Principal Solutions Architect

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Kentro is seeking a Principal Solutions Architect to serve as the Technical Authority for our Federal Health and Benefits portfolio, with a primary focus on the Social Security Administration (SSA). This is a high-impact, strategic role for a leader capable of defining the To-Be architecture for one of the federal government’s largest and most complex IT ecosystems.

Unlike a traditional architect, the Principal Architect does not just design solutions; they govern the technical vision. You will bridge the gap between legacy mainframe environments and modern cloud-native architectures, translating complex legislative and mission requirements into secure, scalable, and compliant technology roadmaps. You will serve as the primary technical liaison to GS-15 and SES-level stakeholders, balancing modernization goals with the strict risk, cost, and compliance constraints of the federal government.

Strategic Architecture & Modernization Authority

• Modernization Strategy:
  Define cohesive, end-to-end architecture blueprints that transition legacy workloads (e.g., Mainframe/COBOL) to modern, future-ready cloud environments (AWS/Azure/Hybrid) without disrupting mission-critical benefit delivery.
• Data Architecture:
  Lead the development of a transparent and accessible data ecosystem that improves data discovery and usability, enables actionable insights, and strengthens public trust in SSA data.
• Analysis of Alternatives (AoA):
  Lead high-level trade-off analyses to select the optimal mix of COTS, SaaS, and custom software, ensuring decisions align with the client’s constraints regarding data privacy and transaction volume.
• Technical Governance:
  Establish and enforce enterprise architecture guardrails and Authority to Operate (ATO) ensuring all designs comply with NIST 800-53, Zero Trust, Section 508 (Accessibility), and client-specific security mandates.
• Risk Management:
  
  Evaluate solution viability through rigorous feasibility studies and technical risk assessments, specifically addressing the challenges of data migration and interoperability in a federal environment.

• Lead the Leaders:
  Coach and empower Senior Solution Architects and engineering leads. You are not just a mentor; you are the standard-bearer for engineering discipline and architectural quality across the organization.
• Cross-Functional Command:
  Direct cross-functional engineering teams through the full lifecycle—from capture and design to delivery—ensuring solutions meet the extreme performance and reliability standards required for national entitlement programs.
• Innovation vs. Stability:
  Drive enterprise innovation by piloting emerging technologies (e.g., AI/ML for fraud detection, Intelligent Automation for claims processing) while converting these capabilities into scalable, compliant standards.

• Trusted Advisor:
  Act as the strategic technical partner to SSA leadership and program offices, translating complex "tech-speak" into clear value propositions aligned with the agency's goal of improving customer experience and operational efficiency.
• Stakeholder Alignment:
  Present high-stakes architecture decisions, roadmaps, and ROI analyses to non-technical executive audiences to drive informed decision-making and secure buy-in for modernization initiatives.

• Solution Champion:
  Partner with Sales and Capture teams to lead the technical volume development for major SSA proposals. You will shape the Win Strategy by demonstrating deep understanding of the customer’s business needs and pain points (e.g., backlog reduction, system…