Chief Architect- Space Communication Systems

About the role

The Chief Architect, Communications Systems is a Distinguished Member of Technical Staff (DMTS) who serves as a senior technical authority and customer facing technical interface for communications systems architecture. This role drives the strategic design and evolution of complex communications solutions — spanning, satellite, wideband, and mission-critical network architectures — while directly engaging customers to shape requirements, present technical solutions, and build long-term relationships. The Chief Architect leads cross-functional engineering teams, identifies emerging technologies, and influences both internal strategy and external business development to advance the company's position in the communications domain.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary technical representative to customers, program offices, and government stakeholders for communications systems architectures.
• Lead customer-facing technical reviews, architecture briefings, and requirements discussions, translating complex technical concepts into clear, compelling narratives.
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with customer technical leads, contracting officers, and program managers.
• Represent the company at industry forums, conferences, and working groups relevant to communications systems.
• Anticipate customer needs and proactively propose architectural solutions aligned with mission objectives and GDMS strategic developments.
• Define and own end-to-end communications system architectures encompassing RF/waveform design, spectrum management, link budgets, network topology, interface control, and protocol stacks.
• Apply advanced systems engineering principles to develop architectures that balance performance, cost, schedule, and risk across the full communications system lifecycle.
• Lead architecture trade studies and analysis of alternatives (AoA) for communications technologies focusing on satellite communications, including Tracking, Telemetry and Control (TT&C), inter Satellite Data links and hi rate Mission Data links exploiting software-defined radio (SDR) technologies, with On-orbit re-programmability/reconfigurability, and other emerging wideband/MIMO solutions.
• Oversee design and development processes for communications products, ensuring compliance with Space Environments, reliability and Mission life, while driving Designs for manufacturability and reduction of manufacturing costs.
• Utilize modeling, simulation, and formal trade study tools to optimize system performance and validate architectural decisions.
• Actively identify and communicate high-level technical risks, risk trade space, and mitigation strategies to program leadership and customers.
• Conduct research to identify leading-edge and breakaway communications technologies and assess their implications for the company's strategic direction.
• Research and report significant shifts in the communications technology landscape — including spectrum policy, contested/degraded environments, and next-generation waveforms — and their business impact.
• Identify opportunities to apply AI/ML for continuous improvement, optimization, and innovation within communications systems.
• Lead quick response communications systems proposals, identifying cross-business unit strengths and technical gaps, and providing teaming recommendations to maximize win probability.
• Contribute to shaping major market opportunities in communications, including new program identification and strategic capture planning.
• Drive the development of new business opportunities that can lead to new Lines of Business (LOB) or Division creation.
• Influence the development of technical opportunities leading to new business through position papers, white papers, and technology demonstrations.
• Direct technical and teaming strategies across business units and divisions to respond to customer requirements.
• Establish technology and process direction for the communications systems technical community.
• Mentor and guide less experienced engineers on advanced communications engineering principles, architecture methods, and customer engagement practices.
• Anticipate needs and concerns of the technical community and drive resolutions.
• Take immediate and decisive action on technical and performance issues, leveraging influence to author trade studies and position papers as needed.

Requirements

• Deep expertise in communications systems architecture: RF systems, waveform design, spectrum management, satellite communications, networks, and link analysis.
• Demonstrated ability to engage directly with customers and government stakeholders as a trusted technical authority.
• Advanced understanding of systems engineering principles, architecture frameworks (DoDAF, TOGAF), and model-based systems engineering (MBSE).
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills — able to convey complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Proven ability to lead complex engineering projects and major proposals across distributed teams.
• Proficiency in requirements management tools, modeling and simulation environments, and formal trade study methodologies.
• Strong research and analytical skills with the ability to evaluate emerging technologies and their operational impact.
• Tremendous influence within the technical and customer communities.
• Ability to anticipate, identify, and resolve high-level technical and performance issues decisively.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, plus a minimum of 15 years of relevant experience; or Master's degree in Engineering, plus a minimum of 13 years of relevant experience.
• Clearance Requirements: Department of Defense TS/SCI security clearance is preferred at time of hire. Candidates must be able to obtain a TS/SCI clearance within a reasonable amount of time from date of hire. Applicants selected will be subject to a U.S. Government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information. Due to the nature of work performed within our facilities, U.S. citizenship is required.

Skills

• Identifies and applies AI/ML opportunities for continuous improvement and innovation in communications systems.

Benefits

• Flexible schedules with every other Friday off work (9/80 schedule)
• Competitive benefits, including 401k matching, flex time off, paid parental leave, healthcare benefits, health & wellness programs, employee resource and social groups, and more

Pay

Target salary range: USD $219,876.00/Yr. - USD $243,925.00/Yr. This estimate represents the typical salary range for this position based on experience and other factors (geographic location, etc.). Actual pay may vary.

Schedule

This position is Onsite at any of the locations listed. Relocation assistance available to these locations, preferred location is Scottsdale.