Solutions Architect

Overview

Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc. (SPA) delivers high-impact, technical solutions to complex national security issues. With over 50 years of business expertise and consistent growth, we are known for continuous innovation for our government customers, in both the US and abroad. Our exceptionally talented team is highly collaborative in spirit and practice, producing Results that Matter . Come work with the best! We offer opportunity, unique challenges, and clear-sighted commitment to the mission. SPA : Objective. Responsive. Trusted.

The Joint, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Interagency Division (JOID) provides expert support services to a range of customers spanning across the Department of Defense, Federal Civilian, and international markets. JOID provides a diverse portfolio of analytical and programmatic capabilities to help our customers make informed decisions on their most challenging issues.

SPA's NATO Allied Command Transformation Group, within JOID, provides capability development, portfolio management, program management, quality management, cost estimation analysis, standardization, reporting, software solutions and information management, and capability management support. We also provide an improved capability requirements capture process, including the generation, documentation and tracing of user requirements, with appropriate technical scrutiny, over the entire lifecycle of the requirements from capability definition through capability realization and capability usage.

We have a near-term need for a Solutions Architect to provide remote support to NATO-ACT.

Responsibilities

The Solutions Architect will provide architectural leadership for innovative digital products developed in NATO or National defense institutions, ensuring solutions support mission requirements. Oversee the design and integration of modern software and hardware architectures, ensuring scalability, resilience, and long-term sustainability. Provide architectural mentorship to development teams, ensuring consistent application of design principles and practices across projects. Collaborate with developers, engineers, and stakeholders to identify optimal technology approaches that enable Agile and DevSecOps practices. Develop and maintain architectural documentation, including risk assessments, trade-off analyses, and implementation strategies. Evaluate emerging technologies and guide their adoption where appropriate to improve agility, resilience, and mission relevance. Balance technical debt, immediate mission requirements, and long-term sustainability in architectural decision-making. Advise on identity and access management (IAM) design patterns to support secure and federated user access across systems. Promote adoption of architectural modeling standards (UML, ArchiMate, BPMN) and tools (Enterprise Architect, Archi, ARIS, XMLSpy, etc.). Communicate complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders to enable informed decision-making.

Qualifications

Required :

• Nationality of one of the NATO member countries.
• Active NATO or National Secret (or higher) clearance.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related discipline.
• 4+ years of experience in software and / or hardware architecture, including design patterns and paradigm shifts.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams and providing mentorship in applying architectural principles.
• Experience evaluating and integrating emerging technologies into operational systems.
• Experience in modern Identity and Access Management (IAM) solution patterns.
• Experience working in Agile DevSecOps teams with CI / CD practices and relevant certifications.
• Experience developing documentation on technology solutions, including risk assessment, trade-offs, and implementation strategies.
• Familiarity with architectural modeling standards (UML, ArchiMate, BPMN) and tools (Enterprise Architect, Archi, ARIS, XMLSpy, etc.).
• Proven ability to communicate complex technical issues effectively to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Fluent in English (oral and written).