Principal Solutions Architect – AI & Cloud Modernization

Position OverviewThis is a flagship technical leadership opportunity within our client's Technology & Innovation Council (TIC) - an elite team responsible for helping Federal agencies modernize mission-critical environments through artificial intelligence, cloud transformation, automation, and emerging technologies.The TIC operates across customer engagement, solution architecture, innovation, and growth. Team members don't simply evaluate new technologies - they work directly with Federal customers to understand mission challenges, architect transformational solutions, develop modernization roadmaps, and demonstrate how emerging technologies can accelerate mission outcomes.You'll partner closely with agency stakeholders, engineering teams, delivery leaders, and capture organizations to shape enterprise modernization initiatives while helping position the company for strategic growth across large Federal opportunities.This is not a traditional enterprise architect role. Success requires someone who is equally comfortable leading executive customer discussions, whiteboarding technical architectures, developing AI-enabled cloud solutions, and supporting competitive pursuits valued at $50M+.If you're passionate about helping customers solve complex problems through technology while influencing the next generation of Federal modernization, this is an opportunity to make a significant impact. This role follows a hybrid work schedule, with the primary work location based in McLean, VA.What You'll DoCustomer Modernization & Technical Leadership

• Serve as a trusted technical advisor to Federal customers, helping define AI, cloud, and digital modernization strategies.
• Lead customer workshops, architecture reviews, discovery sessions, executive briefings, and technical whiteboarding.
• Design scalable, secure cloud-native architectures leveraging AWS, Azure, and modern engineering practices.
• Architect AI-enabled solutions utilizing Generative AI, LLMs, AI Agents, intelligent automation, knowledge management, and advanced analytics.
• Translate complex mission challenges into practical, scalable technical roadmaps.
• Develop proofs of concept, demonstrations, and technical accelerators that showcase emerging technologies and differentiated capabilities.
• Present technical demonstrations and innovation strategies to customers, executive leadership, and industry audiences.

Growth & Strategic Solutioning

• Partner with Capture Managers, Proposal Managers, and Business Development leaders to architect winning technical solutions for large Federal pursuits.
• Lead technical solutioning sessions across engineering, delivery, and business teams.
• Develop technical approaches, solution diagrams, architectures, and proposal content.
• Support oral presentations and executive customer presentations during competitive procurements.
• Create reusable reference architectures, technical frameworks, and innovation assets that strengthen future pursuits.

Innovation & Delivery

• Evaluate emerging technologies and identify practical applications for Federal mission environments.
• Collaborate with engineers, data scientists, architects, and delivery teams to ensure solution feasibility and successful implementation.
• Build automation capabilities and reusable technical assets that improve scalability and operational efficiency.
• Apply secure engineering, DevSecOps, and Zero Trust principles throughout the solution lifecycle.
• Represent the organization as a technical thought leader through customer engagements, conferences, white papers, and industry events.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• 10+ years of experience in Solution Architecture, Enterprise Architecture, Cloud Engineering, or Technical Consulting supporting Federal customers.
• Demonstrated experience leading enterprise AI, cloud, application modernization, or digital transformation initiatives.
• Proven success serving as a customer-facing technical advisor with the ability to communicate effectively with executives, mission stakeholders, and technical teams.
• Experience supporting Federal contract pursuits valued at $50M or greater, including technical solutioning, capture, proposal development, or oral presentations.
• Experience leading technical architecture for enterprise cloud modernization efforts using AWS and/or Microsoft Azure.
• Strong understanding of modern application architectures, APIs, containers, Kubernetes, microservices, DevSecOps, and enterprise integration.
• Experience leveraging AI technologies including Generative AI, Large Language Models (LLMs), AI Agents, Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), Microsoft Copilot, Azure AI, OpenAI, or similar platforms.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with experience creating technical documentation, solution architectures, and executive presentations.
• U.S. Citizenship with the ability to obtain and maintain a Public Trust (Secret clearance or higher preferred).

Preferred Technical Experience

• Python or other modern programming languages.
• AI-assisted software development tools.
• Azure, AWS, Databricks, Microsoft Fabric, or similar cloud-native platforms.
• Low-code/no-code platforms such as Power Platform.
• Enterprise data architecture, analytics, and data engineering.
• React, JavaScript, HTML/CSS, REST APIs, and modern application development.
• Zero Trust Architecture and cloud security.
• AI governance, cloud governance, and enterprise data governance.
• Agile, SAFe, and CI/CD delivery environments.

CompensationThe estimated salary range for this position is $215,000 – $240,000 annually, based on market benchmarks within the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. This range represents a good faith estimate and may vary depending on several factors, including the scope of the role, geographic location, education, certifications, technical skills, and overall relevant experience.

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