Business Analyst (Secure Enterprise IT Modernization)

Description Business Analyst (Secure Enterprise IT Modernization) Xcelerate Solutions seeks a Business Analyst (BA) to play a critical role in the modernization, development, enhancement, and maintenance of our secure enterprise IT platform. Operating under established performance work standards, the successful candidate will serve as the primary liaison between business stakeholders, mission owners, and the technical software development team. This position requires an analytical professional who can translate complex business needs and user requirements into clear, actionable technical specifications. The candidate will work closely within an Agile/Scrum environment, ensuring that the software solutions delivered align with strategic objectives, user expectations, and compliance frameworks. 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 program performance standards, the Business Analyst will perform the following duties: 1. Requirements Engineering & Backlog Management Collaborate with stakeholders to gather, analyze, and document business, functional, and technical requirements. Translate high-level business goals into detailed Epic descriptions, User Stories, and clear, measurable Acceptance Criteria using Agile tools (e.g., Jira, Azure DevOps). Facilitate backlog grooming, story mapping, and prioritization sessions with Product Owners and development teams. Ensure all requirements are fully mapped to system capabilities, technical constraints, and quality assurance test cases. 2. Stakeholder Engagement & Collaboration Act as a key interface and trusted advisor between non-technical stakeholders and the engineering team to clarify functional objectives. Conduct interviews, workshops, and focus groups to elicit requirements and understand business workflows. Prepare and deliver presentations, live system demonstrations, and walk-throughs of system capabilities to diverse audiences. 3. System Analysis & Process Modeling Analyze existing business processes ("as-is") and design optimized, modernized workflows ("to-be"). Create system diagrams, process flows, data models, and use-case scenarios to guide development and architectural decisions. Identify gaps, risks, and bottleneck areas in existing workflows and propose technical or operational solutions. 4. Software Quality Assurance & Compliance Support User Acceptance Testing (UAT) by drafting test scenarios, coordinating testing sessions with end-users, and validating that delivered features meet defined acceptance criteria. Ensure that functional requirements respect accessibility benchmarks (Section 508 / WCAG compliance) and cybersecurity protocols. Maintain comprehensive system documentation, including user manuals, release notes, training materials, and standard operating procedures (SOPs). 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 in an enterprise software development environment. 3+ years of experience working within an Agile (Scrum/Kanban) framework. Technical & Analytical Skills: Proficient in Agile project management and collaboration tools, specifically Jira and Confluence (or Azure DevOps equivalents). Strong expertise in business process mapping, modeling, and diagramming tools (e.g., Microsoft Visio, Lucidchart, Miro). Basic familiarity with SQL to query databases for data analysis, validation, and reporting. Soft Skills: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with a proven ability to bridge the gap between technical developers and non-technical stakeholders. Strong negotiation, facilitation, and conflict-resolution skills. Preferred Qualifications Professional certifications in business analysis or agile frameworks (e.g., Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP), PMI-PBA, Certified Scrum Master (CSM), or Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO)). Experience working on federal IT projects, defense systems, or large-scale legacy modernization initiatives. Familiarity with user experience (UX) principles, wireframing tools (e.g., Figma, Balsamiq), and Section 508 accessibility standards. Experience utilizing reporting or business intelligence tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau). Certifications To support compliance and operational standards within our secure environment, candidates must meet the following baseline requirements: 1. Cybersecurity Baseline Certification (Preferred) An active DoD 8570.01-M / DoD 8140 baseline certification (or higher) is highly preferred to facilitate direct system and network access. Acceptable certifications include: CompTIA Security+ CE Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP) Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) 2. Professional Certifications (Preferred but not required) Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP) or PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA) Certified Scrum Master (CSM) or Professional Scrum Master (PSM I) 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.