Solutions Architect

Job description

*Please note that this role requires an active DoD Secret Clearance

Position Summary

The Solution Architect supporting the Navy Domain plays a key role in advancing the modernization of afloat and ashore networks for the U.S. Navy. This individual is responsible for designing and documenting integrated hardware/software solutions, guiding prototype development, and translating mission needs into scalable, secure, and resilient systems that operate in tactical and enterprise environments.

With experience in data center infrastructure, software deployment pipelines, and defense IT environments, the ideal candidate will provide systems engineering rigor to ensure our solutions can transition from prototype to program of record at scale. This role requires strong technical writing, stakeholder engagement, and architectural foresight across complex Navy systems-of-systems.

Key Responsibilities

Systems Architecture & Integration

• Design and document integrated system architectures that combine data center hardware, virtualization layers, and modern containerized software.
• Lead cross-functional collaboration between hardware vendors, software developers, delivery engineers, and cybersecurity teams.
• Ensure architectures meet mission resilience needs, operate in disconnected or degraded environments, and comply with cybersecurity standards.

Prototype-to-Production Transition

• Translate technical prototypes into scalable, sustainable configurations suitable for formal acquisition and fleet deployment.
• Document system baselines, configuration details, and deployment patterns for sustainment and repeatability across operational units.
• Identify gaps or risks in prototype architectures that could impede transition to scale or achieve ATO approval.

Systems Engineering & Requirements

• Develop, document,  and manage system requirements, interface definitions, and performance constraints across interconnected hardware and software systems.
• Conduct or support technical reviews, interface control working groups, and configuration management processes with Navy stakeholders.

Technical Documentation & Writing

• Create detailed technical documentation including:

  • System Design Documents (SDD)
  • Interface Control Documents (ICD)
  • Concept of Operations (CONOPS)
  • Architecture Decision Records (ADRs)
  • Technical Design Documentation (TDD)
  • Installation Procedures
  • Test Plans and Results
  • Cybersecurity documentation (e.g., RMF artifacts, SSP inputs)

• Ensure documentation is structured to support Navy acquisition reviews, technical evaluation, and operational deployment.

Stakeholder Engagement & Alignment

• Act as the technical face of delivery to Navy customers and mission partners—translating engineering decisions and trade-offs clearly and confidently.
• Support test events, onboard installations, and technical exchanges with system integrators, field engineers, and program offices.

Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field.
• 7+ years of experience in systems engineering or solution architecture, ideally within the Department of Defense or defense industrial base.
• Demonstrated experience with data center compute/storage/networking, virtualization (VMware or KVM), and Kubernetes-based software deployments.
• Experience modernizing legacy applications or deploying legacy applications onto modern infrastructure.
• Strong technical writing skills with experience producing formal documentation for government or acquisition programs.
• Understanding of DoD cybersecurity frameworks (e.g., RMF, STIGs) and familiarity with the ATO process.
• Experience integrating systems in contested, classified, or degraded operational environments.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Active Secret clearance required; TS/SCI or eligibility preferred.

Success in This Role Looks Like

• Prototype solutions are technically sound, thoroughly documented, and ready for scaling into Navy acquisition channels.
• Systems integrate seamlessly across ashore, afloat, and cloud environments with clear operational guidance and supportability.
• Technical documentation accelerates approval processes and builds stakeholder confidence in solution readiness.
• Engineering and delivery teams are aligned around a clear, scalable system architecture that meets mission needs.

Salary range: contigent on interview performance and relevant experience. $148,750 - $201,250

Who We Are

Defense Unicorns delivers mission value by streamlining software delivery so our customers can focus on the most important challenges. We share a vision of freedom and security for the advancement of progress and innovation. Our commitment to this vision, and to our mission-driven customers, means a commitment to speed, user experience and optionality, without compromising security. Our team is composed of innovators, software engineers, and veterans with decades of experience delivering technology programs across the federal market.

What We Do

We create and deliver secure solutions for continuous software integration and delivery. Defense Unicorns consolidates the best practices for security pipelines, testing, and deployment automation in order to meet the high security requirements valued by mission owners. Our solutions are agnostic by design and we believe that growing a robust ecosystem of secure, cloud-native software solutions can help enterprise customers inside and outside the federal market buy and integrate software more easily.

Who We Serve

Defense Unicorns’ customers are mission-focused leaders across public and private enterprises. We proudly support defense and civil agencies across the U.S. government and we work closely with the creators of leading-edge software solutions to deliver value to the mission-owner by improving the security and consumability of commercial software products.

What We Work On

• Kubernetes
• Cloud Environments (AWS/GCP and Azure)
• Infrastructure-as-code (like Terraform/Pulumi)
• Continuous Delivery and automation tooling
• GitOps
• Containers
• CNCF projects and open source products and packages
• Helm/Kustomize-Value Stream Mapping
• Building and improving security delivery
• Building Kubernetes and cloud native applications

Benefits Our Unicorns Enjoy

Health:

• Medical/Dental/Vision
• Premiums are 100% Company Paid
• Health Reimbursement Account
• Life Insurance
• Disability Insurance

Financial:

• 401k Retirement Plan
• Company Stock Options
• Home Office Budget

Leave:

• Unlimited paid time off, with a mandatory 10 days off on top of 11 federal government holidays, week of Thanksgiving, last two weeks of December (including New Year’s Day)
• Paid Parental Leave

Learning:

• Reimbursement for approved trainings/subscriptions
• Conferences (travel, lodging, and fees)

Don’t have all the preferred experience or qualifications? Studies show that underrepresented groups like women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs if they don’t meet every requirement listed.

At Defense Unicorns, we’re committed to diversity. If you’re enthusiastic about the role but don’t match every criteria, we encourage you to apply. You could be the perfect fit for this or another role! Defense Unicorns is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, veteran status, genetic information, union status and/or beliefs, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

CCPA DISCLOSURE