Lead System Architect (Industrial IoT & Energy Systems)

Overview Lead System Architect (Industrial IoT & Energy Systems) at 1st Avenue Power. We are on a mission to deliver simple, fast-to-deploy, customer-centric and intelligent power systems leveraging solar to provide inexpensive and reliable clean energy globally, from data centers to energy-starved communities. You will be working with Dr. Tom Buttgenbach, a noted clean energy technology innovator and entrepreneur, and you will help build the next generation of advanced solar power system architecture and AI. 1st Avenue’s teams are addressing growing grid demands with intelligent distributed solar utilities that improve access to clean energy worldwide. The Role We are looking for an experienced Lead System Architect to define and own the end-to-end technical architecture of our platform. This role sits at the convergence of Operational Technology (OT) and Information Technology (IT). You will design a distributed system that spans from a constrained edge compute device inside a power cabinet to a serverless infrastructure on AWS. You will act as the technical captain, aligning Embedded/OT engineers, Edge Computing specialists, and Cloud/Data engineers, and you must be comfortable making high-stakes trade-offs regarding latency, reliability, security, and cost in a mission-critical industrial environment. Key Responsibilities End-to-End Architectural Strategy Define and own the overall system architecture blueprint, from physical device connectivity (Layer 1) to user interface dashboards (Layer 7). Make critical architectural trade-offs about edge (on-premise) versus cloud processing to ensure low-latency control loops and bandwidth efficiency. Define data models and communication standards between disparate systems (e.g., JSON schema translating a Modbus register into an AWS IoT Shadow state). Technical Leadership & OT/IT Convergence Act as the technical bridge between hardware-focused embedded teams and software-focused cloud teams, translating industrial constraints into software requirements. Mentor senior engineers across the stack and ensure consistency in design patterns and code quality. Evaluate and select key technologies, frameworks, and third-party vendors for edge runtimes and cloud services. Reliability, Resiliency, and Safety Considerations Architect the system for high availability and disaster recovery. The architecture must account for unreliable network conditions, ensuring local safety capabilities remain functional when disconnected from the cloud. Design robust buffering, store-and-forward mechanisms, and state reconciliation strategies to minimize data loss during outages. Industrial Security Leadership Define the security posture for the entire stack based on a Zero Trust model. Oversee device identity management (X.509 certificates), mutual TLS (mTLS) authentication, and secure OTA updates for edge infrastructure. 10+ years of software engineering experience, with at least 5+ years in a dedicated System Architect or Principal Engineer role managing complex, distributed systems. Deep AWS Expertise: Demonstrable experience designing hyperscale solutions using the AWS serverless stack (Lambda, DynamoDB, Kinesis, API Gateway). IIoT/Edge Experience: Strong understanding of industrial environments, with awareness that connectivity is not guaranteed and latency matters. Experience with AWS IoT Core and related services (Greengrass, Device Shadows, IoT Rules Engine). Solid understanding of networking fundamentals (TCP/IP, MQTT, WebSockets, firewalls, cellular connectivity). Experience designing data pipelines for both real-time telemetry and historical data lakes. Preferred Qualifications (The "Wow" Factor) Experience in Energy, Utilities, Manufacturing, or Automotive sectors. Familiarity with industrial protocols (Modbus, OPC UA, CANbus, DNP3) and understanding of their limitations. Experience with Digital Twin concepts and modeling physical assets in software. Advanced knowledge of cybersecurity standards for industrial control systems (IEC 62443). Attributes for Success Pragmatic over Dogmatic: Balance latest technologies with proven solutions where reliability is paramount. System Thinker: Understand how changes in embedded code affect cloud throughput and costs. Strong Communicator: Explain cloud concepts to engineers and hardware limitations to frontend developers. Benefits and Perks Competitive compensation package Remote flexibility with 5-15% travel to sites as needed Health insurance: 100% employee premiums for a Gold-level PPO; dental & vision coverage (50% of premiums) 401(k) with a 6% employer match Additional Information Minimum salary of $200,000 to maximum salary of $260,000 plus equity and benefits. The range provided is 1AP’s reasonable estimate of base compensation. Actual amount will be based on location, experience, training, skills, and abilities. Please consult with your Recruiter to determine a targeted range. Equal Employment Opportunity 1AI Energy and 1st Avenue Power are committed to Equal Employment Opportunity and do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, veteran or military status, marital status, disability, genetic information, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or other protected classes. Qualified applicants will be considered regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. Reasonable accommodations are available under ADA/FEHA/local laws. Please inform the company if you need assistance completing an application or participating in the process. Join our team and make a real difference in the world. Additional note: 1st Avenue is in the business of acquiring projects with final notice-to-proceed or financial close.

$200,000 - $260,000 USD