
Lead System Architect
Leidos
full-time
Posted on:
Location Type: Office
Location: Gaithersburg • Maryland • Minnesota • United States
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Salary
💰 $131,300 - $237,350 per year
Job Level
Tech Stack
About the role
- Define and maintain the system architecture baseline (hardware, software, topology, interfaces, data, security)
- Approve and adjudicate architectural changes
- Ensure the implemented solution satisfies all contract technical requirements
- Safeguard architectural integrity even through cost and schedule pressures
- Conceptually formulate integrated system solutions that meet operational needs and user requirements
- Define hardware and software design criteria
- Identify appropriate COTS, reuse, and modernization components
- Perform trade studies evaluating performance, cost, schedule, risk, reliability, and security
- Define interface and interconnect specifications, including integration with NAS systems both locally and thru SWIM
- Ensure system-of-systems integration across FAA environments
- Support verification and test planning for requirements and interfaces
- Participate in major lifecycle reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, etc.)
- Plan and execute analyses and modeling to assess performance, availability, reliability, and operational suitability
- Identify architectural risks, tradeoffs, and mitigation strategies
- Identify required subject matter expertise, tools, and techniques to meet technical objectives
- Act as the technical conscience of the program, ensuring solution quality is not compromised
- Develop and maintain a forward-looking technology roadmap aligned with FAA strategic objectives
- Evaluate emerging technologies and define transition strategies for modernization
- Conceptually shape future system enhancements and capability expansions
- Support technical solution development for follow-on efforts, contract modifications, and growth opportunities
- Collaborate with business development and capture teams to ensure architectural continuity between current program execution and future solutions
- Define and execute a strategic roadmap for AI-enabled engineering transformation within the program
- Lead responsible integration of Generative AI into systems engineering and software development activities
- Implement AI-assisted capabilities for: Requirements analysis and traceability, Model-based systems engineering (MBSE) artifacts, Code generation and review, Automated test development, Compliance and documentation automation
- Establish governance and guardrails to ensure AI adoption aligns with FAA policies, federal AI directives, and Zero Trust principles
- Ensure innovation enhances quality, compliance, and mission effectiveness in a regulated environment
- Work closely with FAA stakeholders, engineers, managers, and users to ensure risks, issues, and solutions are clearly communicated
- Partner with the Program Manager and Chief Engineer to align technical execution with customer vision
- Serve as the senior technical interface for architectural matters
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree with 10+ years of relevant experience
- 8+ Years of Specialized experience – includes: supervision of system architects, use of structured analysis, design methodologies and design tools, and other design techniques, object-oriented principles, and experience with the logical and physical functional, operation, and technical architecture of large and complex information systems
- Direct TFDM experience strongly preferred
- Demonstrated experience serving as senior technical authority on a complex, operational program
- Experience formulating and governing large-scale system architectures
- Experience with NAS system integrations
- Experience with Model-Based Systems Engineering (Rhapsody or Cameo preferred)
- Experience designing and evaluating: Distributed architectures, Containerized environments (Docker, Kubernetes), High-availability systems
Benefits
- competitive compensation
- Health and Wellness programs
- Income Protection
- Paid Leave
- Retirement
Applicant Tracking System Keywords
Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.
Hard Skills & Tools
system architecturehardware designsoftware designCOTS componentstrade studiesinterface specificationssystem-of-systems integrationrequirements analysisModel-Based Systems Engineeringhigh-availability systems
Soft Skills
leadershipcommunicationcollaborationstrategic planningrisk managementproblem-solvinginnovationtechnical authoritystakeholder engagementquality assurance