Senior Systems Engineer

Job Title: Senior Systems EngineerJob Category: Information TechnologyTime Type: Full timeMinimum Clearance Required to Start: NoneEmployee Type: RegularPercentage of Travel Required: Up to 10%Type of Travel: Local* * *The Opportunity:FEMA's technology modernization decisions will shape emergency management capabilities for the next decade—determining which systems are positioned to leverage cloud, AI, and modern architecture patterns, and which require fundamental transformation. As a Senior System Engineer on our FEMA ITSA program, you will provide expert-level technical leadership across the entire portfolio assessment, translating complex architectural realities into actionable modernization strategies that balance risk, cost, mission impact, and technical feasibility.You'll conduct deep-dive architectural reviews spanning application design, hosting patterns, data architecture, integration maturity, API readiness, and cybersecurity posture. Your analysis will cut through complexity to identify the optimal modernization pathway for each system—whether retain, rehost, replatform, reengineer, replace, consolidate, or retire—with clear, evidence-based rationale that connects technical decisions to mission outcomes and financial implications. This role places you at the strategic center of FEMA's technology future, where your architectural expertise will directly inform enterprise investment decisions, cloud migration priorities, integration strategy, and portfolio rationalization. You'll build defensible modernization roadmaps that executives can confidently act upon, knowing the recommendations are grounded in rigorous technical analysis and aligned to federal compliance frameworks.Responsibilities:Application & System Architecture Assessment:Analyze application and system architectures including platform dependencies, middleware components, configuration management practices, and deployment patternsEvaluate monolithic vs. microservices architectures and assess decomposition opportunitiesReview development frameworks, technology stacks, programming languages, and technical debt accumulationAssess containerization readiness, cloud-native architecture potential, and modernization feasibilityDocument architectural constraints, tightly coupled dependencies, and technical barriers to modernizationIdentify legacy technology risks including unsupported platforms, vendor lock-in, and obsolescence challengesData Architecture & Analytics Readiness:Assess data architecture including conceptual, logical, and physical data modelsReview data dictionaries, metadata management practices, and data governance maturityEvaluate data lineage, data flows, and upstream/downstream data dependenciesAnalyze data accessibility, quality, completeness, and fitness for analytics and AI/ML applicationsIdentify data consolidation opportunities, master data management needs, and data standardization gapsAssess data residency requirements, privacy controls, and sensitive data handling practicesCybersecurity Posture & Compliance Assessment:Contribute to comprehensive cybersecurity posture reviews including Authority to Operate (ATO) status and RMF package currencyAssess NIST SP 800-53 security control implementation across control familiesEvaluate Identity and Access Management (IAM) architecture, Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) enforcement, and privileged access managementReview logging, monitoring, and Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) integration maturityIdentify legacy technology security risks including unsupported operating systems, unpatched vulnerabilities, and compensating controlsAssess alignment with DHS cybersecurity policies, zero-trust principles, and continuous diagnostics and mitigation (CDM)AI/Automation Readiness & Emerging Technology Evaluation:Evaluate AI and automation readiness including data quality, volume, and structure suitable for machine learningAssess data governance frameworks necessary to support responsible AI adoptionAnalyze technical feasibility of AI/automation use cases aligned to mission value propositionsIdentify risks, oversight requirements, and ethical considerations for AI implementationRecommend opportunities to leverage Robotic Process Automation (RPA), intelligent document processing, or predictive analyticsModernization Pathway Analysis & Strategy Development:Develop detailed modernization options across the full spectrum: retain, rehost (lift-and-shift), replatform, reengineer (refactor), replace, consolidate, or retireQuantify modernization complexity including technical effort, duration, team size, and skill requirementsOutline cost implications including migration costs, licensing changes, hosting model shifts, and total cost of ownership (TCO) analysisDocument transition risks, technical dependencies, sequencing constraints, and rollback strategiesIdentify opportunities for phased migration, strangler pattern adoption, or incremental modernization approachesTrace evidence through findings to recommendations, ensuring defensible, auditable decision rationaleQualifications:Required:Bachelor's degree and 15+ years of enterprise systems engineering and solution architecture experience across hybrid cloud and on-premises environmentsProven expertise in integration architecture, API design and governance, data architecture, and security engineeringDemonstrated ability assessing complex federal IT portfolios and developing modernization strategiesDeep hands-on experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or hybrid multi-cloud) including cloud migration patterns and cloud-native architectureStrong analytical skills with the ability to evaluate technical trade-offs, quantify complexity, and assess cost implicationsAbility to write clear, compelling engineering narratives for both executive and technical audiencesExperience translating architectural findings into actionable recommendations with defensible rationaleAbility to obtain DHS Entry on Duty (EOD) clearanceCompliance & Framework Expertise:Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA) and federal security frameworksOMB Circulars: A-130 (Information Security/Privacy), A-11 (Budget/Capital Planning), A-123 (Management Accountability & Internal Controls)NIST SP 800-53 (Security and Privacy Controls), NIST SP 800-37 (Risk Management Framework)Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) and DHS 4300A Sensitive Systems PolicyPrivacy Act, E-Government Act, and Federal Records Act requirementsSection 508 Accessibility Standards and accessible technology design principlesFedRAMP authorization processes and cloud security requirements (as applicable)DHS MD 11042.1 (For Official Use Only/Controlled Unclassified Information handling)Desired:Direct experience with DHS enterprise architecture frameworks, reference architectures, and technical standardsFedRAMP authorization experience including security assessment, continuous monitoring, and RMF package developmentPrior experience modernizing legacy, highly coupled, monolithic systems within federal government portfoliosHands-on experience with digital transformation initiatives including cloud migration, application modernization, and data platform consolidationTOGAF, Zachman, or federal enterprise architecture framework certificationCloud architecture certifications (AWS Solutions Architect Professional, Azure Solutions Architect Expert, or equivalent)Experience with DevSecOps practices, CI/CD pipelines, and infrastructure as codeFamiliarity with FEMA mission systems, emergency management operations, or disaster response technologyBackground in agile architecture, evolutionary design, and incremental modernization approachesKnowledge of emerging technologies including AI/ML platforms, containerization (Docker/Kubernetes), and serverless architectures-What You Can Expect:A culture of integrity.At CACI, we place character and innovation at the center of everything we do. As a valued team member, you’ll be part of a high-performing group dedicated to our customer’s missions and driven by a higher purpose – to ensure the safety of our nation.An environment of trust.CACI values the unique contributions that every employee brings to our company and our customers - every day. You’ll have the autonomy to take the time you need through a unique flexible time off benefit and have access to robust learning resources to make your ambitions a reality.A focus on continuous growth.Together, we will advance our nation's most critical missions, build on our lengthy track record of business success, and find opportunities to break new ground — in your career and in our legacy.Pay Range: There are a host of factors that can influence final salary including, but not limited to, geographic location, Federal Government contract labor categories and contract wage rates, relevant prior work experience, specific skills and competencies, education, and certifications. Our employees value the flexibility at CACI that allows them to balance quality work and their personal lives. We offer competitive compensation, benefits and learning and development opportunities. Our broad and competitive mix of benefits options is designed to support and protect employees and their families. At CACI, you will receive comprehensive benefits such as; healthcare, wellness, financial, retirement, family support, continuing education, and time off benefits.Since this position can be worked in more than one location, the range shown is the national average for the position.The proposed salary range for this position is: $114,600-$252,100CACI is anEqualOpportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any otherprotectedcharacteristic.Department:Systems Architecture - IT