Chief Architect
$198,936–$273,537 year
On-siteCentennial, Colorado, United States or Louisville, Colorado, United States
Job Summary
Provide architectural leadership and strategic technical vision to major programs, defining overall system architecture and technical standards that govern execution. Establish architectural frameworks and design principles, making high-level decisions on system structure, technology selection, and integration approaches. Develop and maintain long-term technology roadmaps, identifying emerging technologies and innovative solutions that position programs for future success. Work at the beginning of the program lifecycle to ensure designs work, conducting architectural trade studies, evaluating technical feasibility, and validating proposed designs against mission objectives. Serve as an advisor across all programs, solving challenging design problems that span multiple initiatives. Drive architectural innovation and standardization, establishing reusable design patterns and common technical approaches. Take an active role in program milestone meetings and early-phase proposals, partnering with leadership to shape technical strategies and define architectural baselines. Translate technical vision into coherent architectures, making final decisions on design direction and ensuring alignment with organizational objectives.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in a related field (or equivalent work experience in lieu of degree or Masters +14 yrs experience)
- 16+ years of related experience
- Active Top Secret with SCI eligibility U.S. Security Clearance
- U.S. Citizenship status
- Deep systems architecture expertise with demonstrated ability to define and lead technical architecture across complex programs
- Demonstrated experience leading architectural design for significant projects, making high-level design decisions, and establishing technical standards across multiple disciplines
- Demonstrated use of first principles and architectural thinking to evaluate design alternatives and define optimal system architectures for program success
- Experience acting as a technical architect and strategic advisor, providing expert guidance on system design, technology selection, and architectural feasibility for complex engineering programs
- Ability to hold others accountable to values
Desired Qualifications
- Master's or Ph.D. in engineering, aerospace, computer science, or a related discipline
- Extensive experience in the aerospace industry or a closely related field
- Proven track record of successful architectural definition and technical vision leadership
- Demonstrated ability to drive innovation within architectural practices, staying current with emerging technologies, and defining cutting-edge system architectures to enhance mission performance and enable new capabilities
- Exceptional leadership abilities with a proven capacity to influence, inspire, and drive change within technical teams and across the organization
- Ability to mentor and develop junior architects and engineers
- Solid experience in architectural governance, including planning, definition, and oversight of large-scale system architectures
- Ability to establish standards, frameworks, and technology roadmaps effectively
- Strong strategic planning skills, with the ability to develop and implement long-term architectural strategies and technology roadmaps that align with organizational objectives
- Proven ability to work effectively with executive-level management, providing clear and concise architectural insights and recommendations
- Experience presenting complex technical vision and design rationale to non-technical stakeholders
- Experience managing relationships with external stakeholders, including customers, suppliers, and technology partners
- Ability to represent the company in architectural discussions and strategic technology planning
- Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively across different functions within the organization, including engineering, operations, and business development, to achieve common architectural and strategic goals
- A strong commitment to continuous innovation, with a proactive approach to identifying and implementing architectural patterns and best practices that advance the state of the art
- A history of technical publications, patents, or industry presentations that demonstrate thought leadership and contributions to the field of system architecture and advanced aerospace design
- Relevant professional certifications, such as Professional Engineer (PE) licensure, enterprise architecture certifications (e.g., TOGAF), or certifications in specific architectural domains relevant to the role
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