familiarity with identifying and protecting enterprise and system-level security data.
Ability to collaborate with stakeholders and translate functional needs into technical security requirements.
Experience providing input on security requirements in acquisition and procurement documentation (e.g., statements of work).
Ability to support cost estimation and technical guidance related to secure system design and changes.
Skilled in identifying gaps in security architecture and contributing to the development of security risk management plans.
Experience supporting Risk Management Framework (RMF) activities and maintaining related documentation.
Proficiency in documenting and updating security architecture throughout the system development and acquisition lifecycle.