Kentro · 20 hours ago
Principal Solutions Architect
Woodlawn, MD
Full-time
Hybrid
Lead/Staff
$200K/yr - $220K/yr
12+ years expKentro is a company focused on innovation and collaboration, seeking a Principal Solutions Architect to lead the technical vision for their Federal Health and Benefits portfolio. This role involves defining architecture for complex IT ecosystems, bridging legacy systems with modern solutions, and serving as a primary technical liaison for federal stakeholders.
Information Technology & Services
Responsibilities
Modernization Strategy: Define cohesive, end-to-end architecture blueprints that transition legacy workloads (e.g., Mainframe/COBOL) to modern, future-ready cloud environments (AWS/Azure/Hybrid) without disrupting mission-critical benefit delivery
Data Architecture: Lead the development of a transparent and accessible data ecosystem that improves data discovery and usability, enables actionable insights, and strengthens public trust in SSA data
Analysis of Alternatives (AoA): Lead high-level trade-off analyses to select the optimal mix of COTS, SaaS, and custom software, ensuring decisions align with the client's specific constraints regarding data privacy and transaction volume
Technical Governance: Establish and enforce enterprise architecture guardrails and Authority to Operate (ATO) ensuring all designs comply with NIST 800-53, Zero Trust, Section 508 (Accessibility), and client specific security mandates
Risk Management: Evaluate solution viability through rigorous feasibility studies and technical risk assessments, specifically addressing the challenges of data migration and interoperability in a federal environment
Lead the Leaders: Coach and empower Senior Solution Architects and engineering leads. You are not just a mentor; you are the standard-bearer for engineering discipline and architectural quality across the organization
Cross-Functional Command: Direct cross-functional engineering teams through the full lifecycle—from capture and design to delivery—ensuring solutions meet the extreme performance and reliability standards required for national entitlement programs
Drive enterprise innovation by piloting emerging technologies (e.g. AI/ML for fraud detection, Intelligent Automation for claims processing) while converting these capabilities into scalable, compliant standards
Trusted Advisor: Act as the strategic technical partner to SSA leadership and program offices, translating complex "tech-speak" into clear value propositions aligned with the agency's goal of improving customer experience and operational efficiency
Stakeholder Alignment: Present high-stakes architecture decisions, roadmaps, and ROI analyses to non-technical executive audiences to drive informed decision-making and secure buy-in for modernization initiatives
Solution Champion: Partner with Sales and Capture teams to lead the technical volume development for major SSA proposals. You will shape the "Win Strategy" by demonstrating deep understanding of the customer's business needs and pain points (e.g., backlog reduction, system interoperability)
Market Differentiation: Identify growth opportunities by demonstrating how architectural innovation (e.g., DevSecOps maturity, Automated Governance) delivers measurable business value to the government
Qualification
Required
Master's degree preferred (Bachelor's required) in Computer Science, Systems Engineering, or related field
12+ years of progressive IT experience, with at least 7+ years in senior or principal technical leadership roles (e.g., Chief Architect, Principal Systems Engineer)
Mandatory experience supporting the Social Security Administration (SSA), CMS, or similar large-scale federal transaction processing environments
Proven track record of designing mainframe modernization strategies (e.g., re-platforming, API enablement, or Strangler Pattern Migration)
Deep mastery of designing highly available solutions across AWS (GovCloud) or Microsoft Azure, with specific experience in hybrid connectivity to on-premise data centers
Expert knowledge of modern integration standards (REST/SOAP APIs, Microservices, Event-Driven Architecture) and their application in untangling monolithic legacy systems
Expertise in technologies and solution to enable streamlined, automated CI/CD pipelines with integrated cATO, IaC, Automated Test and Document generation. (Experience with Agentic workflows a plus)
Subject Matter Expert (SME) level understanding of NIST RMF, FedRAMP, FICAM, and Section 508 accessibility standards
Elite presentation skills with the ability to articulate technical concepts to C-suite executives and government leadership
Ability to look 3-5 years into the future, converting vague business requirements into actionable, long-term technology roadmaps. Shows a demonstrated understanding of CIO and EA organization, as well as the TTAP and EA Governance Models
Preferred
AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Professional, Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert, or CISSP
Implementation experience with TOGAF or SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework) in a federal context, and the processes SSA utilizes to execute the development lifecycle within the organization
Prior possession of an SSA 'Suitability' clearance or experience working with SSA's Systems Development Lifecycle (SDLC)
Experience integrating ServiceNow or similar ITSM/ITOM platforms to drive operational efficiency in government agencies
Benefits
Paid time off
Healthcare benefits
Supplemental benefits
401k including an employer match
Discount perks
Rewards
Education reimbursement for certifications, degrees, or professional development
Company
Kentro
IT Concepts has transformed into Kentro - your center for innovation, excellence, and growth.
501-1000 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageCompany data provided by crunchbase