KDA Consulting

Builds cloud and enterprise technology systems

Subject Matter Expert Systems Architect

IT OperationsConfirmed live in the last 24 hours

Full-timeHerndon, VA, USANo salary listedIn-person

About the Job

Requirements

A minimum of 20 years of technical experience in Systems Engineering, Enterprise Architecture, Systems Integration, and Digital Transformation.
A minimum of 15 years of dedicated experience supporting the Intelligence Community and/or Department of Defense.
A bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Systems Engineering, Business and IT, or a related technical discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Must possess an active TS/SCI with polygraph.
Deep architectural understanding and proven ability to support development of integrated future-state architectures combining Splunk, ServiceNow, and AppDynamics for holistic operational observability.
Proven expertise using enterprise architecture methodologies such as JARM, Gartner Enterprise Architecture, and FEAF to manage complex system-of-systems configurations.
Broad understanding of the notional AI stack, machine learning lifecycles, full lifecycle model management, and integration of massive enterprise datasets with machine learning tools.
Deep familiarity with secure, scalable hybrid cloud engineering solutions, such as AWS and cloud-native architectures, and cross-domain communications.
Expert-level knowledge of Risk Management Frameworks, A&A processes, system hardening, and IC directives including ICD 503, ICD 504, and NIST 800-53 standards.
Demonstrated experience championing SecDevOps best practices, including automated security testing, infrastructure as code, and CI/CD pipelines, and working within or across Agile/Scrum delivery teams.
Proficiency utilizing workflow tracking and documentation platforms such as JIRA and Confluence to manage system requirements and backlogs.
Ability to synthesize complex architectural designs and technical issues into high-impact briefings and customer-facing dashboard presentations for senior executive leadership.

Responsibilities

Drive the development, evolution, and alignment of future-state and integrated technical architecture for critical enterprise platforms, ensuring interoperability between Splunk, ServiceNow, and AppDynamics.
Define and maintain end-to-end technical architecture for a centralized IT systems data ecosystem, aligning it with strategic modernization goals and federal IT mandates.
Drive mission enablement for Cyber, IT, and Insight Operations through deployment of an AI-driven ecosystem that optimizes resources for data-driven success.
Lead and facilitate leadership offsites, multi-agency working groups, and strategic technical discussions to identify and mitigate infrastructure gaps, platform limitations, technical debt, and disconnected workflows.
Lead large-scale systems integration across disparate technical teams, integrating commercial off-the-shelf and custom-built solutions.
Build and operationalize data governance, data classification, and access control policies across hybrid cloud and on-premise environments in compliance with ICD 503, ICD 504, and upcoming AI mandates such as ICD 505.
Architect secure network segmentations, zero-trust frameworks, and cross-domain solutions within complex security enclaves, ensuring technical systems satisfy federal accreditation and assessment standards.
Provide technical leadership, conduct code and architecture reviews, promote DevSecOps cultures, and establish performance benchmarks for engineering teams.
Assist in managing program scope, schedules, milestones, technical dependencies, and risk mitigation strategies to optimize return on investment for critical technical solutions.

SME Systems Architect

KDA Consulting Inc · Herndon, United States · — · Posted 2026-06-08

Workplace: on_site

Description

We are seeking a highly accomplished Subject Matter Expert (SME) Systems Engineer to serve as a Senior Digital Transformation Architect & Strategist. In this role, you will define, integrate, and modernize the technical architecture for a centralized enterprise IT systems data ecosystem. You will serve as a strategic technical advisor to executive leadership, bridging the gap between high-level vision and engineering execution.

The ideal candidate will have extensive experience designing secure, scalable architectures that support advanced threat detection, real-time monitoring, automation, predictive analytics, and compliance strategies within complex multi-network Intelligence Community (IC) environments. Specifically, you will lead the architectural evolution and integration of enterprise platform standards including Splunk, ServiceNow, and AppDynamics to drive end-to-end visibility and operational excellence.

Future & Integrated Enterprise Architecture: Drive the development, evolution, and alignment of the future-state and integrated technical architecture for critical enterprise platforms, specifically ensuring seamless interoperability between Splunk, ServiceNow, and AppDynamics.
Enterprise Technical Architecture: Define and maintain the end-to-end technical architecture for a centralized IT systems data ecosystem, ensuring complete alignment with strategic modernization goals and federal IT mandates.
Digital Transformation Leadership: Drive mission enablement for Cyber, IT, and Insight Operations through the deployment of an AI-driven ecosystem that optimizes resources for data-driven success.
Strategic Facilitation: Lead and facilitate leadership offsites, multi-agency working groups, and strategic technical discussions to identify and mitigate infrastructure gaps, platform limitations, technical debt, and disconnected workflows.
Systems Integration: Lead massive-scale systems integration efforts across disparate technical teams, ensuring seamless integration of Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) and custom-built solutions.
Data Governance & Integrity: Build and operationalize robust data governance, data classification, and access control policies across hybrid cloud and on-premise environments in compliance with ICD 503, ICD 504, and upcoming AI mandates (e.g., ICD 505).
Security & Compliance Architecture: Architect secure network segmentations, zero-trust frameworks, and cross-domain solutions (CDS) within highly complex security enclaves. Ensure technical systems satisfy strict federal accreditation and assessment (A&A) standards.
Technical Mentorship & Governance: Provide technical leadership, conduct comprehensive code/architecture reviews, promote DevSecOps cultures, and establish rigorous performance benchmarks for engineering teams.
Program Advisory Support: Assist in managing program scope, schedules, milestones, technical dependencies, and risk mitigation strategies to optimize the return on investment (ROI) for critical technical solutions.

Requirements

Required Qualifications
Experience:
Minimum of 20+ years of technical experience in Systems Engineering, Enterprise Architecture, Systems Integration, and Digital Transformation.
Minimum of 15+ years of dedicated experience supporting the Intelligence Community (IC) and/or Department of Defense (DoD).
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Information Technology, Systems Engineering, Business and IT, or a related technical discipline (or equivalent combination of education and experience).
Security Clearance: Must possess an active TS/SCI with Polygraph.
Required Technical & Core Competencies
Enterprise Monitoring & ITSM Integration: Deep architectural understanding and proven ability to support the development of integrated future-state architectures combining Splunk (enterprise logging/SIEM), ServiceNow (ITSM/ITOM), and AppDynamics (application performance monitoring) to deliver holistic operational observability.
Architectural Frameworks: Proven expertise using enterprise architecture methodologies (e.g., JARM, Gartner Enterprise Architecture, FEAF) to manage complex system-of-systems configurations.
AI/ML Strategy: Broad understanding of the notional AI stack, machine learning lifecycles, full lifecycle model management, and integrating massive enterprise datasets with machine learning tools.
Cloud & Infrastructure: Deep familiarity with secure, scalable hybrid cloud engineering solutions (e.g., AWS, cloud-native architectures) and cross-domain communications.
Security Standards: Expert-level knowledge of Risk Management Frameworks (RMF), A&A processes, system hardening, and IC directives (including ICD 503, ICD 504, and NIST 800-53 standards).
Agile & DevSecOps Mindset: Demonstrated experience championing SecDevOps best practices (automated security testing, IaC, CI/CD pipelines) and working within or across Agile/Scrum delivery teams.
Tools: Proficiency utilizing workflow tracking and documentation platforms like JIRA and Confluence to manage system requirements and backlogs.
Communication: Exceptional ability to synthesize complex architectural designs and technical issues into high-impact briefings and customer-facing dashboard presentations for senior executive leadership.

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About the Company

KDA Consulting

Builds cloud and enterprise technology systems

KDA Consulting designs and runs enterprise technology for organizations moving complex systems into cloud and hybrid environments. Its engineers connect architecture planning with migration and day-to-day operations, addressing how applications, data and infrastructure work together. Clients buy technical advice and implementation support, with work ranging from network communications and infrastructure to software delivery and cybersecurity. The company manages on-premises platforms as well as cloud infrastructure, setting policies for security, compliance and performance alongside ongoing support. KDA Consulting began business in 2004 and is headquartered in Leesburg, Virginia.

Company size: 11-50
Company stage: Not listed
Total funding: Not listed
Headquarters: Leesburg, VA
Founded: 2004

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