Systems Architect / Engineering Architecture Lead

Job4Travelers; Spring (TX); Remote; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Part time

Job summary

Gramian Consultancy seeks an experienced Systems Architect or Chief Systems Architect to contribute to a specialized AI training project focused on complex engineering workflows. The role requires defining system architectures, managing interfaces, and leading multidisciplinary engineering teams.

The ideal candidate has senior-level experience across mechanical, electrical, hardware, software, and manufacturing disciplines, with strong analytical communication skills and English at B2 level or

Qualifications

• Substantial professional experience as Systems Architect or similar technical leadership role.
• Proven experience owning architecture of complex engineering systems.
• Ability to lead and coordinate multidisciplinary technical teams.
• Strong expertise in system architecture design, trade studies, and interface management.
• Experience conducting architecture reviews and evaluating system-level design decisions.
• Ability to translate complex project objectives into structured architectures, requirements, and evaluation criteria.
• Understanding of subsystem dependencies, integration challenges, and engineering constraints.
• English proficiency at B2 level or higher.

Responsibilities

• Design realistic engineering projects with architectural decisions across mechanical, electrical, hardware, software, and manufacturing disciplines.
• Translate high-level objectives into detailed system architectures with defined boundaries and interfaces.
• Break complex challenges into interconnected tasks with clear inputs, deliverables, and responsibilities.
• Define system-level requirements and ensure alignment with objectives.
• Evaluate architectural alternatives and conduct trade studies on feasibility, performance, and cost.
• Establish interfaces and dependencies between subsystems and disciplines.
• Define objectives, acceptance criteria, and evaluation frameworks for solutions.
• Apply systems engineering to identify integration risks and gaps.
• Review architectures to ensure they meet functional and operational needs.

Skills

Multidisciplinary systems thinking

Leadership

English communication

Strategic planning

Job description

Systems Architect Contract - Remote Global Role — Remote

Remote-Friendly Contract with Global Reach

This is a fully remote contractor role, making it genuinely location-independent. The posting prefers US-based candidates but explicitly welcomes worldwide applicants with strong experience — a strong signal of async-friendly, deliverables-driven work. No fixed office hours are mentioned, suggesting you can structure your work around your own schedule, ideal for digital nomads juggling time zones.

Timezone Considerations

While no timezone is mandated, US preference hints at some overlap with US business hours being advantageous. Nomads in Western Europe (Lisbon, Berlin) or Eastern Europe (Warsaw, Kraków) are well-positioned for occasional US overlap. Southeast Asia-based nomads may find async delivery a better fit.

• Portugal: Digital Nomad Visa suits this contract role; Lisbon costs ~€1,800–2,500/month for comfortable living.
• Poland: EU Blue Card or digital nomad-friendly tourist stays; Warsaw is affordable at ~€1,200–1,800/month.
• UAE (Dubai): Listed as a hint country with its own Freelancer/Remote Work Visa; costs are higher at ~$3,500–5,000/month.

No salary is disclosed, so cost-of-living comparisons are approximate. As a contract role, your effective rate will depend on negotiation. Seek clarity on expected hours per week and deliverable timelines before accepting.

About Gramian

Gramian Consultancy is a boutique consultancy specializing in IT professional services and engineering talent solutions. With a strong background in software engineering and leadership, we help companies build high-performing teams by matching them with professionals who truly fit their needs.

About the Job

We are seeking an experienced Systems Architect or Chief Systems Architect to contribute to a specialized AI training project focused on complex, real-world engineering workflows.

This role is intended for senior engineering professionals with proven experience defining system architectures, managing technical interfaces, and leading multidisciplinary engineering teams. You will use your expertise to design realistic engineering scenarios, translate project objectives into structured system architectures, coordinate contributions from different technical specialists, and establish clear evaluation criteria.

The ideal candidate understands how complex systems are structured across mechanical, electrical, hardware, software, and manufacturing disciplines, and can identify dependencies, constraints, and engineering trade-offs throughout the system lifecycle. Previous AI experience is not required.

• CONTRACT: Contractor
• LOCATION: Remote – US-based candidates preferred; worldwide candidates with strong relevant experience considered.
• PROJECT: AI training focused on complex engineering workflows.
• AI EXPERIENCE: Not required.
• FOCUS AREAS: Systems architecture, multidisciplinary engineering, interface management, technical trade studies, and system integration.

Key Responsibilities

Design realistic engineering projects that require architectural decisions across multiple technical disciplines, including mechanical, electrical, hardware, software, and manufacturing.

Translate high-level project objectives into detailed system architectures with clearly defined boundaries, subsystem responsibilities, interfaces, and technical constraints.

Break complex architectural challenges into interconnected tasks with defined inputs, deliverables, dependencies, and expert responsibilities.

Define system-level requirements and ensure alignment between subsystem specifications and overall project objectives.

Evaluate architectural alternatives and conduct technical trade studies to assess feasibility, performance, cost, reliability, and other engineering considerations.

Establish and document interfaces and dependencies between subsystems and engineering disciplines.

Define technical objectives, acceptance criteria, and evaluation frameworks for assessing architectural solutions.

Apply systems engineering principles to identify integration risks, technical conflicts, and architectural gaps.

Review system architectures and assess whether proposed solutions meet functional and operational requirements.

Ensure project scenarios reflect realistic engineering practices and industry standards.

Requirements

Substantial professional experience as a Systems Architect, Chief Systems Architect, or in a comparable technical leadership role.

Proven experience owning the architecture of complex engineering systems.

Demonstrated ability to lead and coordinate multidisciplinary technical teams.

Strong expertise in system architecture design, technical trade studies, and interface management.

Experience conducting architecture reviews and evaluating system-level design decisions.

Ability to translate complex project objectives into structured architectures, technical requirements, and measurable evaluation criteria.

Understanding of subsystem dependencies, system boundaries, integration challenges, and engineering constraints.

English proficiency at B2 level or higher.

Strong analytical, organizational, and technical communication skills.

Is this role fully remote or does it require on-site presence? This is a fully remote contractor position. US-based candidates are preferred, but worldwide applicants with strong relevant experience are explicitly considered. Do I need prior AI experience to apply? No. The posting clearly states that AI experience is not required. The role leverages your existing systems architecture and engineering expertise to help design realistic engineering scenarios for AI training. What is the contract rate or compensation for this role? No specific rate is disclosed in the posting. Candidates are advised to discuss compensation directly with Gramian Consultancy during the application process. What engineering disciplines should I have experience with? The role focuses on multidisciplinary systems, including mechanical, electrical, hardware, software, and manufacturing engineering, so broad cross-domain systems architecture experience is highly valued. What language proficiency is required for this position? English proficiency at B2 level or higher is required, making this accessible to non-native English speakers with strong professional communication skills.