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Thales · 20 hours ago

System Architect

Syracuse, NY

Full-time

Hybrid

Senior Level, Lead/Staff

$144K/yr - $241K/yr

9+ years exp

Thales is a leading company in defense and armed forces solutions, seeking a Systems Architect to join their Airspace Mobility Solutions team. The role involves defining and maintaining end-to-end solution architectures, ensuring alignment with stakeholder needs and business strategy while overseeing software solutions throughout their lifecycle.

AerospaceCyber SecurityIndustrial ManufacturingMilitaryRemote SensingSecurityTransportation

No H1B

U.S. Citizen Only

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary technical interface with customers (or Product Line Management for product-based solutions) on solution architecture, design, performance, and lifecycle considerations; proactively anticipate, analyze, and translate customer and stakeholder needs into a structured and traceable initial requirements baseline; and formalize solution requirements and ensure alignment with business objectives, technical feasibility, and lifecycle constraints

Lead and oversee the architecting of software solutions in alignment with the approved technology roadmap, agile development strategy, and sprint planning cycles; define and drive the development strategy for advanced algorithms, software applications, and enabling technologies required to deliver the solution; and develop, stabilize, and maintain solution architectures for bids and projects across the full lifecycle, in close cooperation with the System Engineering Manager (SEM)

Develop and evolve the solution architecture by fully understanding operational context, stakeholder expectations, and system constraints; define and propose candidate architectures at the solution or solution-element level that meet stakeholder expectations while complying with standardization, reuse policies, technology roadmaps, and business strategy; and establish solution architectures through structured trade-offs among stakeholder expectations, technical and technological options, cost, risk, and schedule, documenting architectural rationale through formal artifacts (e.g., D&JF, PBS, SSDD), and approving resulting lower-level specifications

Lead architectural trade-off analyses to balance evolving customer requirements with cost, risk, opportunity, schedule, and critical performance objectives throughout project execution; lead requirements allocation, interface definition, performance assessment, and management of critical parameters throughout the project lifecycle, arbitrating technical decisions across internal and external contributors; and review, assess, and manage technical risks and opportunities in collaboration with the System Engineering Manager (SEM), ensuring mitigation plans are defined, monitored, and executed across bids and projects

Ensure full compliance of the solution with product policies, production and service strategies, contractual obligations, and applicable regulations (including export controls, Environmental/HSE, safety, and security); verify that the engineering environment (processes, practices, and tools) complies with company and country requirements while optimizing overall solution cost, technical risk, and schedule; and approve technical specifications and source selection for outsourced subsystems and products in accordance with Make-Team-Buy policy, export restrictions, and offset requirements

Prepare, review, and sign Design Validation (DVa) documentation at each applicable bid and project milestone, ensuring formal approval by the Design Authority (DA); review and approve the completion of integration, verification, validation, and qualification (IVVQ) activities, oversee customer acceptance of the solution, and approve key bid and project engineering reviews and deliverables when acting at the solution-element level in the absence of a Project Design Authority (PDA); organize and lead technical meetings, peer reviews, and design assessments, ensure conclusions from technical reviews are formally reflected in the DVa, contribute to defining and continuously improving the solution development lifecycle and co-engineering approach, actively contribute to continuous improvement initiatives, maintain awareness of emerging and cutting-edge technologies, and represent the organization in industry working groups and standards bodies

Qualification

Systems EngineeringSolution ArchitectureAgile DevelopmentDesign Assurance StandardsComplex Systems IntegrationAir Traffic ManagementCloud-based ArchitecturesAnalytical SkillsCommunication SkillsProblem-solving Skills

Required

Bachelor's degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Engineering, or a related discipline, with a minimum of 9 years of relevant professional experience, or 10+ years of experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams, or an equivalent combination of education and experience

Demonstrated experience applying Design Assurance standards, particularly as they relate to system safety, compliance, and certification. Proven knowledge and hands-on experience in complex systems engineering, including system integration across hardware, software, and operational domains

Strong understanding of systems engineering processes and lifecycle methodologies, with experience supporting large-scale, complex programs involving multiple stakeholders and demanding schedules

Solid knowledge of and practical experience with Agile development methodologies, including iterative delivery, cross-functional collaboration, and incremental value realization

Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences. Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver results in fast-paced environments

High standards of quality and a strong attention to detail, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and compliance across deliverables. Disciplined, structured, and systematic thinker with strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer at the time of hire. This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship or for assuming sponsorship of an employment visa now or in the future

Preferred

Working knowledge of the national airspace system and/or an understanding of unmanned aircraft systems

Experience working on technology-centered programs for US Federal Gov't Agencies (with a strong preference for FAA, DoD/DoW and/or DHS)

Strong knowledge of aeronautical and Air Traffic Management (ATM) systems, data, and operational environments, including familiarity with industry standards, safety culture, and applicable regulatory frameworks

Working knowledge of FAA operations and maintenance policies, procedures, and governance models, including compliance, audit, certification, and reporting requirements

Broad understanding of aviation and air traffic control (ATC) concepts, operations, and system interactions within complex airspace environments

Experience with modern software engineering practices, methodologies, and toolchains, including agile delivery, DevSecOps, and model-based or component-based development approaches

Demonstrated ability to present, defend, and position technical solutions to customers and stakeholders with varying levels of technical expertise, translating complex architectures into clear business and operational value

Proven systems engineering expertise across the full software and/or hardware development lifecycle, including architecture definition, integration, verification and validation, and experience with cloud-based architectures

Benefits

Elective Health, Dental, Vision, FSA/HSA, Voluntary Life and AD&D, Whole Group Life w/LTC, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity, Accident Insurance, Legal Plan, Identity Theft, and Pet Insurance

Retirement Savings Plan after 30 days of employment with a company contribution and a match, and with no vesting period

Company paid holidays and Paid Time Off

Company provided Life Insurance, AD&D, Disability, Employee Assistance Plan, and Well-being Program