Senior Solutions Architect at 540

540 is seeking a Senior Solutions Architect to support our partnership with Google and the Department of Defense in advancing mission-critical capabilities for a global data processing platform. This platform leverages Machine Learning, modern cloud and containerized technologies to ingest, process, and analyze high-volume, time-series data. In this role, you will lead technical architecture efforts and drive the design and delivery of complex, distributed systems that enable near real-time analysis and mission insight. You will operate at the intersection of data engineering, platform architecture, cybersecurity and mission operations, ensuring systems are scalable, resilient, and secure within highly regulated, high-impact environments. Location: Patrick SFB, FL (Patrick Space Force Base). Primarily onsite, up to 5 days/week Citizenship & Clearance Requirement: Per client requirements, candidates must be U.S. Citizens with an active DoD clearance with TS/SCI eligibility Education Requirement: Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science or related engineering field (preferred) 540 Internal Thrive Level: Senior Solutions Architect WHY 540? 540 is a forward-thinking company that the government turns to in order to #getshitdone. We don’t just talk about innovation – we deliver it. We break down barriers, build impactful technology, and solve mission-critical problems. HOW YOU’LL DRIVE IMPACT • Provide expertise on cloud cybersecurity and architecture to engineers and stakeholders • Lead the technical architecture and delivery of an Air Force real-time data platform built on Google Cloud • Design and guide implementation of scalable, secure, and maintainable cloud architectures • Work shoulder to shoulder with engineers, architects, and product stakeholders to translate mission needs and build technical solutions and platform capabilities • Support engineering teams in the design, building, and troubleshooting distributed systems and cloud-native applications • Guide decisions across cloud architecture, networking, system design, and service integrations • Design and support CI/CD pipelines and automated deployment workflows for multiple services • Collaborate with technical and non-technical stakeholders to gather requirements, evaluate tradeoffs, and deliver practical solutions • Produce clear technical documentation for architecture decisions, system design, and platform configurations • Provide hands-on technical leadership, contributing to implementation when needed • Work directly with client stakeholders and delivery teams to ensure solutions meet mission needs and timelines REQUIRED SKILLS & EXPERIENCE • 8+ years of experience in a technical leadership or architecture role • Experience designing and building enterprise cloud architectures (AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud) • Experience with Python and strong programming ability in a typed language (Java, Kotlin, C#, etc.) • Strong experience working containerized environments • Experience designing and operating cloud-based and distributed systems • Experience building or supporting CI/CD pipelines and automated deployment workflows • Experience designing and operating event-driven or asynchronous systems • Understanding of authentication and authorization protocols (SAML, OAuth, etc.) • Understanding of IoT Components and Concepts • Professional-level cloud architecture certification (preferably Google Cloud Professional Cloud Architect) or the ability to obtain within 30 days of start date • DoD 8140 IAT-compliant certification (e.g., CompTIA Security+) or the ability to obtain within 6 months of start date • Excellent communication skills, with the ability to work across technical and non-technical stakeholders • Ability to work independently with clients while also collaborating effectively with engineering teams NICE TO HAVE • Experience with identity and access management tools (Keycloak) • Experience with AI/ML platforms (Vertex AI) • Experience with database design and development • Experience designing and operating data pipelines or ETL/ELT pipelines • Familiarity with DevSecOps practices • Experience with Linux administration (especially RHEL) • Experience with API gateways or API management platforms (Apigee preferred) • Experience working in Agile development environments • Experience supporting U.S. Federal Government programs, particularly DoD environments BENEFITS & PERKS • Flexible PTO + all Federal holidays off • Health, dental and vision insurance plans • Flexible Spending Account (FSA) • 401k with employer match • Company-sponsored life insurance, short- and long-term disability • Professional development (training, certifications, conferences) • Paid cloud developer accounts • Referral bonuses • HQ office perks (parking / metro reimbursement, nitro coffee & lunches) • Annual social events (540 Week, hackathon, charity golf tournament, etc.) • Access to 540’s Washington Capitals & Nationals tickets EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY (EEO) 540's policy is to provide equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.