CNO HPC Cloud Infrastructure Architect

Columbia, MD

Cloud Infrastructure Architect

An active TS//SCI clearance with polygraph is required for this role

👋🏼 Hey!

Bitwise is a leading provider of mission-focused intelligence solutions that advance national security for the Intelligence Community and Department of Defense. We're a small and growing company, so you can expect to hop in on the ground floor with us and be a consequential member of the team. You'll be more than a contract performer for us — you'll also be asked for ideas to improve our company and improve your career, and you'll contribute to our team culture. We value growth and community above almost all else, so we gather regularly for game nights, happy hours, tech talks, and plenty more. We think you'll like it here!

Remember, Bitwise is not a cult. 🖖🏼

🎯 What We Look For

Bitwise hires talented engineers who are driven by purpose and who value a culture of technical excellence, growth, and overall wellness. We deliver new and innovative intelligence solutions to our customers at the very forefront of our country's national security missions. And we do it every single day. Our work matters, and so will you.

We ask that every new hire be able to:

Contribute meaningful thought leadership — if not right away, over time
Interact with our customers and earn their confidence in your abilities
Be detailed, even if that means taking a little more time to get it right
Contribute their ideas and ideals to improve all aspects of our company
Allow us to invest in their education so we both grow together
Know and live our core values every single day

💡 About this Role

This is not a passive architecture role — it's a mission to build the best software development environment in the agency. As a Cloud Infrastructure Architect, you'll be the go-to person for designing and building next-generation High Performance Computing (HPC) clusters using the latest technology. You'll own the technical roadmap, shape the infrastructure strategy, and make real decisions that directly impact how CNO developers do their work every single day.

You'll develop reusable patterns and "easy button" templates that make it simple for teams to adopt LLM solutions where they make sense — starting with high-ROI pilots and building toward scalable, org-friendly frameworks. At the same time, you'll preserve the flexibility for teams to manage their own on-premise infrastructure when the mission demands it.

You'll architect end-to-end solutions for complex CNE services, creating integration patterns between legacy systems and modern HPC infrastructure. Security doesn't take a back seat here — you'll ensure solutions maintain strong security controls while meaningfully improving performance and scalability.

You'll conduct thorough technical assessments of existing infrastructure, working closely with stakeholders to unpack aging platforms, document dependencies, evaluate utility, and build prioritization frameworks grounded in EOL timelines, mission impact, cost efficiency, and user pain points. When it's time to modernize, you'll lead incremental migrations — not "lift and shift" shortcuts — and redesign developer workflows and tooling that reflect how great software development environments should actually feel.

You'll understand where the technology is going, including CI/CD pipelines and what the next generation of CNO development looks like. Most importantly, you'll be accountable for the design, loadout, and long-term vision of a system that should attract — and keep — the best talent in the building.

This role is based in Jessup, MD.

📋 Requirements

8 years of relevant experience, or a B.S. in a technical discipline with 4 additional years in lieu of degree
5+ years of deep systems engineering and cloud architecture experience, with a proven track record of building, breaking, and rebuilding complex enterprise infrastructure
Demonstrated hands-on expertise in system design, configuration, and usability in production environments, including direct experience with HPC
Prior experience leading infrastructure modernization and technical transformation efforts, specifically through incremental migration approaches
Strong background in stakeholder management and corporate services, with the ability to build ROI models and translate technical decisions for executives, security teams, and mission developers
Familiarity with agency-specific cloud compliance requirements, particularly processes surrounding Authority to Operate (ATO) and ongoing operations

🌟 Preferred Skills

CNO development experience — understanding what developers actually need makes you a more effective infrastructure architect, and we'd love it if you've been in their shoes
Enclave experience — you understand the constraints of restricted environments, the processes that come with them, and how security controls shape architecture decisions in meaningful ways
Cost optimization expertise — you've right-sized cloud resources, built FinOps practices, or made defensible recommendations about when cloud implementations actually save money versus when managed service costs spiral out of control

🏝️ Benefits at Bitwise

Top salaries because we're top performers
Pick your PTO — Everyone values time and money differently, so we give you the flexibility to choose between 3 and 5 weeks of PTO with a corresponding adjustment to your pay. Your choice, your balance.
All 11 federal holidays, paid!
Up to 2 snow days, paid!
We'll quadruple (4x!) the first 6% you contribute to your 401(k), giving you up to a 24% company match. Contributing less than 6%? Unclaimed matches come right back to you as extra income, giving you a guaranteed 24% that goes to your retirement, to your paycheck, or both. C'mon now! 🚀
100% employer-paid medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurances. That's a lot. Already covered on health insurance? No problem — we'll trade you this benefit for a boost to your salary instead.
$5,250 annual education assistance for training, certifications, tuition, and even student loan repayments.
Spot bonuses for obtained certifications, customer recognition, and just about anything else that makes us go "Hot damn!". We hope to say that many times about you. 🔥

💰 Salary Range

$219,000 – $257,500

This range includes our flex income and depends upon your annual work hours.

Salary is determined on an individual basis following the interview process and considering various factors such as years of experience, skills, education, and certifications.

🛎️ What to Expect After Applying

You'll get an email from us right away to acknowledge your application. After that, we'll:

Send over additional company materials for you to review
Schedule a video call to talk about you, our company, and your place in it
Craft a delightful offer package for you and record a video walkthrough
Work closely with you through onboarding. We'll keep it joyful and easy.

ℹ️ Disclaimers

Bitwise is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected status. All employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business needs.

Compensation for this position, including all compensation options, will be determined on an individual basis following the interview process.

If you require accommodations at any stage of the application or interview process, please reach out to us.