Chief Architect with Security Clearance

Sierra Space Careers:

At Sierra Space, we build the missions and systems that keep our world secure in the domain above Earth.
Sierra Space team members share a spirit of innovation and collaboration and a belief that we can deliver on the boldest missions in space today. Together with our customers, we aim to safeguard our nation, sustain human presence in space, and secure the freedom of operations in low Earth orbit and beyond.
Our success is measured by the trust of those who rely on what we build and deliver, and our technologies keep the United States and its allies mission-ready throughout space.

We are mission-driven, and together, we are an extraordinary team.

About the Role

The Chief Architect will provide technical vision and architectural leadership to a major program or programs, ensuring strategic design excellence and technical feasibility. The primary responsibility of this role is to define and maintain the technical architecture and standards across programs, establishing the foundational design that guides all engineering execution. This involves leading high-level system architecture decisions, developing long-term technology roadmaps, and determining what solutions best meet mission needs.

The Chief Architect will act as a senior leader within the program team, providing expert architectural direction on complex multidisciplinary systems, ensuring what we design will work and exploring the art of the possible. This position requires deep systems architecture expertise and the ability to build and execute technical strategies that span multiple programs.

About You

Our mission is driven by an unyielding commitment to advancing space-based technology in service of our customers and safeguarding national security. We seek individuals who are passionate about innovating beyond boundaries and relentlessly pursuing solutions that protect, preserve and empower - to join us in this critical mission.
We're looking for team members who align with our values, mission and goals - while also meeting the minimum qualifications below. The preferred qualifications are a bonus, not a requirement.

Key Responsibilities:

* Provide architectural leadership and strategic technical vision to major programs, defining the overall system architecture and technical standards that govern program execution.

* Establish architectural frameworks and design principles, making high-level decisions on system structure, technology selection, and integration approaches that address what architecture best meets mission needs and why.

* Develop and maintain long-term technology roadmaps, identifying emerging technologies and innovative solutions that position programs for future success.

* Work at the beginning of the program lifecycle to ensure that what we are designing will work, conducting architectural trade studies, evaluating technical feasibility, and validating that proposed designs can achieve mission objectives.

* Serve as an advisor across all programs, providing architectural consultation and solving the most challenging design problems that span multiple initiatives.

* Drive architectural innovation and standardization, establishing reusable design patterns and common technical approaches that enhance efficiency across programs.

* Take an active role in program milestone meetings and early-phase proposals, partnering with program leadership to shape technical strategies and define architectural baselines.

* Embody the company's culture and leadership values, acting as a catalyst for change by building architectural strategies that explore the art of the possible and identifying the steps needed to execute them across programs.

* Translate technical vision into coherent architectures, making final decisions on architectural approaches and design direction, and ensuring alignment with organizational objectives.

* Uphold and model company values, holding others accountable to these standards while interacting with internal and external executive-level management.

* Drive innovation in architectural practices, stay current with emerging technologies and industry trends, and contribute to the development of technical strategies and architectural roadmaps that support long-term organizational objectives.

Minimum Qualifications:

* Requires Bachelor's degree in a related field (or equivalent work experience in lieu of degree or Masters +14 yrs experience).

* Typically requires 16+ years of related experience.

* An active Top Secret with SCI eligibility U.S. Security Clearance is required

* Deep systems architecture expertise with demonstrated ability to define and lead technical architecture across complex programs.

* Demonstrated experience leading architectural design for significant projects, making high-level design decisions, and establishing technical standards across multiple disciplines.

* Demonstrated use of first principles and architectural thinking to evaluate design alternatives and define optimal system architectures for program…