Solutions Architect

Description

AIC is seeking a skilled and motivated Solutions Architect to support an enterprise IT environment. This position focuses on designing, developing, implementing, and optimizing innovative solutions to address complex business and mission challenges. The Solutions Architect will oversee the overall architecture, integration, and strategy of IT systems, ensuring high performance, scalability, and security for all delivered solutions.

The successful candidate will collaborate with cross-functional teams, including stakeholders, project managers, technical specialists, and leadership, to create and deliver effective technical roadmaps. This role requires a deep understanding of enterprise IT environments, modern technologies, on-prem and cloud platforms, and best practices in solution design.

All work must be performed on-site in Springfield, VA .

Key Responsibilities

• Solution Design and Architecture: Design and develop enterprise solutions by defining architecture, system integration strategies, workflows, and technical roadmaps.
• Technical Leadership: Act as a subject matter expert (SME) in IT solution architecture, guiding technical teams to ensure alignment with organizational goals and technical standards.
• System Integration: Develop strategies to integrate existing on-premises systems with cloud platforms, third-party tools, and mission-critical applications.
• Containerization and Virtualization Strategy: Architect solutions leveraging Kubernetes and other virtualization technologies to meet enterprise scalability and security requirements.
• Process Optimization: Analyze existing systems for improvements, recommend innovative solutions, and implement scalable designs across infrastructure and applications.
• Security Compliance: Ensure solutions comply with organizational security policies, including compliance with RMF (Risk Management Framework) and federal IT security frameworks.
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Work closely with internal teams and external stakeholders to gather requirements, develop tailored solutions, and ensure the delivery of high-impact results.
• Documentation and Standards: Develop and maintain comprehensive architectural documentation, including system flows, integration designs, and technical guidelines.
• Automation and DevOps: Incorporate DevOps practices into solution design, automating deployment pipelines and optimizing operational processes for efficiency.
• Quality Assurance: Conduct performance testing, vulnerability analysis, and system validation to ensure delivered solutions meet performance, cost, and scalability goals.

Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree

Certifications (CWF Requirements):

• Candidates must satisfy Cybersecurity Workforce Framework (CWF) ID 651 (Enterprise Architect – Intermediate Level) or ID 621 (Software/Cloud Architect – Intermediate Level) requirements, as outlined by Navy COOL. This requirement can be met by possessing one or more of the following qualifying certifications:
• Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP)
• Certified Secure Software Lifecycle Professional (CSSLP)
• CompTIA Cloud+
• CompTIA SecurityX (formerly CASP+)
• Federal IT Security Professional-Designer-NG (FITSP-D)
• GIAC Defensible Security Architecture (GDSA)
• GIAC Security Essentials Certification (GSEC)

OR

• Bachelor’s Degree in Cybersecurity, Computer Science, IT, or a related field.

Experience:

• 5-9 years of professional experience managing and supporting enterprise-level IT environments.

Technical Skills:

• Deep expertise in enterprise architecture principles, cloud platforms (Azure, AWS, or GCP), and virtualization technologies.
• Experience in designing and implementing REST APIs, microservices architecture, and modern integration patterns.
• Knowledge of DevOps tools and methodologies, such as CI/CD pipelines, Kubernetes, Docker, Terraform, and Ansible.
• Strong understanding of networking fundamentals, including firewalls, VPN, load balancers, and network security.
• Proficiency in scripting or programming languages such as Python, PowerShell, or JavaScript.
• Familiarity with compliance frameworks like RMF, NIST, and ISO 27001, with experience tailoring solutions to meet federal security mandates.

Clearance Requirement:

• Active TS/SCI clearance with the ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI with Poly.

Work Environment and Notes:

• On-Site Work: All work must be conducted on-site in Springfield, VA.
• Program Scope: Supports on-premises enterprise IT environments, including virtualized Windows servers, MS SQL Server databases, and networking layers.
• Subcontractor Role: Responsibilities and compensation vary based on the subcontract agreement, with a competitive salary aligned to market rates and role-specific requirements.