Business Analyst

Description Xcelerate Solutions seeks a Business Analyst to serve as a critical liaison between program stakeholders, product owners, and the technical development teams to modernize, enhance, and maintain secure enterprise web platforms. Operating within a structured, Agile software development environment, the successful candidate will analyze complex processes, gather and refine requirements, and translate them into clear, actionable technical specifications. The ideal candidate possesses a strong analytical background, excellent communication skills, and experience working on secure federal or enterprise programs. They will collaborate closely with developers, UI/UX designers, and quality assurance testers to ensure that technical solutions deliver high business value and meet established performance standards. Come join our award-winning organization and work with some of the most talented and brightest minds in the GovCon industry. Location: Remote Key Responsibilities In accordance with established performance standards for secure software development, the Business Analyst will perform the following duties: 1. Requirements Gathering & Analysis Facilitate requirements-gathering sessions, workshops, and interviews with stakeholders, subject matter experts (SMEs), and technical teams. Analyze "As-Is" business processes and design optimized "To-Be" operational workflows and systems integration paths. Translate high-level business goals into detailed functional and non-functional requirements, technical specifications, and system use cases. 2. Agile Lifecycle & Backlog Management Author comprehensive Agile user stories, complete with robust acceptance criteria (utilizing Given/When/Then or Gherkin formats where applicable). Collaborate with Product Owners to prioritize and refine the product backlog, ensuring technical teams have a steady, well-defined pipeline of work. Active participation in Agile/Scrum ceremonies, including Sprint Planning, Backlog Refinement, Daily Standups, and Sprint Reviews. 3. Documentation & Process Mapping Create and maintain comprehensive project documentation, including process flowcharts, data dictionaries, interface control documents, and system user guides. Map data flows and system-to-system integrations to assist developers in understanding backend dependencies. Track project progress, metrics, and requirements traceability using enterprise tools such as Jira, Confluence, or similar management platforms. 4. Quality Assurance & Compliance Support Collaborate with Quality Assurance (QA) teams to verify that developed software features meet defined business acceptance criteria. Support User Acceptance Testing (UAT) by designing test scenarios, coordinating with testers, and triaging identified defects. Ensure all documented requirements and system designs comply with security, privacy, and federal accessibility standards (e.g., Section 508 compliance). Required Qualifications Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Information Systems, Computer Science, or a related field (equivalent professional experience may be considered). Experience: Minimum of 5+ years of professional experience as a Business Analyst or Systems Analyst. 3+ years of experience working within an Agile/Scrum software development lifecycle. Technical Skills: Proficient in Agile project management tools (e.g., Jira, Confluence, Azure DevOps). Strong expertise in business process modeling notation (BPMN), workflow diagramming, and tools such as Microsoft Visio, Lucidchart, or Miro. Basic familiarity with software architecture concepts, databases, APIs, and modern technical stacks (e.g., Java, .NET, React, Angular). Soft Skills: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with a proven ability to bridge the gap between technical and non-technical audiences. Strong negotiation, facilitation, and conflict-resolution skills. Preferred Qualifications Professional certifications in business analysis (e.g., IIBA Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP), PMI-PBA). Certified Scrum Master (CSM) or Professional Scrum Product Owner (PSPO) credentials. Experience writing basic SQL queries to perform data analysis and verification. Prior experience supporting IT modernization, secure software development, or cloud migration projects in a federal government or defense contractor setting. Understanding of Section 508 accessibility guidelines and usability standards. Certifications To align with security and compliance standards for secure IT systems, candidates must possess or be willing to obtain: 1. Cybersecurity Baseline Certification (Preferred) Active DoD 8570.01-M / DoD 8140 Information Assurance Technical (IAT) Level I/II or Information Assurance Management (IAM) Level I/II baseline certification (or higher). Acceptable certifications include: CompTIA Security+ CE (highly preferred) Certified Authorization Professional (CAP / ISC2 CGRC) Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP) 2. Professional Certifications (Preferred but not required) IIBA Entry Certificate in Business Analysis (ECBA) or Certification of Capability in Business Analysis (CCBA) Agile Analysis Certification (IIBA-AAC) Security & Clearance Requirements Due to the secure nature of the enterprise environment and associated federal mandates: Work Status Allowable: U.S. citizenship Minimum Clearance to Start: Public Trust or Favorably Adjudicated Secret Clearance Compliance: Must strictly adhere to government cybersecurity policies, operations security (OPSEC) requirements, and system access regulations. About Xcelerate Solutions: Founded in 2009 and headquartered in McLean, VA, Xcelerate Solutions (www.xceleratesolutions.com) is one of America's fastest-growing companies. Xcelerate’s culture is defined by our diversified workforce of dynamic and versatile professionals, supported with growth and development opportunities that contribute to individual and company growth. This strong commitment to our employees has been recognized by our inclusion on the Washington Business Journal’s “50 Best Places to Work” list as well as being a “Great Place to Work” certified company with a 4.6 star, and a 99% CEO approval Glassdoor rating. Come find out why Xcelerate Solutions is one of the top DC Metro employers! Xcelerate Solutions is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, age, equal pay, disability, veteran status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, or expression of another protected characteristic. As part of this commitment to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals, Xcelerate Solutions provides reasonable accommodation if needed because of an applicant's or an employee's disability. Pay Transparency Notice: Xcelerate Solutions will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant.