Lead Systems Engineering Architect - TS/SCI

CTI, a Parsons Company, is looking for an amazingly talented Lead Systems Engineering Architect to join our team! In this role, you will serve as a senior technical leader and Subject Matter Expert (SME) in Systems Engineering & Architecture, acting as the Product Owner Analyst (POA) for the Systems Engineering Team and providing direct technical counsel to the Chief Engineer and program business partners.

What You’ll Be Doing:

• Serving as the Principal Engineering Advisor & Architect, providing senior technical leadership and SME expertise in Systems Engineering & Architecture
• Acting as the Product Owner Analyst (POA) for the Systems Engineering Team, collaborating within the SAFe framework to groom and prioritize product backlogs and user stories
• Providing direct technical counsel to the Chief Engineer and program business partners, ensuring alignment with mission objectives
• Leveraging extensive experience in DoD and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), academic research, and multi-domain architecture to shape technical strategy and prioritize best-in-breed solutions for critical mission requirements
• Overseeing system architecture, including design documentation, technical specifications, and architectural diagrams to support long-term program objectives
• Analyzing user needs to define technical paths and refining conceptual designs into detailed specifications
• Participating in PI planning and retrospectives, recommending workflow automations and process improvements
• Promoting lab best practices and network topologies in compliance with DoD guidelines, and advocating for continuous team improvement
• Representing the program at technical reviews, stakeholder engagements, and industry events

Required Clearance:

• Must be a US Citizen
• Must have an ACTIVE TS/SCI Clearance

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer/Systems Engineering, or a related field
• 15+ years of experience in software/systems engineering or technical architecture; additional years of experience will be considered in lieu of a degree
• Expertise in Multi-Domain Defense Systems and Software Architecture
• Hands-on experience with military/intel data standards (e.g., Cursor on Target (CoT), FMV & KLV, JSON)
• Proficiency with Apache Kafka (topics, producers/consumers, SASL/SCRAM, TLS)
• Experience with TAK Ecosystem (TAK Server, WebTAK, ATAK) and intel platforms using rich data models (e.g., TRAX or OMNI-compliant databases)
• Proficiency with S3-compatible storage (MinIO, AWS S3), microservices, network protocols (TCP/IP, gRPC), and Zero Trust (ZTNA) concepts (e.g., AppGate, SDP)
• Expertise in DDIL (Disconnected, Intermittent, and Limited) environments and fault-tolerant system design

What Desired Skills You’ll Bring:

• Master’s degree in Computer Science, Computer/Systems Engineering, or a related field
• Experience with Kafka federation
• Advanced data modeling, including OMNI vs. lightweight SA formats (CoT).
• Experience with DevSecOps, CI/CD pipelines, and containerization (Docker, Kubernetes)
• Familiarity with Cross-Domain Solutions (CDS) and moving data across security classification levels
• Experience with Palantir Foundry Ontology, OSDK (Functions, Sinks), and data ingestion

An active Top Secret SCI security clearance is required for this position.

This position is part of our Federal Solutions team.

The Federal Solutions segment delivers resources to our US government customers that ensure the success of missions around the globe. Our intelligent employees drive the state of the art as they provide services and solutions in the areas of defense, security, intelligence, infrastructure, and environmental. We promote a culture of excellence and close-knit teams that take pride in delivering, protecting, and sustaining our nation’s most critical assets, from Earth to cyberspace. Throughout the company, our people are anticipating what’s next to deliver the solutions our customers need now.

Salary Range: $148,300.00 - $266,900.00

We value our employees and want our employees to take care of their overall wellbeing, which is why we offer best-in-class benefits such as medical, dental, vision, paid time off, 401(k), life insurance, flexible work schedules, and holidays to fit your busy lifestyle!

Parsons is aware of fraudulent recruitment practices. To learn more about recruitment fraud and how to report it, please refer to https://www.parsons.com/fraudulent-recruitment/ ., Parsons is a digitally enabled solutions provider focused on the defense, security, and infrastructure markets. With nearly 75 years of experience, Parsons is uniquely qualified to deliver cyber/converged security, technology-based intellectual property, and other innovative services to federal, regional, and local government agencies, as well as to private industrial customers worldwide.