System Architect SME with Security Clearance

Zachary Piper Solutions is seeking a Systems Architect SME to support a major federal modernization program. This position is on-site in Huntsville, AL. Candidates must have an active Top Secret security clearance. The Systems Architect SME will guide enterprise architecture, technical strategy, and integration decisions across complex applications and cloud platforms. This role partners with engineering, data, security, and product teams to deliver scalable, resilient systems and establish a consistent approach to modernization. Responsibilities for the Systems Architect SME include:

• Define the architecture vision, technical roadmap, and design standards for enterprise modernization
• Architect integrated solutions across application, data, cloud, security, and infrastructure layers
• Guide legacy system decomposition, application refactoring, and adoption of modern service architectures
• Establish API designs, service boundaries, interface specifications, and platform integration approaches
• Lead architecture reviews, evaluate technical decisions, and maintain alignment across engineering workstreams
• Identify architectural risks and recommend improvements to system performance, scalability, security, and reliability
• Collaborate with development, cloud, migration, DevSecOps, and QA teams during planning, integration, and release readiness
• Produce architecture diagrams, system models, technical specifications, integration matrices, and decision records
• Present technical recommendations to leadership and maintain documentation supporting compliance, audits, and future enhancements Required Qualifications for the Systems Architect SME include:
• Bachelor's degree and 12+ years of experience in enterprise architecture, software engineering, or system design
• Extensive experience designing large-scale, complex systems that incorporate cloud technologies
• Expertise spanning application, integration, data, cloud, and security architecture
• Hands-on experience with modern software frameworks, microservices, distributed systems, and API design
• Strong understanding of DevSecOps practices, CI/CD pipelines, and cloud platform engineering
• Strong communication and technical leadership skills, including experience guiding multiple engineering teams
• Must have an Active Top Secret Security Clearance

Preferred Qualifications for the Systems Architect SME include:

• Experience supporting federal modernization or national security programs
• Experience with AWS and cloud-native architecture
• Knowledge of Docker, Kubernetes, or serverless technologies
• Familiarity with large-scale data pipelines, ETL frameworks, and legacy modernization approaches
• Experience developing technical approaches and architecture artifacts for transition-in activities, RTM, CVM, and other program deliverables Compensation for the Systems Architect SME includes: Salary Range: $180,000-$200,000 annually, depending on experience Full Benefits Package: PTO, Paid Holidays, Medical, Dental, Vision, 401K, Tuition Reimbursement, Sick Leave as Required by Law This job opens for applications on 11/02/2026 .

Applications for this job will be accepted for at least 30 days from the posting date. #LI-MR1 #LI-ONSITE Keywords: Systems Architect SME, Systems Architect, System Architect, Principal Systems Architect, Enterprise Architect, Solutions Architect, Technical Architect, Software Architect, Cloud Architect, Application Architect, Integration Architect, Enterprise Architecture, Systems Engineering, System Design, Architecture Governance, Technical Roadmap, Architecture Reviews, Architecture Decision Records, Application Modernization, Legacy Modernization, Cloud Architecture, Cloud-Native Architecture, AWS, Amazon Web Services, Microservices, Distributed Systems, API Design, Systems Integration, Data Architecture, Security Architecture, DevSecOps, CI/CD, Docker, Kubernetes, Serverless, Data Pipelines, ETL, Performance Optimization, Scalability, Reliability, Technical Leadership, Top Secret Clearance, Active Top Secret, TS Clearance, Cleared Systems Architect, Huntsville AL Jobs, Systems Architect Huntsville, Huntsville Technology Jobs