Principal System Architect Jobs in Annapolis Junction, MD
Principal System Architect jobs in Annapolis Junction concentrate heavily in the defense, intelligence, and cybersecurity sectors, with demand anchored around the NSA corridor, the business parks along Canine Road, and the Patuxent Research Refuge area. Employers posting openings right now include Evlos Technology, Carson Solutions, and Columbia Technology Partners. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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Active Top Secret (TS/SCI) clearance with polygraph is required.
Visionist has an exciting new, fully FUNDED opportunity for a System Administrator on our largest PRIME contract. Our team of Analysts and Engineers is motivated by the direct impact on the mission, crafting specialized tools for enhanced efficiency and quick iterations for our operations user base. Seeing your tools in real-time action brings immediate gratification. This premier program encompasses traditional software services including Systems Design and Engineering, Database Administration, Data Science and Knowledge Management, Enterprise Risk Management, Integration and Test, as well as Operations and Systems Support. The program is characterized by innovation and excitement, fostering meaningful engagements, and offering distinctive collaboration opportunities with users, policy makers, and mission leadership, all while maintaining a service mindset. If you thrive in a collaborative work environment and enjoy utilizing a diverse tech stack, then this opportunity is tailor-made for you!
For over 15 years, Visionist has been solving the Intelligence Community's toughest software and analysis challenges. As a 100% employee-owned company, we prioritize our people—your job security is assured. We embed small engineering teams with analysts to rapidly identify and solve mission capability gaps playing a critical role in defending our nation’s cyber infrastructure & providing expertise in malware analysis, attribution, mapping adversarial infrastructure, pen testing, and operational planning. Our open-door leadership team fosters a supportive culture, where internal growth and promotion opportunities are the norm. Don’t just take our word for it—check out our 4.8-star review on Glassdoor. Join a company that feels like a family with regular happy hours, baseball games, activity clubs and more. Check us out at www.visionistinc.com.
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- Install, configure, and maintain high-performance compute hardware, including NVIDIA accelerator platforms
- Uninstall and relocate existing equipment while maintaining configuration integrity and inventory accuracy
- Document installation procedures, configurations, and best practices to support repeatable deployments
- Build strong partnerships with onsite System Administrators to streamline troubleshooting and support mission priorities
- Identify opportunities to improve support processes and reduce downtime
- Collaborate with engineering teams to optimize system performance and user workflows
- Maintain clear technical documentation, diagrams, and standard operating procedures
- Support virtualization efforts and future cloud and AI infrastructure initiatives
- Bachelor's degree in a technical discipline
- 9 years of experience in software development
- Strong Linux systems administration experience in operational environments
- Experience installing and maintaining GPU-accelerated or high-performance compute systems, particularly NVIDIA enterprise hardware
- Demonstrated ability to create clear and thorough technical documentation
- Experience supporting data center or warehouse environments
- Familiarity with virtualization technologies and hypervisors
- Ability to troubleshoot hardware and software issues across networked systems
- Strong communication skills and experience working directly with mission users
- Proven ability to work independently while collaborating with distributed support teams
- We are a 100% employee-owned company, so our employees see the benefit of their contributions and have a stake in our overall success!
- Competitive 15% retirement contribution! (5% 401K match & 10% ESOP)
- 4 weeks paid time off that is never “use or lose”, 12 paid holidays, comp time, overtime, AND flexible work hours
- 80 hours of paid parental leave with an additional $8,000 supplemental payment upon returning from maternity
- Medical, dental, & vision benefits for both individuals and families (those who waive medical benefits will receive an additional $4,160/year)
- Annual lifestyle bonus of $600 – use it towards gyms/fitness, new tech, or your HSA!
- Annual merit increases & performance-based bonuses
- Term life insurance, short-term disability, & long-term disability
Salary range: $130,000 - $220,000
Disclaimer: Salary for this position, along with additional compensation options, will be determined on an individual basis following the interview process, considering various factors such as years of experience, skills, education/certifications, contract specifications, market conditions, etc.
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Not a good fit? Check out our other opportunities: https://jobs.jobvite.com/visionist
Next steps: Apply online and one of our recruiters will reach out to you. We have a streamlined process of phone screen with a recruiter, interview with a Visionist team at our HQ in Columbia, MD, and that is all!
Interested in learning more about Visionist and the work we do? Check out our website! https://www.visionistinc.com/what-we-do
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U.S citizenship required (green card holders and permanent residents are not eligible). Applicants selected will be required to obtain / maintain a government security clearance.
Visionist, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity / Protected Veterans / Individuals with Disabilities employer.
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Find JobsPrincipal System Architect Job Market in Annapolis Junction
Who's Hiring
- Evlos Technology17
- Carson Solutions11

- Columbia Technology Partners10

- Independent Software6

- Intelligenesis5

Top Industries Hiring
- Consulting & Professional Services
- Technology & Software
- Electronics & Hardware
Principal System Architect Jobs in Annapolis Junction: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a principal system architect job in Annapolis Junction?
Annapolis Junction hiring is dominated by defense contractors and intelligence community support firms clustered along the NSA campus corridor. Active security clearances, ideally TS/SCI with polygraph, are the single biggest differentiator in this market. Experience with large-scale systems integration, mission-critical networks, or classified program architecture sets candidates apart. Targeting mid-size contractors and systems integrators with established NSA-area footprints gives you the best concentration of open roles.
Which companies hire principal system architects in Annapolis Junction?
Annapolis Junction principal system architect roles are posted by Evlos Technology, Carson Solutions, and Columbia Technology Partners and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. The local employer base skews heavily toward defense primes, cleared IT services firms, and specialized systems integration shops supporting government customers in the immediate NSA area.
Are there remote principal system architects jobs in Annapolis Junction?
Yes, though only partially: principal system architect work involves classified systems and secure facility requirements that limit full remote arrangements in Annapolis Junction's defense-heavy market. About 28% of principal system architect openings tied to Annapolis Junction are remote or hybrid as of July 2026, typically covering the architecture planning and documentation phases. On-site presence at cleared facilities near the NSA campus is usually required for integration, testing, and program reviews.
How can I get a principal system architect job in Annapolis Junction with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is landing a systems engineer or senior network engineer role with a cleared defense contractor in the Annapolis Junction area and building toward architecture responsibilities over two to three years. Smaller contractors and subcontractors along the Canine Road corridor often hire engineers with active clearances and grow them into principal roles. Pursuing a TS/SCI clearance early and gaining hands-on integration experience on government programs is the credential that opens local doors fastest.
Which industries hire the most principal system architects in Annapolis Junction?
Annapolis Junction principal system architect roles concentrate in Consulting & Professional Services, Technology & Software, and Electronics & Hardware, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. The NSA campus and surrounding intelligence community facilities make Annapolis Junction one of the densest concentrations of cleared technology work in the country, which drives sustained demand for senior architecture talent across those sectors year-round.
See All 129+ Principal System Architect Jobs in Annapolis Junction
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