Chief Architect

Lever, Inc.; Boston, Dayton (MA, OH); Hybrid; USD 157,000 - 197,000; Full time

Job summary

Aether Aerospace is seeking a Chief Architect to provide technical leadership across complex Air Force programs. You will define the architectural vision, guide system-of-systems architectures, and align engineering teams across government, contractor, and mission partners.

The role emphasizes model-based systems engineering, DevSecOps, secure software factories, cloud platforms, and digital engineering tools, with TS/SCI clearance and a 15+ year background in aerospace or defense systems.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a technical discipline and 15+ years of relevant experience
• Active TS/SCI clearance required
• Experience leading architecture for large, multi-team defense programs
• Strong knowledge of systems engineering lifecycle and risk management
• Experience with software-intensive systems, cloud-native design, and secure software supply chains

Responsibilities

• Define and maintain technical vision and modernization roadmap for Air Force programs
• Translate mission needs into coherent system architectures and executable strategies
• Lead architecture across mission systems, cloud environments, cybersecurity, and digital engineering toolchains
• Apply disciplined systems engineering throughout lifecycle including requirements, verification, and deployment
• Govern architecture baselines, standards, and reusable design patterns
• Promote model-based systems engineering and authoritative data sources
• Guide adoption of digital engineering capabilities and DevSecOps practices
• Ensure alignment with Air Force enterprise services, cloud environments, and cybersecurity requirements
• Champion modular open system approaches and interoperability
• Identify gaps, risks, and develop practical transition plans

Skills

Systems engineering

Software architecture

Cloud platforms

DevSecOps

Model-based systems engineering

Cybersecurity

Architectural leadership

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in systems engineering/CS/engineering management

Tools

SysML

UML

MBSE tools

Job description

Start Date: Immediate

JHNA,CTSi, and EXPANSIA have come together to form a Defense Technology platform named Aether Aerospace focused on delivering high-impact technologies, technology-enabled services and advanced manufacturing solutions to the U.S. Department of Defense and related national security customers. Backed by Falfurrias Management Partners, the platform brings together deep domainexpertiseacross Army, Navy, and Air Force and Space Force programs, digital engineering, systems integration, and specialized manufacturing capabilities.

The combined organization operates as a multi-entity aerospace and defense technology and tech-enabled services and manufacturing enterprise positioned for scalable growth, operational excellence, and long-term value creation

OVERVIEW

Full-time/Permanent Employee

Location: Remote, preferred Boston, MA or Dayton, OH

As Chief Architect, you will provide technical leadership across complex U.S. Air Force programs, guiding the integration of systems engineering, software delivery, cloud platforms, and digital engineering capabilities. You will establish the architectural vision, principles, standards, and technical roadmaps needed to connect mission needs with executable program solutions. Working across Government, contractor, and mission-partner organizations, you will shape architectures that support capability development from concept and requirements through design, integration, test, deployment, sustainment, and modernization. You will promote disciplined systems engineering, model-based approaches, modular open systems, secure software factories, and reusable digital infrastructure while balancing mission effectiveness, affordability, schedule, cybersecurity, interoperability, and technical risk. You will serve as a senior technical authority, align diverse engineering teams, resolve cross-domain architectural issues, and communicate complex technical decisions to program leadership, customers, and stakeholders.

RESPONSIBILTIES

• Define and maintain the technical vision, reference architecture, architectural principles, and modernization roadmap for assigned Air Force programs
• Translate operational mission needs, capability objectives, and program priorities into coherent system-of-systems architectures and executable technical strategies
• Lead architecture development across mission systems, enterprise services, software applications, cloud environments, networks, cybersecurity, data, interfaces, and digital engineering toolchains
• Apply disciplined systems engineering throughout the lifecycle, including requirements development, functional analysis, architecture definition, interface management, integration, verification, validation, deployment, and sustainment
• Establish and govern technical baselines, architecture decision records, engineering standards, interface specifications, and reusable design patterns
• Promote model-based systems engineering and authoritative sources of truth that connect requirements, architecture, design, analysis, test evidence, and configuration data
• Guide the adoption and integration of digital engineering capabilities, including collaborative models, digital threads, digital twins, simulation environments, and automated engineering workflows
• Provide architectural leadership for secure software factories, DevSecOps pipelines, platform services, continuous integration, continuous delivery, automated testing, and continuous authorization practices
• Ensure software-factory and platform solutions align with Air Force enterprise services, approved cloud environments, cybersecurity requirements, and program-specific mission constraints
• Champion modular open systems approaches, well-defined interfaces, interoperability, portability, reuse, and avoidance of unnecessary vendor or platform lock-in
• Evaluate current-state systems and technical debt, identify gaps and constraints, and define practical transition plans toward target architectures
• Identify cross-program architectural dependencies, integration risks, and technical issues; establish mitigation strategies and drive resolution across organizational boundaries
• Review system designs, engineering artifacts, implementation plans, test strategies, and technical deliverables for consistency with approved architecture and program objectives

KEY QUALIFICATIONS

Clearance: Active TS/SCI

Education and Years of Experience: Bachelor’s Degree in systems engineering, software engineering, computer science, engineering management, or a related technical discipline and 15+ years of relevant experience

• Extensive experience supporting U.S. Air Force, Department of Defense, or other national-security programs involving complex mission systems
• Demonstrated success serving as a chief architect, lead architect, chief engineer, or senior technical authority for large, multi-team programs
• Deep knowledge of systems engineering principles and lifecycle processes, including requirements, architecture, interfaces, integration, verification, validation, configuration management, and technical risk management
• Experience developing and governing system, solution, platform, enterprise, or system-of-systems architectures
• Ability to connect mission and operational needs to technical architecture, program roadmaps, engineering priorities, and implementation decisions
• Experience with software-intensive systems, modern application architectures, APIs, microservices, event-driven integration, and cloud-native design patterns
• Strong understanding of software factories, DevSecOps, CI/CD, infrastructure as code, automated testing, artifact management, observability, and secure software supply chains
• Experience applying digital engineering or model-based systems engineering practices and integrating engineering tools into an authoritative digital environment
• Working knowledge of Department of Defense cybersecurity, risk management, authorization, Zero Trust, and secure cloud or classified-environment considerations
• Experience applying modular open systems approaches, interface standards, interoperability principles, and reuse strategies
• Proven ability to lead architectural trade studies, assess alternatives, resolve complex technical issues, and document defensible decisions

PREFERRED ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

• Advanced degree in systems engineering, software engineering, computer science, engineering management, or a related technical discipline
• Experience with Air Force acquisition programs, capability development, test and evaluation, operational transition, and sustainment
• Experience with DAF CloudWorks, Cloud One, Platform One, or comparable Department of Defense cloud and software-factory ecosystems
• Experience establishing or modernizing enterprise software factories, platform engineering capabilities, or digital engineering environments
• Familiarity with SysML, UML, DoDAF, UAF, MBSE platforms, requirements-management tools, modeling and simulation environments, or digital-thread integrations
• Knowledge of continuous ATO, automated compliance evidence, policy as code, software bills of materials, and secure supply-chain practices

$157,089 - $196,962 a year

There are a host of factors that can influence final salary including, but not limited to, Federal Government contract labor categories and contract wage rates, relevant prior work experience, specific skills and competencies, geographic location, education, and certifications. Our employees value the flexibility Aether Aerospace allows them to balance quality work and their personal lives. We offer competitive compensation, benefits and learning and development opportunities. Our unique mix of benefits options is designed to support and protect employees and their families. Employment benefits include health and wellness programs, income protection, paid leave and retirement and savings.

Aether Aerospace is an Equal Opportunity 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 other protected characteristic.