Data Scientist Cloud - SME
At a glance
Mid-level Data Science role at Leidos. Fort Meade · full-time · $154,050–$278,475 base.
dataroles summary, based on the employer's posting.
What you'll do
- Design cloud environments for defensive and offensive cyber missions, including the systems that host COIP and JCWA tools
- Automate cloud setup with Terraform, CloudFormation or Ansible so environments can be recreated and audited
- Apply identity controls and micro-segmentation to cloud systems as part of a Zero Trust approach
- Plan GPU computing and high-speed storage with the AI SME for data processing and model inference
- Guide cloud cost and capacity choices, and lead technical work toward ATO approval for new services and mission applications
What you bring
- At least twelve years in IT or engineering, including six years architecting cloud environments for DoD or the Intelligence Community
- Deep expertise in AWS GovCloud or Azure Government, plus expert-level Kubernetes, EKS or AKS knowledge
- Proficiency creating CI/CD pipelines with automated SAST and DAST security checks
- A bachelor’s or master’s degree in computer science, cloud computing or a related field, and IAT Level III certification
Who this fits
This mid-level listing describes a cloud architecture role supporting USCYBERCOM at Fort Meade. It suits an experienced cloud architect comfortable with security, compliance and mission infrastructure. The role is full-time.
From the employer
Role Overview
As the Cloud SME, you will be the primary architect for USCYBERCOM’s hybrid and multi-cloud environments (AWS GovCloud, Azure Government, and MilCloud). You will design the secure "terrain" that hosts both the Cyber Operations Integrated Planning (COIP) tools and the Joint Cyber Warfighting Architecture (JCWA). Your goal is to ensure high availability, rapid scalability, and ironclad security for global mission sets.
Key Responsibilities
Enterprise Architecture: Lead the design and implementation of large-scale cloud architectures that support both Defensive (DCO) and Offensive (OCO) mission enclaves.
Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Drive the transition to automated provisioning using Terraform, CloudFormation, or Ansible to ensure environments are repeatable, auditable, and disposable.
Cloud Security & Zero Trust: Implement Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) within cloud environments, ensuring strict identity-based access (ICAM) and micro-segmentation of mission data.
Cloud Native AI/ML Support: Partner with the AI SME to architect the specialized GPU-compute clusters and high-speed storage required for large-scale data processing and model inference.
Cost & Resource Optimization: Provide SME-level guidance on FinOps, optimizing cloud spend while ensuring the Command has the burst capacity needed during active cyber engagements.
RMF & ATO Acceleration: Lead the technical documentation and engineering efforts to achieve Authority to Operate (ATO) for new cloud services and custom-built mission applications.
Required Qualifications
Experience: 12+ years in IT/Engineering, with 6+ years of dedicated experience architecting DoD or Intelligence Community (IC) cloud environments.
Technical Proficiency:
Multi-Cloud Mastery: Deep expertise in AWS GovCloud and/or Azure Government.
Containerization: Expert-level knowledge of Kubernetes (K8s), EKS, or AKS for orchestrating microservices.
DevSecOps: Proficiency in building CI/CD pipelines that integrate automated security scanning (SAST/DAST).
Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Cloud Computing, or related field.
Compliance: IAT Level III (e.g., CISSP, CASP+, or CISM) per DoD 8570/8140.
Preferred Skills Section
Hybrid-Cloud & Connectivity SME: Expert knowledge in architecting and maintaining hybrid-cloud connectivity solutions (e.g., AWS Direct Connect, Azure ExpressRoute) to bridge on-premises DoD data centers with GovCloud environments while maintaining strict low-latency and high-security requirements.
Cloud R&D: Experience prototyping "Edge" cloud capabilities and tactical cloud nodes for forward-deployed Cyber Mission Teams (CMTs) operating in disconnected or bandwidth-constrained environments.
Operational Sustainment: Proven ability to lead the full lifecycle of complex cloud migrations, transitioning legacy mission tools from on-premise hardware to modern, scalable serverless or containerized architectures.
Cross-Domain Solutions (CDS): Technical familiarity with managing secure data transfers and service orchestration between different classification levels (NIPR/SIPR/JWICS).
Professional Certifications: High-level credentials such as AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional or Azure Solutions Architect Expert.
If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo — because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 — and moving faster than anyone else dares.
Original Posting:
July 31, 2026For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.
Pay Range:
Pay Range $154,050.00 - $278,475.00The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.
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