Senior Solutions Architect

Senior Solutions ArchitectThe Air Education and Training Command (AETC) recruits, trains, and educates Airmen to deliver 21st-century airpower. To support this mission, AETC operates AWAKEN—an enterprise-managed, accredited wireless and network service spanning training facilities, flight lines, classrooms, auditoriums, dorms, and administrative areas across the United States.As a Senior Solutions Architect, you will serve as the technical lead for a major Air Force network modernization program. You will shape the evolution of the AWAKEN Enterprise architecture, delivering secure, scalable, high-performance solutions that directly enhance the training mission of the U.S. Air Force.This role contributes to a nationwide effort to modernize connectivity, deploy next-generation capabilities, and ensure reliable, mission-critical network performance for those who serve.Your ImpactIn this role, you will:Lead enterprise architecture design and technical improvements for the AWAKEN network.Guide the modernization of AETC's commercial network infrastructure, including 5G integration, terrestrial connectivity, network resilience, and optimized performance.Serve as the technical authority for solution design, feasibility, implementation, and long-term architectural direction.Work closely with government stakeholders to align technology solutions with mission needs, security requirements, and emerging operational demands.Support end-to-end testing, troubleshooting, and engineering validation to ensure reliable connectivity for mission systems and users.ResponsibilitiesProvide technical leadership for a large-scale Air Force network modernization and operations program.Evaluate emerging technologies and recommend mission-aligned solutions.Architect end-to-end enterprise solutions that support cloud-native, software-defined, and zero-trust frameworks.Guide implementation teams to ensure accurate and effective technical execution.Lead complex troubleshooting efforts to resolve enterprise connectivity and performance challenges.Develop technical options, cost-benefit analyses, and future-state architectural roadmaps.Collaborate with business analysts, engineers, testers, and program leadership to align priorities and deliver mission value.Engage with government partners as a trusted technical advisor, communicating effectively across varying technical backgrounds.Maintain regular coordination with the Program Manager, providing updates, recommendations, and technical insight.Support Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), lab testing, and pre-deployment validation activities.Apply critical thinking and professional judgment to address issues impacting performance, security, and mission delivery.Location: CONUS (with periodic travel as required)Clearance: Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret clearance Customer: Air Education and Training Command (AETC), United States Air ForceRequired QualificationsBachelor's degree in Computer Science, Network Engineering, or a related technical discipline.20+ years of experience in enterprise IT architecture, systems engineering, or network modernization.4+ years leading technical teams or efforts on large programs.2+ years of hands-on experience in solution architecture.Expertise in scalable, cloud-integrated, and modern network designs.Experience with Agile and Lean methodologies.Strong critical-thinking, analytical, and problem-solving skills.Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to brief senior business and government stakeholders.Technical skills: Experience Architecting large scale software systems, Modular Open Systems Approaches, Full stack software development experience, experience writing DoW proposals/whitepapers, Agile DevSecOps with automated CI/CD, Some Experience with AI Assisted DevSecOps, Cloud Architecture, and Infrastructure as CodeParticipate in PMRs and CCBs; maintain enterprise baseline and CM Plan; provide artifacts (topologies, inventories, rack elevations, ports/protocols) and read-only visibility to Government tools/portalsSecurity clearance level: Must have Secret clearance to start and ability to obtain and maintain a Top SecretUS citizenship requiredStrong Communications skills both written and verbal, Leadership skills, management, Software architecture across microservices, event-driven systems, and modular monoliths. Mission-focused mindset with strong operational empathy. Ability to communicate complex architectures to technical and non-technical audiences. Comfortable operating with ambiguity and high-consequence environmentsDesired QualificationsExperience with network engineering, 5G technologies, and enterprise Wi-Fi architectures.Familiarity with Air Force or DoW network environments and operational constraints.DoWM 8140.03-aligned cyber workforce qualification or willingness to obtainPreferred requirements: experience working on federal proposals; some understanding of Model Based Systems Engineering would be idealExperience with SAFe practices, Jira/Confluence, and ServiceNow in DoW environments.