Principal Architect, Technical Solutions, DZMG

Day & Zimmermann; United States; On-site; USD 107,000 - 161,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

Paid maternity leave

Flexible spending accounts

Job summary

Day & Zimmermann is seeking a Principal Architect, Technical Solutions to provide senior technical leadership for business development in munitions and related technologies. You will translate complex customer needs into executable architectures, shape competitive approaches, and guide cross-functional teams from capture through execution handoff.

You will engage with customers, universities, suppliers, and partners to advance differentiating solutions while balancing cost, risk, and schedule.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, computer science, physical sciences, or related technical field; equivalent combination may be considered.
• 10+ years of progressive engineering, systems architecture, technical solution development, or related technical experience; include 5+ years in defense/munitions business development.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of principal-level technical solution architectures and implementation strategies translating customer mission needs into differentiated DZMG offerings.
• Provide technical leadership for capture, proposals, demonstrations, and customer-facing technical content ensuring compliance and competitiveness.
• Engage customer technical organizations, laboratories, and partners to understand priorities, requirements, and potential solution pathways.
• Develop and maintain relationships with commercial tech companies, suppliers, universities, and industry partners for capabilities and teaming opportunities.
• Evaluate feasibility, cost drivers, and execution handoff requirements coordinating with engineering, operations, and proposal teams.

Skills

Systems architecture

Technical leadership

Proposal development

Customer engagement

Stakeholder management

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering

Job description

About Day And Zimmermann

At our Day & Zimmermann Munitions Plants, we know the stakes and We do what we say! ® We’re the team working behind the scenes to make sure our nation’s front lines have safe, high-quality ammunition. As a trusted premier manufacturer of ammunition to the U.S. Military, some of our capabilities range from production of direct and indirect fire, components, to special projects and beyond. With more than 120 years of experience behind us, it’s no surprise that our teams consistently exceed expectations! Come join in on our purpose – We put people to work, we protect American freedoms, and we help our customers power and improve the world! https://dayzim.com

About Day And Zimmermann

At our Day & Zimmermann Munitions Plants, we know the stakes and We do what we say! ® We’re the team working behind the scenes to make sure our nation’s front lines have safe, high-quality ammunition. As a trusted premier manufacturer of ammunition to the U.S. Military, some of our capabilities range from production of direct and indirect fire, components, to special projects and beyond. With more than 120 years of experience behind us, it’s no surprise that our teams consistently exceed expectations! Come join in on our purpose – We put people to work, we protect American freedoms, and we help our customers power and improve the world! https://dayzim.com

Job Summary

The Principal Architect, Technical Solutions provides senior individual-contributor technical leadership for DZMG business development efforts by translating customer mission needs into executable munitions solution concepts and architectures. The job shapes competitive technical approaches across early market engagement, capture, proposal, demonstrations, and execution handoff for direct and indirect fire munitions, warheads, demilitarization, precision products, area denial systems, fuzing, Counter-UAS/UAS, loitering munitions, electronics, payloads, and related components. The job influences customers, partners, suppliers, universities, and internal engineering and execution teams to advance differentiated solutions and reduce technical, cost, and transition risk.

Principal Responsibilities

• Lead development of principal-level technical solution architectures, concepts of operation, approaches, and implementation strategies that translate customer mission needs into executable and differentiated DZMG offerings across munitions and related technologies.
• Provide technical leadership for capture, white papers, Sources Sought, RFIs, proposals, presentations, demonstrations, and other customer-facing technical content. Ensure technical approaches are clear, competitive, compliant with customer requirements, and aligned with execution capabilities.
• Engage customer technical organizations, laboratories, engineering communities, operational users, and other stakeholders to understand mission priorities, emerging requirements, operational constraints, and potential solution pathways.
• Develop and maintain relationships with commercial technology companies, suppliers, universities, industry partners, and trade associations to identify emerging capabilities, teaming opportunities, and technologies that can strengthen DZMG pursuits.
• Evaluate technical feasibility, cost drivers, schedule considerations, integration risks, and execution handoff requirements for proposed solutions. Coordinate with engineering, operations, program, and proposal teams to support realistic solution development and successful transition after award.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Advanced ability to translate complex customer mission needs and technical requirements into integrated solution architectures, concepts of operation, implementation approaches, and differentiated customer-facing value propositions.
• Expert knowledge of engineering, systems architecture, and technical solution development methods sufficient to evaluate feasibility, integration complexity, cost drivers, technical risk, and execution handoff needs for complex munitions-related solutions.
• Working knowledge of government or defense business development, capture, proposal, and customer engagement processes sufficient to shape compliant and competitive technical responses.
• Advanced technical communication capability sufficient to develop persuasive white papers, RFIs/Sources Sought responses, proposal content, presentations, diagrams, and demonstrations for technical and non-technical audiences.
• Ability to build credibility with customer technical communities, operational users, commercial technology providers, suppliers, universities, and industry partners to identify requirements, emerging technologies, and teaming opportunities.
• Ability to lead multidisciplinary solution efforts through influence, align internal and external stakeholders, and integrate engineering, operations, program, supplier, and partner inputs without direct supervisory authority.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Arts/Sciences (BA/BS); Bachelor’s degree in engineering, computer science, physical sciences, or a related technical discipline; equivalent combination of education and related technical experience may be considered
• 10+ years of progressive engineering, systems architecture, technical solution development, or related technical experience, including at least 5 years supporting complex government, defense, or munitions business development pursuits such as capture, white papers, RFIs/Sources Sought, competitive proposals, demonstrations, or customer-facing technical solution development.

Essential Functions

• Visual acuity (e.g., needed to prepare and analyze data, to transcribe documents, to view a computer, to read, to inspect objects, to operate machinery
• Manual Dexterity (e.g., picking, pinching, typing, or other working that uses the fingers)
• Lifting motion or lifting objects more than 0 pounds
• Walking
• Hearing
• Repetitive motions of any part of the body
• Talking
• Capacity to think, concentrate and focus over long periods of time
• Ability to write complex documents in the [English] language
• Ability to read complex documents in [English] language
• Capacity to express thoughts orally (e.g., accurately, quick and loudly convey spoken instructions to workers)
• Capacity to reason and make sound decisions
• Ability to regularly perform all job functions at company's office or work site
• Other

Travel

• Ability to travel up to 30% to customer, partner, supplier, industry, and company locations as business needs require.

Compensation And Benefits

Candidates may be required to satisfy additional job-related requirements, including those established and controlled by third parties, as part of the selection process.

In compliance with this state’s pay transparency laws, the wage range for this role is $107,200 - $160,800. This is not a guarantee of compensation or salary, as final offer amount may vary based on factors including but not limited to experience and geographic location. (The specific programs and options available to an employee may vary depending on date of hire, schedule type, and the applicability of collective bargaining agreements).

We care about our employees and it shows. Our staff receive a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package which includes medical/Rx, dental and vision coverage; life, AD&D and disability insurance; flexible spending accounts; 100% paid maternity leave for up to 12 weeks, parental leave, family leave, other paid time off; voluntary benefits and discount programs to meet our employees’ individual needs including pet insurance for our furry family members!

Diversity, Inclusion & Equal Employment Opportunity

Day & Zimmermann is committed to maintaining an inclusive workforce, where employees are hired, retained, compensated and promoted based on their contributions to our Company. Our collective strength is rooted in over a century of diverse employees and businesses, commitment to success, and delivery on promises made. Federal and state Equal Employment Opportunity laws prohibit employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, citizenship status, veteran status and disability status. Day & Zimmermann is committed to providing an equal opportunity work environment in full compliance with these laws. If you are an individual with a disability and you require an accommodation in the application process, please email [e-mail], and please specify which position you are interested in, including job title and location.