Lead Application Architect

Lead Application Architect

Company: Sara Software Systems LLC

Location: Suitland, MD (Census HQ) area, hybrid

Terms: Full-time

Citizenship: US citizen required

Clearance: Public Trust (must be able to obtain)

Founded in 2004, Sara Software Systems LLC is a woman-owned, minority-owned, SBA-certified 8(a) small business delivering enterprise IT modernization solutions to federal agencies and commercial organizations. Our services span application development and modernization, Agile transformation, cloud engineering, data and AI solutions, secure software development, DevSecOps, cybersecurity, and enterprise program management.

As a process-driven, quality-focused company appraised at CMMI Maturity Level 3 for both Development and Services, and certified at CMMC Level 2, we help mission-critical organizations modernize legacy systems, strengthen their security posture, and scale digital transformation.

Project Description

This position supports Sara Software Systems LLC’s federal customer as part of an application transformation and modernization initiative.

This program is driving a large-scale transformation of systems into a data-centric, cloud-native ecosystem capable of supporting high-volume, near real-time data processing and advanced analytics. The work includes modernization of legacy applications, development of new cloud-native solutions, and implementation of DevSecOps and scaled Agile practices across the organization.

The core challenge: orchestrating complex, multi-contractor delivery while transforming both technology and operating models without disrupting mission-critical operations.

Position Description

As a Lead Application Architect at Sara Software Systems LLC, you will define and drive enterprise application architecture strategy across a complex portfolio of systems, teams, and modernization initiatives.

You will operate at the intersection of architecture, engineering, security, and delivery, ensuring applications are scalable, maintainable, secure, and aligned with enterprise standards and mission outcomes. You will guide modernization efforts, enforce architectural governance, and coordinate across multiple vendors, technical teams, and stakeholders.

This role requires someone who can balance long-term architectural vision with practical execution, particularly in environments transitioning from legacy systems to open-source, cloud-native platforms.

Responsibilities

• Lead application architecture strategy and governance across enterprise modernization initiatives
• Define and implement scalable, cloud-native application architectures using open-source technologies and modern integration patterns
• Guide modernization of legacy and on-premises systems into microservices-based and event-driven architectures
• Design and support APIs, messaging systems, event streaming, and system-of-systems integrations
• Support AI/ML-enabled application architectures, including model integration, deployment, and operationalization
• Align application architectures with enterprise data strategies, including data governance, data quality, lifecycle management, and real-time processing
• Support Census-style survey and data lifecycle systems, including data ingest, ETL pipelines, transformation, analytics, and dissemination workflows
• Ensure architectures align with federal security and compliance requirements including NIST, FedRAMP, FISMA, Zero Trust, MFA, secure SDLC, and ATO support processes
• Enable DevSecOps practices through architecture supporting CI/CD automation, security validation, and infrastructure-as-code
• Collaborate across multiple contractors, engineering teams, architects, and stakeholders to ensure architectural alignment and interoperability
• Lead architecture reviews, establish standards, and enforce best practices across delivery teams
• Ensure applications meet requirements for scalability, resiliency, high availability, observability, and operational performance
• Mentor developers and architects while driving architectural consistency across teams

Technical Environment

• Cloud-native environments (AWS, Azure)
• Open-source frameworks and technologies (Java, Python, React, Node.js)
• Containerization and orchestration platforms (Docker, Kubernetes)
• Infrastructure-as-Code and automation tools (Terraform)
• APIs, microservices, event-driven architectures, and messaging systems
• Streaming and messaging platforms (Kafka)
• DevSecOps and CI/CD toolchains (Jenkins, GitLab, GitHub Actions, SonarQube)
• Agile delivery and collaboration tools (Git, Jira, Confluence)
• High-volume, near real-time enterprise data ecosystems

What You Bring (Requirements)

Baseline Requirements

• 15+ years of experience in application architecture, software engineering, or enterprise modernization initiatives
• Proven experience leading application architecture across large-scale, distributed systems environments
• Experience operating within SAFe or scaled Agile delivery environments
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Public Trust clearance

Technical Capabilities

• Strong experience designing scalable, distributed, cloud-native application architectures
• Experience modernizing legacy/COTS systems into open-source, microservices-based platforms
• Experience supporting AI/ML-enabled systems, including model integration and deployment
• Experience designing APIs, event-driven systems, messaging architectures, and distributed integrations
• Experience aligning application architecture with enterprise data architecture and governance requirements
• Experience supporting large-scale data processing, ETL workflows, analytics, and dissemination systems
• Strong understanding of federal security and compliance frameworks including NIST, FedRAMP, FISMA, Zero Trust, MFA, secure SDLC, and ATO processes
• Experience implementing DevSecOps practices, CI/CD pipelines, and infrastructure automation
• Experience engineering for high availability, resiliency, scalability, and operational reliability
• Experience coordinating architecture across multi-team, multi-contractor delivery organizations

Core Strengths

• Strategic thinker with the ability to translate mission and business requirements into scalable architectures
• Strong ownership mindset with accountability for architectural outcomes
• Ability to influence technical direction across teams and stakeholders
• Strong decision-making capabilities balancing modernization goals with operational realities
• Effective communication across engineering, architecture, security, and executive stakeholders

Nice to Have (Differentiators)

• Certified Solutions Architect (AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud Professional)
• Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP) or similar security certification
• DevOps or DevSecOps certifications
• Experience supporting Census, statistical, or other large-scale federal modernization programs
• Experience with large-scale event streaming, real-time processing, or enterprise analytics platforms