Software Architect, Lead

Booz Allen Hamilton; San Antonio (TX); On-site; USD 113,000 - 257,000; Full time

Job summary

Booz Allen Hamilton is seeking a Lead Software Architect to design and implement event-driven platforms and low-latency streaming systems for defense missions. You will drive end-to-end architecture from vision to production, collaborating with data scientists and full-stack engineers in an agile environment.

The role emphasizes scalable microservices, distributed messaging, observability, and security-by-design.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in software architecture, design, and code review in production systems.
• 2+ years of experience building real-time services with WebSockets-driven data pipelines.
• Experience with REST APIs, WebSockets, and C#; strong Agile, Git, JavaScript, and RESTful API skills.

Responsibilities

• Define and own streaming architecture (pub/sub, fanout, backpressure) for high availability.
• Configure and scale distributed messaging (Kafka, RabbitMQ, SNS/SQS); work with WebSockets, gRPC, API gateways.
• Establish data contracts and schema evolution (Avro, Protobuf, JSON Schema) with registry and compatibility policies.
• Design for observability (OpenTelemetry, distributed tracing, SLOs) and resiliency (idempotency, retries, circuit breakers).
• Lead cloud-native deployments on Docker and Kubernetes; guide AWS or Azure infrastructure choices.
• Set security-by-design standards (encryption, authN/authZ, secrets management) and mentor engineers.

Skills

Software architecture

Real-time services

REST APIs

WebSockets

C#

Agile

Git

JavaScript

CSS

Swagger/OpenAPI

AWS

Azure

Distributed systems

Docker

Kubernetes

Security by design

Travel

Secret clearance

Bachelor's degree

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Kafka

RabbitMQ

AWS SNS/SQS

WebSockets

gRPC

API gateways

Docker

Kubernetes

OpenTelemetry

Job description

Software Architect, Lead

Opportunity: Are you looking for an opportunity not just to develop software, but to architect event-driven platforms and low-latency streaming systems that have an immense impact in the defense industry? As a Solution Architect, you’ll lead end-to-end product design—from vision to production for real-time data ingestion, processing, and delivery. Using agile lifecycle development and Git-based workflows, you’ll partner with full-stack engineers and data scientists to operationalize data-intensive capabilities across mission systems.

What You’ll Do

Define and own streaming architecture, such as pub/sub, fanout, or backpressure, and event-driven microservices for high-availability and fault tolerance. Select, configure, and scale distributed messaging, such as Kafka, RabbitMQ, or AWS SNS/SQS, WebSockets/gRPC, and API gateways. Establish data contracts and schema evolution, such as Avro, Protobuf, or JSON Schema, with registry, serialization, and compatibility policies. Design for observability, such as OpenTelemetry, distributed tracing, and SLOs, and drive resiliency patterns, such as idempotency, retries, or circuit breakers. Lead cloud-native deployments on Docker and Kubernetes; guide infrastructure choices across AWS or Azure. Set security-by-design standards, such as encryption in transit/at rest, authN/authZ, or secrets management in partnership with DevSecOps. Mentor engineers, review designs and code, and champion SDLC best practices, automated testing, and documentation. Join us. The world can't wait.

You Have:

• 8+ years of experience in software architecture, design, and code review in production systems
• 2+ years of experience building real-time services, defined as WebSockets‑driven data pipelines that transmit and process raw data with no observable delay to human users, with Node.js, TypeScript and React for console and Operations UIs
• Experience with REST APIs, WebSockets, and C#
• Experience Agile Methodology, Git, JavaScript, CSS, Swagger, OpenAPI, Client and Server Side Development, RESTful APIs, AWS, and Azure
• Experience with relational, such as PostgreSQL or SQL Server, and NoSQL, such as MongoDB or DynamoDB, data architectures at scale
• Experience with delivery with data streaming technologies and distributed message queues, including strong unit and integration test frameworks
• Experience with production with Docker and Kubernetes for scalability
• Ability to travel up to 25% of the time
• Secret clearance
• Bachelor's degree

Nice If You Have:

• Experience with Big Data technologies, such as Python, Kafka, Spark/Flink, or ksqlDB
• Experience performance engineering for low-latency pipelines
• Experience with game engines, such as Unity, Unreal, or Prepar3D a plus
• Experience with C++
• Possession of excellent critical thinking, decision making, and detail oriented skills
• Clearance: Applicants selected will be subject to a security investigation and may need to meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information; Secret clearance is required.

Compensation

At Booz Allen, we celebrate your contributions, provide you with opportunities and choices, and support your total well-being. Our offerings include health, life, disability, financial, and retirement benefits, as well as paid leave, professional development, tuition assistance, work-life programs, and dependent care. Our recognition awards program acknowledges employees for exceptional performance and superior demonstration of our values. Full-time and part-time employees working at least 20 hours a week on a regular basis are eligible to participate in Booz Allen’s benefit programs. Individuals that do not meet the threshold are only eligible for select offerings, not inclusive of health benefits. We encourage you to learn more about our total benefits by visiting the Resource page on our Careers site and reviewing Our Employee Benefits page. Salary at Booz Allen is determined by various factors, including but not limited to location, the individual’s particular combination of education, knowledge, skills, competencies, and experience, as well as contract-specific affordability and organizational requirements. The projected compensation range for this position is $112,900.00 to $257,000.00 (annualized USD). The estimate displayed represents the typical salary range for this position and is just one component of Booz Allen’s total compensation package for employees. This posting will close within 90 days from the Posting Date.

Identity Statement

As part of the hiring process, we will ask you to complete an identity verification process that leverages advanced biometrics and artificial intelligence to ensure authenticity and protect against identity fraud. You are expected to be on camera during interviews and assessments. We reserve the right to take your picture to verify your identity and prevent fraud.

Candidate AI Usage Policy

AI is a part of our daily work at Booz Allen, and we are committed to the responsible and ethical use of AI tools. However, we want to ensure a fair candidate process based on your own skills and knowledge. As part of this commitment, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) or other tools to assist with responses during interviews (whether in-person or virtual) is prohibited unless permission is explicitly provided.

Work Model

Our people-first culture prioritizes the benefits of collaboration, whether it occurs in person or virtually. To support engagement and effective communication, employees working virtually are generally expected to have their cameras on during meetings. Remote: If this position is listed as remote, there may still be occasions when you are required to work in person at a Booz Allen or customer facility. Hybrid: If this position is listed as hybrid, you will be expected to work from a Booz Allen facility frequently, in alignment with leadership expectations and the needs of the role. You may also be required to work from or visit a customer facility. Onsite: If this position is listed as onsite, work will primarily be performed at a Booz Allen office or customer facility, where employees will collaborate directly with colleagues and customers as required by the role.

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, local, or international law.

About Booz Allen

Booz Allen is an advanced technology company. We build commercial-grade products and solutions for America’s most critical defense, civil, and national security priorities.

Know Your Rights Poster

Accommodations Applicants who need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application, hiring, or employment process because of a disability, a sincerely held religious belief, practice, or observance, or as otherwise required by applicable law should contact the Booz Allen Help Desk by calling 1-877-927-8278 or sending an email to [e-mail]. We will review requests on an individualized basis and provide reasonable accommodations consistent with applicable law.

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