Senior Systems Engineer/Architect

Diaconia; Springfield (VA); On-site; USD 145,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

Diaconia is seeking an experienced Senior Systems Engineer/Architect to support modernization initiatives by delivering technical systems engineering, architecture, and integration expertise. You will analyze requirements, evaluate solutions, and develop engineering products enabling modernization across mission systems.

Under SME leadership, you will support analyses, roadmaps, technology assessments, transition planning, and collaborate with government stakeholders and multidisciplinary teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, computer science, information systems, systems engineering, cybersecurity, or related technical discipline.
• 10+ years of systems engineering, solution architecture, systems integration, or related IT modernization roles.
• Experience analyzing complex technical requirements and developing engineering/architecture products.
• Experience evaluating interoperability and impacts across enterprise systems.
• Experience supporting AoA, trade studies, and technical assessments.
• Experience collaborating with technical, mission, and stakeholder teams on modernization efforts.
• Strong analytical, written, verbal, and presentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Analyze mission, operational, business, and technical requirements to support enterprise modernization initiatives.
• Develop and maintain systems engineering and architecture documentation, including requirements, interface analyses, and technical recommendations.
• Evaluate solution alternatives and support AoA, trade studies, and technology assessments.
• Assess system interoperability, interface dependencies, and integration impacts across enterprise environments.
• Support modernization planning, transition strategies, and implementation roadmaps.
• Conduct technical risk assessments and provide mitigation recommendations.
• Assist with open architecture initiatives, API strategies, and data exchange solutions.
• Coordinate with government stakeholders and multidisciplinary teams to ensure alignment.

Skills

System engineering

Architecture

Requirements analysis

Analytical thinking

Written communication

Verbal communication

Presentation skills

Cross-team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field

Tools

ServiceNow

Job description

Full-time

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Systems Engineer / Architect (Senior) to support modernization initiatives by providing technical systems engineering, architecture, and integration expertise. This role focuses on analyzing mission and technical requirements, evaluating solution alternatives, supporting system integration, and developing engineering and architecture products that enable modernization across client mission systems.

Working under the direction of the Lead Systems Engineer/Architect SME or TSE Architect SME, the successful candidate will support technical analysis, requirements refinement, interface planning, modernization roadmaps, technology assessments, and transition planning while collaborating with Government stakeholders and multidisciplinary technical teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Analyze mission, operational, business, and technical requirements to support enterprise modernization initiatives.
• Develop and maintain systems engineering and architecture documentation, including requirements, interface analyses, impact assessments, and technical recommendations.
• Evaluate solution alternatives and support Analysis of Alternatives (AoA), trade studies, and technology assessments.
• Assess system interoperability, interface dependencies, and integration impacts across enterprise environments.
• Support modernization planning, transition strategies, and implementation roadmaps.
• Conduct technical risk assessments and provide recommendations to mitigate implementation risks.
• Support open architecture initiatives, API strategies, and enterprise data exchange solutions.
• Assist with technology pilots, proof-of-concepts, and modernization demonstrations.
• Coordinate with mission, engineering, cybersecurity, infrastructure, application, and operations teams to ensure technical alignment.
• Support system lifecycle planning, architecture governance activities, and technical design reviews.
• Prepare technical briefings, reports, recommendations, and engineering documentation for Government stakeholders.
• Support architecture alignment activities and modernization deliverables throughout the system lifecycle.

Disclaimer "The responsibilities and duties outlined in this job description are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this role. However, they are not exhaustive and may be subject to change or modification at any time to meet the evolving needs of the organization."

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Information Systems, Systems Engineering, Cybersecurity, or a related technical discipline.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in systems engineering, solution architecture, systems integration, application architecture, infrastructure architecture, or related IT modernization roles.
• Demonstrated experience analyzing complex technical requirements and developing engineering or architecture products.
• Experience evaluating interoperability, integration impacts, and technical dependencies across enterprise systems.
• Experience supporting Analysis of Alternatives (AoA), trade studies, and technical assessments.
• Experience collaborating with technical, mission, and stakeholder teams on enterprise modernization efforts.
• Strong analytical, written, verbal, and presentation skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting DHS, TSA, or other Federal Government IT modernization programs.
• Experience supporting Transportation Security Environment (TSE) modernization initiatives.
• Experience with:
  • Open architecture principles
  • API and interface standards
  • Enterprise data exchange strategies
  • ServiceNow
  • Architecture repositories
  • System lifecycle planning
  • SELC design reviews
  • Architecture governance
• Familiarity with:
  • AI and automation pilot initiatives
  • Technical debt reduction strategies
  • Cybersecurity architecture
  • Mission system modernization

Preferred Certifications

One or more of the following certifications is preferred:

• INCOSE Certification
• TOGAF
• FEAF or DoDAF Training
• CompTIA Security+
• ITIL Foundation
• Cloud Certification (AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud)
• Agile/Scrum Certification
• Relevant vendor or platform certifications

$145,000-$165,000 annual salary