Enterprise Architect-Full Performance

For sixty years, the NRO has developed, acquired, launched and operated the satellites that are the foundation for America’s advantage and strength in space. Using a diversified architecture of spacecraft, NRO collects and delivers the best space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance content on the planet.

Basic Eligibility

• You must be a U.S. Citizen
• You must be able to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI security clearance
• You will be subject to pre-employment and periodic drug testing
• You will be subject to pre-employment and periodic polygraph examinations

About the Role

The System Engineering Directorate (SED) Office of Chief Architect (OCA) is in search of a sharp, critically thinking problem solver to serve as an Enterprise Architect in support of NRO Architecture development, baselining, and advancement. OCA advances the NRO Enterprise by defining, assessing, and delivering the future NRO Enterprise Architecture, shaping investment decisions, and enabling enterprise decision-making. It does so by formulating strategic architecture imperatives for the NRO, developing end-to-end architecture capability at all layers of the Enterprise (space, ground, application, data, facility, infrastructure, etc.), executing long-term strategic planning, driving NRO architecture investments to advance the mission and address strategic challenges. OCA represents the NRO on Intelligence Community and DoD major architecture initiatives and significant shared programs and advises NRO senior leadership on NRO Enterprise Architecture advancement to ensure NRO maintains strategic advantages in today’s rapidly changing national security environment.

As an Enterprise Architect in SED/OCA, you will help develop and manage the enterprise architecture through Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) to support engineering analysis, data-driven decision-making, and developing planning guidance to drive investment priorities and assess the impacts of budgetary decisions. This is your chance to be part of a team tackling some of the most significant challenges faced by our nation's leaders. You'll have the opportunity to apply your skills to meaningful work with far-reaching impact. This position is non-supervisory; however, the individual will lead cross-functional teams of government and contractor personnel.

The NRO Cadre is collecting resumes for consideration against current and future opportunities for senior level (GG-13), Enterprise Architects, occupational series 0801.

Responsibilities

• Serves as an engineer and architect for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) Systems Engineering Directorate (SED) formulating and providing technical and professional assessments on capabilities and Intelligence Community mission needs and/or issues affecting the NRO.
• Leads end-to-end overhead reconnaissance architecture development (space, ground, data, infrastructure, etc.)
• Designs and publishes system-of-systems architectures — Builds, baselines, and continuously updates enterprise architectures and detailed architecture artifacts
• Turns authoritative data into actionable architecture — Ingests, reformats, validates, and publishes "As-Is" and “To-Be” architecture products, ensuring the enterprise always has an accurate, trusted picture of its systems.
• Conducts architectural trade studies, evaluates technical feasibility, and validates that proposed designs can achieve mission objectives.
• Defines and maintains accurate, complete, and accessible architecture documentation, including Concepts of Operations (CONOPS), system diagrams, and interface definitions
• Shapes enterprise architecture governance — Helps develop, maintain, and execute the architecture governance framework that guides how mission-critical systems evolve across the enterprise.
• Serves as the go-to architecture expert — Advises senior leaders, delivers data-driven recommendations, and helps translate strategic objectives into sound architectural decisions.
• Prepares and briefs senior management through project development cycles

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, Computer Science, or comparable technical discipline.
• Experience in systems engineering, model-based systems engineering, and/or digital engineering
• Experience defining system-level requirements and interfaces across complex, multi-domain architectures.
• Experience developing and documenting CONOPS and system architectures for space missions.
• Expertise in space system architectures, including satellite platforms, communications payloads, ground stations, and networked systems.

Qualifications

• Understanding of government acquisition processes
• Demonstrated interpersonal, organizational, and project management skills to conceptualize and effectively lead complex projects
• Knowledge of DoD and Intelligence Community (IC) organizations, relationships, missions, relevant policies, and processes
• Proven ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and operate effectively in resource-constrained environments.

Qualifying experience may have been acquired in any public or private sector job, but will clearly demonstrate past experience in the application of the particular competencies/knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to successfully perform and is typically in or directly related to the duties of the position as described above. Experience must be reflected in your resume. Applicants submitting a resume that exceeds the two-page limit per OPM Memorandum will not be eligible for consideration.

Other Information

• MAY be required to work other than normal duty hours, which may include evenings, weekends, and/or holidays.
• MAY be required to travel in military or commercial aircraft to perform temporary duty assignments.
• MAY be required to file an OGE Form 450, Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, upon appointment and will be required to file annually.
• If selected for a Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) coded position, the incumbent must meet appropriate certification requirements no later than 24 months after accepting this position. Individual shall maintain, at a minimum, 80 continuous Learning Points every 24 months via the services acquisition management system.
• MAY be subject to directed reassignment as required to address mission effectiveness, and/or career development.
• Must achieve the appropriate Information Assurance (IA) certification within six months of assignment.
• Certain positions MAY be deemed emergency essential and incumbents must be willing to meet all position requirements.

Location: Chantilly, VA 20151. Telework is not available and you must be able to work at the specified location(s).

Pay

This position meets the qualifications for Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS) Targeted Local Market Supplement (TLMS) STEM pay for NRO Cadre employees and candidates. Cadre employees and candidates are eligible to receive STEM pay if they are currently serving in a STEM designated position. Should a Cadre employee or candidate earning STEM pay change positions within the organization, they must be assigned to another STEM qualifying position in order to continue to remain eligible for STEM pay.

2026 salary range for the Washington, DC area: GG-13 $121,785 – $158,322.

This position is a DCIPS position. The NRO is accepting applications from U.S. Citizens and current federal government employees for this position. To qualify for the position, federal government employees MUST currently be at the GG – 13 grade level and may ONLY apply for a lateral reassignment at their current grade level and step.

Hiring Incentives

The NRO may offer hiring incentives and other entitlements at management’s discretion.

Trial Period

All new DCIPS employees will be required to serve a 2-year trial period.