White House Military Office - Chief Architect for Secure Communication Systems

Under Secretary of War for Research & Engineering•Arlington, VA

12h•Onsite

About The Position

Chief Architect for Secure Communications Systems White House Military Office (WHMO) Highly Qualified Expert (HQE) Appointment Pay: 169,279-$228,000+ Location: Washington, D.C. area The White House Military Office (WHMO) seeks an exceptional technical leader to serve as Chief Architect for Secure Communications Systems under the Highly Qualified Expert (HQE) authority. This role carries direct responsibility for architecting and safeguarding the secure communications backbone that enables Presidential leadership under all conditions. As the principal technical authority for enterprise secure communications, the Chief Architect defines the strategic vision, modernization roadmap, and survivability framework for systems that must perform without fail. This is a rare opportunity to shape mission-critical national security infrastructure at the highest level of government. This position is being filled under the Highly Qualified Expert (HQE) hiring authority pursuant to 10 U.S.C. §9903, which enables the Department of Defense to recruit distinguished professionals with exceptional expertise to support critical national security missions. HQE appointments are made in the Excepted Service and are time-limited in nature. This appointment does not confer eligibility for conversion to the Competitive Service. This position is located within the White House Military Office in Washington, D.C. Compensation will be set commensurate with the selectee’s qualifications and experience within the authorized pay band for Highly Qualified Experts. This announcement will close for submissions on March 25th, 2026 at 11:59 PM (ET).

Requirements

Nationally or internationally recognized authority in secure communications engineering, enterprise architecture, or national security systems design.
Mastery of satellite communications, cryptographic frameworks, tactical networks, secure mobility solutions, and resilient enterprise infrastructure.
Experience integrating complex legacy and emerging systems into unified, survivable architectures.
Demonstrated leadership in high-consequence, classified environments.
Experience supporting Continuity of Government (COG) or Continuity of Operations (COOP) systems.
Ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/SCI clearance.
Appointment under the Highly Qualified Expert (HQE) authority.
Ability to operate with significant autonomy as the principal technical authority.
Experience advising senior executive, military, or national security leadership.
Willingness to travel domestically and internationally in support of Presidential missions (estimated 25%).
U.S. Citizenship is required.
Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service https://www.sss.gov/Home/Registration
Must be determined suitable for federal employment.
Required to participate in the direct deposit program.
This position is subject to pre-employment and random drug testing.
This position requires a Top Secret/ Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) security clearance.

Responsibilities

Serve as the principal architect and technical visionary for secure communications supporting WHMO global operations.
Design and oversee end-to-end architectures spanning classified voice, data, mobile, terrestrial, and satellite systems.
Establish long-term modernization strategies to ensure technological superiority and enterprise resilience.
Evaluate and integrate emerging technologies, including next-generation SATCOM (LEO/MEO), secure 5G, edge computing, and AI-driven network optimization.
Develop unified architectural frameworks that integrate legacy systems with advanced capabilities into a seamless, secure enterprise.
Lead secure system design leveraging advanced encryption, hardened infrastructure, and secure protocol engineering.
Provide senior-level expertise on cryptographic modernization, National Security Systems (NSS), and quantum-resistant technologies.
Architect survivable communications systems incorporating anti-jam capabilities, EMP resilience, and alternate routing.
Develop and align architectures with Continuity of Government (COG) and Continuity of Operations (COOP) requirements to ensure uninterrupted Presidential communications in degraded or crisis environments.
Ensure mission-critical systems adhere to zero-trust cybersecurity principles and advanced cyber resilience standards.
Serve as strategic technical advisor to senior national security leadership on acquisition strategies, vendor proposals, and lifecycle management.
Coordinate with interagency partners to ensure compliance with national security directives and interoperability standards.
Chair governance bodies overseeing communications standards and validate architectural compliance across the enterprise.
Influence and guide major modernization initiatives involving senior government leaders and industry executives.