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Job Description:
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
What Required Skills You'll Bring:
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
Security Clearance Requirement:
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 - $266,900.00We 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 an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other protected status.We truly invest and care about our employee’s wellbeing and provide endless growth opportunities as the sky is the limit, so aim for the stars! Imagine next and join the Parsons quest—APPLY TODAY!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/.
Skills Required
- Must be a US Citizen
- Active TS/SCI Clearance
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer/Systems Engineering, or related (or equivalent experience)
- 15+ years experience in software/systems engineering or technical architecture
- Experience as Product Owner Analyst (POA) and working within the SAFe framework
- Expertise in Multi-Domain Defense Systems and Software Architecture
- Hands-on experience with military/intel data standards (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 (TRAX or OMNI-compliant databases)
- Proficiency with S3-compatible storage (MinIO, AWS S3)
- Experience with microservices and network protocols (TCP/IP, gRPC)
- Familiarity with Zero Trust concepts and tools (e.g., AppGate, SDP)
- Expertise designing for DDIL (Disconnected, Intermittent, Limited) environments and fault-tolerant systems
Parsons Corporation Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Parsons Corporation and has not been reviewed or approved by Parsons Corporation.
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Retirement Support — Retirement programs are framed as a major value driver, with an ESOP alongside a 401(k) match and additional stock-purchase options contributing meaningfully to total rewards. This structure is positioned as especially attractive for employees who value long-term wealth-building over immediate cash.
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Healthcare Strength — Health coverage is described as broad and choice-rich, with multiple plan types (PPO, HDHP, and some HMO networks) plus dental, vision, EAP, and wellness resources. The availability of different plan designs and national-carrier coverage supports varied employee needs.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Time-off offerings are portrayed as competitive, including PTO, holidays, flexible schedules such as a 9/80 option for eligible roles, and floating holidays in the U.S. Paid parental leave of 160 hours is also highlighted as a meaningful component of the overall package.
Parsons Corporation Insights
What We Do
Parsons is a digitally enabled solutions provider with a focus on making the world safer, smarter, healthier, more sustainable, and more connected. Founded in 1944, Parsons primarily serves the defense, security, and infrastructure markets. Uniquely qualified to deliver cyber/converged security, technology-based intellectual property, and other innovative services, the corporation delivers state-of-the-art solutions to federal, regional, and local government agencies as well as to private industrial customers worldwide. Parsons has a reputation for inclusion and diversity and has been named to the Ethisphere Institute’s list of World’s Most Ethical Companies for 10 consecutive years. Parsons facilitates a culture of innovation by encouraging collaboration among its employees and providing opportunities for career growth. With offices around the globe, people of varied talents and backgrounds, and a wide range of exciting projects, the possibilities at Parsons are endless. For more about Parsons, visit www.parsons.com. Mission: Delivering innovative infrastructure, defense, and security solutions to enable a more sustainable, safer, smarter, and more connected world.
