Principal Architect & Systems Engineer

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VT-ARC, a technical services and applied research company, has built an organizational culture marked by four primary values:
Teamwork, Integrity, Excellence, and Service. Integral to our success is our staff’s enthusiasm for solving tough problems by working together in teams to get the job done. We foster a culture where every employee’s contribution is valued and performed with integrity while maintaining a fun work environment. VT-ARC strives for excellence in all that is done for our clients and such achievement is recognized through service/merit awards.

Moreover, we promote a sense of community larger than VT-ARC alone, where staff and institutional resources can be applied in service to our country.

About You:

We are seeking a seasoned Principal Architect & Systems Engineer with deep expertise in network and systems engineering, to support and lead a large transformational enterprise network infrastructure program. This leader will own the development of enterprise and mission network architectures and systems designs, ensure technical alignment across programs, and manage a team of network, cyber and systems engineers. The Principal Architect & Systems Engineer will drive the end-to-end architecture, oversee system integration, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver innovative and resilient networking solutions.

The Principal Architect & Systems Engineer will serve as the key technical leader coordinating with government and industry partners and stakeholders. This position reports to the program’s Senior Program Manager within VT-ARC's Engineering Test and Evaluation Division (ETED). (Active Top Secret/SCI clearance is required)

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Architect, design, and implement advanced network solutions for enterprise environments.
• Lead network transformation initiatives, from on-prem solutions to cloud integration and SD-WAN deployments.
• Understand cutting‑edge solutions and how to extend them into network design and implementation approaches.
• Own the systems engineering lifecycle (concept through deployment), including requirements, design baselines, integration, verification/validation, and transition to operations.
• Create and maintain architecture artifacts—system diagrams, interface control documents (ICDs), data flow maps, and technical presentations for stakeholders and leadership.
• Guide engineers through design reviews (SRR/SFR, PDR, CDR, TRR) and ensure technical rigor and traceability to requirements.
• Manage a team of network, cyber and systems engineers: set priorities, mentor staff, conduct performance management, and build a high performing, collaborative culture.
• Coordinate system integration and testing across labs and operational environments; troubleshoot complex issues and drive root cause analysis.
• Ensure compliance with relevant security, interoperability, and performance standards (e.g., NIST, DISA STIGs), and with program constraints and deliverables.
• Partner with Project Managers, Program Managers and Contracts/Finance to align architecture decisions with scope, schedule, budget, and risk posture.
• Maintain accurate technical documentation and contribute to proposals, work plans, and technical reports.
• Work closely with the onsite government and contractor technical team to develop capabilities to support end‑to‑end network and end user requirements

Required Education, Certification, Skills, Capabilities:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Systems Engineering, Electrical/Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field
• 10+ years of experience in network and systems engineering, with at least 5+ year in architecture leadership roles.
• Demonstrated ability to design, document, and deliver complex, secure, and scalable networked systems.
• Hands‑on experience with systems engineering processes, requirements management, interface control, integration, and test.
• Strong knowledge of modern networking…