Principal Solutions Architect - AI Systems

Overview

Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc. (SPA) delivers high‑impact, technical solutions to complex national security issues. With over 50 years of business expertise and consistent growth, we are known for continuous innovation for our government customers, in both the US and abroad. Our exceptionally talented team is highly collaborative in spirit and practice, producing Results that Matter. Come work with the best!

We offer opportunity, unique challenges, and clear‑sighted commitment to the mission. SPA:
Objective. Responsive. Trusted.

The Space and Intelligence Division provides professional services to the US Space Force, Combatant Commands, Intelligence Community, and NASA. Our work includes enterprise architectural assessments, systems engineering and integration, test, planning and execution, cost estimating and analysis, acquisition support, and cybersecurity. We are trusted partners developing approaches and concepts to meet emerging high‑priority needs, assessing cutting‑edge technologies, and supporting capabilities for our National Defense.

Come join the fastest growing Division at Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc.

The Space Systems Group (SSG), part of SPA's Space and Intelligence Division, provides timely and objective assessments and recommendations integrating technical, operational, programmatic, policy and business analysis. We focus on our key clients in the Space community including the US Space Force's Space Systems Command (USSF/SSC), one of the three designated Field Commands under USSF. We work tirelessly to provide integrated solutions based on information and communications throughout the chain of command.

We provide clear and consistent analysis and recommendations which are aligned to strategic and leadership goals while balancing the ability to execute on time and on budget within the technical communities. Come join an organization responsible for being a key enabler of Space power!

SPA has a near‑term need for a Principal Solutions Architect - AI Systems.

Responsibilities

SPA is seeking a Principal Solutions Architect - AI Systems to lead the architecture of an AI‑enabled decision‑support system integrated into an existing operational environment. This role owns how AI reasoning, deterministic logic, data, and human decision authority work together in a production system where trust, auditability, and mission impact matter. This is not a data science or model‑development role. It is a systems architecture role that requires deep AI systems literacy.

• Own end‑to‑end architecture for an AI‑augmented operational system.

• Define how AI inference is bounded by constraints, validated, and surfaced for human decision‑making.

• Design agent‑based and workflow‑driven architectures that combine probabilistic and deterministic reasoning.

• Lead integration into existing platforms using API‑first, zero‑trust, container‑native patterns.

• Establish architectural patterns for traceability, auditability, and responsible AI.

• Serve as the senior technical authority across delivery increments.

This is a remote/hybrid position. You will be expected to work on‑site at least 2 days per week in either Colorado Springs, CO or El Segundo, CA due to the fast pace, quick‑turn nature of the job and the persistent need to access secure networks. Thus, residing in comfortable driving distance of either Colorado Springs, CO or El Segundo, CA should be considered.

Qualifications

About the Must Haves:

• US Citizen and current active DoD Secret clearance.

• Minimum 8 years of experience designing complex distributed systems.

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field.

• Possession of at least one of the following certifications:
- Azure Solutions Architect Expert (AZ‑305)
- Azure Dev Ops Engineer Expert (AZ‑400)
- Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) or equivalent.

• Demonstrated experience architecting production AI‑enabled systems.

• Experience integrating AI into existing enterprise or mission platforms.

• Strong understanding of AI failure modes, uncertainty, and validation at the system level.

• Experience designing systems with human‑in‑the‑loop authority.

• Deep…