Title: Solution Architect, Federal Presales Location: Herndon, VA Job Description: GuidePoint Security provides trusted cybersecurity expertise, solutions and services that help organizations make better decisions and minimize risk. By taking a three-tiered, holistic approach for evaluating security posture and ecosystems, GuidePoint enables some of the nation’s top organizations, such as Fortune 500 companies and U.S. government agencies, to identify threats, optimize resources and integrate best-fit solutions that mitigate risk. About GuidePoint Security GuidePoint Security is a leading cybersecurity solutions and services firm enabling federal government organizations to make smarter security decisions that minimize risk. With more than 800 vetted technology vendor partnerships and deep practitioner expertise across every major cybersecurity domain, GuidePoint serves more than half of the U.S. Government’s cabinet-level agencies across Civilian, DoD, and Intelligence Community segments, as well as Federal System Integrators and major defense prime contractors. We are growing our Federal presales engineering team and looking for technically exceptional engineers who thrive at the intersection of federal mission and cybersecurity technology. About the role The Solution Architect, Federal Presales is a senior technical individual contributor responsible for driving cybersecurity solution development, presales engineering support, and pipeline growth across GuidePoint Security’s federal government accounts. This role is exclusively focused on the federal government market — working with federal agencies, DoD components, Intelligence Community programs, and large Federal System Integrators (FSIs) such as Booz Allen Hamilton, Leidos, SAIC, Northrop Grumman, GDIT, CACI, and Peraton. This is a hybrid technical-engineering and business development role. You will own the technical quality of presales engagements, develop compelling solution architectures and proposal content, build independent federal customer relationships that generate pipeline, and create the BOMs, SOWs, and technical proposal volumes that convert federal opportunities into wins. This role sits within GuidePoint Security’s Federal Government Solutions division and is a high-visibility individual contributor position with significant growth potential into senior architect or practice leadership roles. What you'll be doing Federal Solution Design & Technical Presales - Collaborate with GuidePoint Security professional services, OEM sales engineers, and federal sales teams to develop cybersecurity strategies and solutions for federal government agencies and Federal System Integrator teaming partners. - Engage directly with federal agency customers, GuidePoint delivery teams, and OEM partners to understand agency technology stacks, mission requirements, and integration needs — translating those requirements into technically compelling solution recommendations. - Develop tailored cybersecurity solution architectures for federal opportunities across network security, cloud security, identity and access management, endpoint security, SIEM/SOAR, zero trust, data security, OT/ICS, and GRC domains. - Manage complex proof-of-value (POV) projects and design solution experiments that demonstrate GuidePoint Security’s ability to integrate multiple technologies and solve mission-critical federal cybersecurity problems. - Develop federal-specific reference architectures, technical briefings, and capability presentations that differentiate GuidePoint Security in the federal market. SOW Development & Federal Proposal Support - Develop Statements of Work (SOWs) for GuidePoint federal professional services engagements, ensuring scope, deliverables, labor categories, and assumptions align with customer requirements and GuidePoint’s delivery capabilities. - Provide technical analysis of federal RFx documents (RFPs/RFIs) to assess feasibility, confirm compliance, and lead development of technical proposal responses that address government evaluation criteria and differentiate GuidePoint Security. - Develop detailed Bills of Materials (BOMs) for technology-intensive federal proposals, working with OEM federal channel teams to obtain current GSA MAS, CIO-SP3/CIO-SP4, and NASA SEWP pricing. - Participate in proposal color team reviews (Pink, Red, Gold) as the primary technical subject matter reviewer, ensuring proposed solutions are accurate, achievable, and fully responsive to solicitation requirements. Federal Pipeline Development & Account Growth - Build and maintain an independent network of technical relationships with federal agency stakeholders — including security architects, ISSOs, system owners, program managers, and IT directors — that generates early pipeline visibility for the federal sales team. - Engage early in the federal opportunity lifecycle to shape government requirements in ways that favor GuidePoint Security’s technical approach, vendor partnerships, and delivery capabilities. - Support Account Executives in strategic federal account planning, identifying adjacent opportunities within existing agency accounts based on current knowledge of the customer’s technology environment and security program roadmap. - Provide technical opportunity qualification input to Account Executives, assessing technical risk and recommending go/no-go positions on pursuits where GuidePoint Security cannot credibly compete on technical merit. OEM & Federal Vendor Partner Engagement - Maintain active working relationships with OEM federal sales engineering and channel teams across GuidePoint Security’s key federal technology partners, including CrowdStrike, Palo Alto Networks, Splunk, Tenable, SentinelOne, Zscaler, and others in the federal portfolio. - Engage vendor solution engineers as technical supplements to GuidePoint Security’s federal presales approach, maintaining GuidePoint’s trusted advisor position with federal customers rather than ceding it to vendor SEs. - Stay current on federal vendor roadmaps, new platform capabilities, FedRAMP authorization status, and DoD ATO track records to ensure all federal solution recommendations are accurate and compliance-aligned. YOU'LL BE A GREAT FIT IF - You have experience as a presales engineer, technical consultant, or solution architect in a federal government-focused role — and you understand how to navigate both the technical requirements and the federal acquisition process. - You can work closely with federal sales teams, channel partners, and OEM engineers to align technically precise solutions with federal agency mission needs and strategic business goals, including participation in strategic account planning. - You have excellent communication skills with the ability to conduct high-level technical discussions and engage confidently with federal agency technical staff, program managers, contracting officers, and senior IT leadership. - You demonstrate strong technical aptitude, quickly grasp new cybersecurity technologies and federal compliance frameworks, and apply them fluently in federal customer conversations. - You bring deep knowledge of the federal cybersecurity market — including the regulatory landscape, agency buying patterns, and FSI teaming dynamics — or a strong cybersecurity practitioner background and genuine enthusiasm for the federal mission environment. - You can quickly build rapport with federal customers and OEM partners and are energized by collaborative teaming with federal sales, delivery engineers, Technical Directors, and GuidePoint’s national practice leads. - You have a genuine passion for federal cybersecurity — you stay current on the threat landscape, emerging technologies, and evolving federal mandates because you care about the mission, not just the job. Requirements - Must reside in the DC metro area and be available for in-person meetings at GuidePoint Security’s Herndon, VA headquarters and federal customer sites with reasonable notice. - Active Secret clearance required at time of hire, or demonstrated ability to obtain a Secret clearance. TS/SCI a significant plus. - Demonstrated SOC operations experience — ability to implement, operate, or architect a SIEM, SOAR, or security data analytics solution. This is a hard requirement. - 5+ years of experience in a federal presales, solution architecture, systems engineering, or technical consulting role focused on the federal government market. - Working knowledge of federal acquisition processes, contract vehicles (GSA MAS, CIO-SP3/CIO-SP4, NASA SEWP), and the federal RFP/RFI response process. - Broad cybersecurity technical knowledge across at least three domains including network security, cloud security, identity and access management, endpoint security, SIEM/SOAR, or zero trust architecture. Preferred Qualifications - Experience working directly with Federal System Integrator teaming partners (Booz Allen, Leidos, SAIC, GDIT, CACI, etc.) as a subcontractor or teaming partner. - Experience with cloud security solutions such as CNAPP, SSPM, and DSPM in federal cloud environments (AWS GovCloud, Azure Government, DoD JWCC). - Hands-on implementation or presales experience with CrowdStrike, Palo Alto Networks, F5, or Splunk in a federal customer context. - Familiarity with federal cybersecurity mandates including EO 14028, OMB M-22-09 (Zero Trust), FedRAMP, NIST SP 800-53, DoD RMF, CMMC 2.0, and CDM program requirements. - CISSP, Security+, or relevant vendor certifications (PCNSE, CCFA, Splunk Core Certified, CrowdStrike CCFA/CCFR) preferred. “Applicants selected will be subject to a security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information.” We use Greenhouse Software as our applicant tracking system and Zoom Scheduler for HR screen request scheduling. At times, your email may block our communication with you. Please be sure to check your SPAM folder so that you don't miss updates on your application. Why GuidePoint? GuidePoint Security is a rapidly growing, profitable, privately-held value added reseller that focuses exclusively on Information Security. Since its inception in 2011, GuidePoint has grown to over 1,200 employees, established strategic partnerships with leading security vendors, and serves as a trusted advisor to more than 6,200 customers. Firmly-defined core values drive all aspects of the business, which have been paramount to the company’s success and establishment of an enjoyable workplace atmosphere. At GuidePoint, your colleagues are knowledgeable, skilled, and experienced and will seek to collaborate and provide mentorship and guidance at every opportunity. This is a unique and rare opportunity to grow your career along with one of the fastest growing companies in the nation. Some added perks…. - Remote workforce primarily (U.S. based only, some travel may be required for certain positions, working on-site may be required for Federal positions) - Group Medical Insurance options: Zero Deductible PPO Plan (GuidePoint pays 90% of the premium for employees and 70% for family plans (spouse/children/family) or High Deductible Health Plan with HSA (GuidePoint pays 100% of the employees premiums and 75% for family plans (spouse/children/family). If you choose the High Deductible / HSA plan, GPS will contribute in 4 equal quarterly installments: ($850 per EE annually / $1750 per family annually (includes spouse/children/family options) - Group Dental Insurance: GuidePoint pays 100% of the premium for employees and 75% of family plans - 12 corporate holidays and a Flexible Time Off (FTO) program - Healthy mobile phone and home internet allowance - Eligibility for retirement plan after 2 months at open enrollment - Pet Benefit Option