Senior Zero Trust Security Architect – Special Projects
Confirmed on the employer's own hiring board on Oct 21, 2026. First seen by Alion on Oct 1, 2026. eTelligent Group scores B on the Alion truth index.
Company Overview:
Over the past 15 years, eTel has delivered essential solutions for the federal government by securing and managing data, providing scalable identity access, modernizing legacy systems, and building high-performance platforms. By integrating new technologies and ensuring reliable operations we help agencies stay prepared for future challenges As a premier technology solutions and services company to the US federal government, eTel possesses longstanding relationships across the federal civilian marketplace. Other customers include the broader Treasury Department, Commerce Department, and State Department.
eTel offers integrated CMMI Level 3 processes, tools, and techniques with innovative, cost-efficient, and secure solutions to address complex challenges. eTel also holds ISO 9001:2015, ISO/IEC 27001:2013, and ISO/IEC 20000-1:2018 certifications, and offers dedicated subject matter experts (SMEs) and thought leaders that possess a deep understanding of customers’ environments and challenges.
Work Location and On-Site/Telework Requirements: Hybrid. You'll work remotely and on site at NIH facilities in Bethesda and Rockville, MD, for workshops, training sessions, and stakeholder meetings, as the work requires. Work is performed on Government-furnished equipment under NIH access requirements.
Citizenship: U.S. Citizenship required
Eligibility: Ability to obtain and maintain NIH suitability and a PIV credential. An existing Tier 2 (Moderate Risk Public Trust) or higher investigation, eligible for reciprocity, is preferred. No security clearance is required. English fluency, spoken and written.
Overview:
eTelligent Group, LLC supports the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in turning its Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) strategy into operating practice across its Institutes and Centers (ICs). This position supports Task 8, Special Projects: a dedicated team, separate from the core program staff, that develops and delivers NIH-wide ZTA training and supports Government-directed ZTA special projects. This architect is the technical lead for Government-directed ZTA special projects. You'll turn NIH's Zero Trust direction into practical architecture, analysis, and implementation support for specific initiatives.
Responsibilities:
- Technical analysis: Perform architecture and gap analysis against NIH reference patterns, the NIH ZTA Overlay, and the CISA Zero Trust Maturity Model. Develop options analyses with clear recommendations.
- Discrete initiatives: Support work such as IC-specific adoption of NIH reference architectures, pilots of AI-enabled ZTA use cases, and inherited-controls onboarding for systems added to the FISMA inventory.
- Implementation support: Develop implementation plans, design documents, and configuration guidance, and support testing and validation for assigned ZTA initiatives.
- Security documentation: Assess how proposed designs affect control inheritance, authorization, and continuous monitoring evidence.
- Briefings: Brief technical and leadership stakeholders, and contribute technical content to planning briefs, status reports, and closeout memos.
Required Qualifications:
- A bachelor's degree in cybersecurity, computer science, information systems, or a related field.
- At least 10 years of security architecture or engineering experience, including Zero Trust implementation in federal hybrid or cloud environments.
- Hands-on expertise in ICAM, micro-segmentation, cloud security, and policy enforcement.
- Working knowledge of the NIST RMF, SP 800-53 Rev. 5, and control inheritance.
- A CISSP or equivalent certification.
Preferred Qualifications:
- A CCSP, CCZT, or cloud security certification (AWS, Azure).
- Experience in HHS, NIH, or research or clinical computing environments.
- Experience securing AI/ML workloads or applying AI-enabled security analytics.
- Enterprise architecture frameworks (TOGAF, SABSA, FEAF).
Commitment to Diversity -
eTelligent Group provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, nations origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, status as a covered veteran, and any other characteristic provided in accordance with applicable, federal, state and local laws.