Enterprise Cloud Architect (IT System Architect - Senior Principal II)
BAE Systems · Falls Church · $149,603–$254,317 (stated in the posting)
Job Description We are seeking an Enterprise Cloud Architect (IT System Architect - Senior Principal II) to serve as a senior technical authority and architecture leader for enterprise cloud transformation, application modernization, digital engineering, automation, and modern software delivery.This is a highly influential individual-contributor role responsible for architecture across some of the company's largest, most complex, and strategically important technology initiatives. The Enterprise Cloud Architect will serve as the lead Solution Architect for the company's Move-to-Cloud transformation, translating business objectives and an evolving understanding of the current technology landscape into an executable architecture strategy, migration approach, technical roadmap, and target-state architecture.
The successful candidate combines enterprise architecture perspective with deep hands-on cloud engineering and software development expertise. This individual must be equally comfortable defining enterprise cloud standards and reference architectures, working with executives and program leadership, decomposing complex application dependencies and data flows, mentoring Solution Architects, and using Infrastructure as Code and AI-assisted engineering to accelerate delivery.
This role operates across organizational boundaries and must align Enterprise Architecture, PMO, Cybersecurity, Infrastructure, Network, Data, Application Development, Operations, business stakeholders, and external partners. Success requires exceptional technical depth, judgment, pragmatism, communication, and the ability to lead through influence rather than organizational authority.
Key Responsibilities
Lead Enterprise Cloud Transformation
- Serve as the principal architecture lead for the enterprise Move-to-Cloud program, owning technical architecture direction from current-state discovery through target-state architecture, migration sequencing, implementation, and operational readiness.
- Establish the conceptual and solution architecture required to move a large, interconnected application portfolio to the cloud while maintaining alignment with business outcomes, cybersecurity requirements, operational constraints, cost, schedule, and enterprise technology strategy.
- Lead architecture through ambiguity by using known application, server, system, and dependency information as a starting point and progressively identifying missing interfaces, integrations, data entities, risks, and sequencing requirements.
- Develop pragmatic approaches that meet programs where they are, enabling forward progress without waiting for perfect information while ensuring material unknowns and architecture risks are surfaced and resolved.
- Partner closely with PMO and program leadership to integrate architecture activities, decisions, dependencies, technical risks, and deliverables into the overall transformation plan.
- Serve as a senior technical escalation point for complex cloud decisions and provide clear recommendations based on business value, security, risk, cost, complexity, scalability, resiliency, and long-term supportability.
- Own and evolve enterprise Cloud Patterns, Standards, Principles, Reference Architectures, and implementation guidance spanning IaaS, PaaS, SaaS, cloud-native, hybrid-cloud, and applicable multi-cloud environments.
- Establish reusable architectures for landing zones, subscriptions/accounts, resource organization, compute/server offerings, identity, platform services, observability, resiliency, data protection, deployment, and cloud operations.
- Partner with the Enterprise Network Architect and Cybersecurity to incorporate approved network connectivity, segmentation, secure-access, identity, encryption, monitoring, and automated-control patterns into cloud reference architectures.
- Translate cloud strategy into consumable technical guidance that Solution Architects, engineers, developers, cybersecurity teams, infrastructure teams, and delivery partners can consistently implement.
- Ensure cloud architectures align to Zero Trust and secure-by-design principles and applicable NIST, CMMC, DFARS, RMF, CUI, ITAR/EAR, and related security and compliance requirements.
- Maintain hands-on engineering depth sufficient to turn architecture into executable solutions and demonstrate how enterprise patterns should be implemented.
- Design and develop Infrastructure as Code (IaC) for cloud landing zones, subscriptions/accounts, resource groups, compute/server shapes, shared services, platform resources, security controls, and reusable cloud environments.
- Establish reusable IaC modules, templates, automation, and engineering patterns that improve delivery speed, repeatability, security, consistency, and supportability.
- Apply software engineering disciplines to cloud architecture, including source control, peer review, CI/CD, automated testing, configuration management, observability, release management, and lifecycle management.
- Define and demonstrate practical use of AI-assisted architecture and engineering to accelerate Move-to-Cloud and other enterprise initiatives.
- Apply AI to architecture discovery, dependency analysis, application and integration documentation, migration planning, artifact generation, IaC development, technical analysis, testing, and knowledge capture.
- Establish repeatable, governed patterns for AI-assisted and agentic engineering workflows while maintaining appropriate cybersecurity, data protection, quality, human oversight, and accountability.
- Mentor architects and engineers in the effective and responsible application of AI to technical delivery.
- Define enterprise DevSecOps frameworks, patterns, standards, and reference implementations covering source control, CI/CD, security integration, artifact management, automated quality gates, environment promotion, observability, release management, and deployment automation.
- Establish reusable architecture patterns for automated testing, including unit, integration, regression, security, performance, and other applicable testing integrated into delivery pipelines.
- Develop enterprise architecture frameworks, patterns, and standards for Automation and Digital solutions that promote reuse, interoperability, secure integration, and sustainable lifecycle management.
- Own the enterprise architecture framework and technical guardrails for Citizen Development and low-code/no-code solutions, including clear pathways for solutions to mature into supported business or enterprise applications.
- Define patterns for connectors, integrations, identity, security, data management, environment strategy, ALM, DevSecOps, monitoring, and supportability across citizen-development platforms.
- Act as an enterprise architecture authority for cloud, application modernization, DevSecOps, automation, and digital engineering and materially contribute to the evolution of the broader EA practice.
- Develop and maintain standards, reference architectures, principles, decision records, reusable patterns, transition architectures, and roadmaps.
- Demonstrate advanced proficiency with an enterprise architecture modeling/repository platform and use it to maintain meaningful relationships across business capabilities, applications, technology, infrastructure, integrations, data, and transformation roadmaps.
- Create clear, decision-oriented architecture visualizations including cloud/platform architecture views, data-flow diagrams, application and integration views, solution-sequencing diagrams, transition-state architectures, capability maps, and capability/technology roadmaps.
- Apply TOGAF and appropriate Agile, iterative/incremental, and Waterfall delivery methods pragmatically based on program context; lead architecture/design reviews and governance discussions for strategically significant initiatives.
- Operate as an advocate, communicator, and bridge between business stakeholders and technical teams, translating business outcomes into architecture direction and complex technical issues into understandable business decisions.
- Engage stakeholders first on the why, intended outcome, business impact, alternatives, cost, risk, and consequences of action or inaction before converging on a technical solution.
- Engage engineering teams with sufficient technical depth to validate interfaces, data flows, integration points, architectural assumptions, design quality, and alignment with the broader enterprise ecosystem before implementation.
- Listen actively, solicit diverse perspectives, and use a high-engagement partnership model in which the architect may lead directly, work jointly with teams, or enable teams to execute independently within clear architecture guardrails.
- Communicate options, tradeoffs, recommendations, risks, and roadmaps with clarity appropriate for audiences ranging from engineers to senior executives and build alignment through credibility and influence.
- Own the architecture-to-operations transition, partnering with engineering and operations teams to ensure solutions are operationally ready, maintainable, scalable, and resilient.
- Provide senior technical leadership, coaching, and mentorship to Enterprise, Business, and Solution Architects without requiring formal reporting relationships.
- Serve as a senior architecture partner for the Commercial, CRM, and Customer-Facing value stream/business capability, helping Solution Architects address complex cross-system, cloud, integration, data, and modernization challenges.
- Provide architecture guidance for Salesforce and other customer-facing platforms and ensure solutions integrate effectively with enterprise cloud, identity, data, integration, cybersecurity, and operational capabilities.
- Develop reusable approaches and elevate the technical capability of other architects so that knowledge and decision-making scale beyond the individual.
- Enterprise Technical Leadership: Demonstrates the judgment and credibility to lead architecture for enterprise-scale transformations and influence consequential technology decisions across organizational boundaries.
- Lead With Purpose: Establishes the business and mission rationale - the why - before determining architecture and implementation - the how and what.
- Pragmatic Architecture: Balances architectural integrity with delivery reality; distinguishes critical requirements from unnecessary perfection and moves complex initiatives forward responsibly.
- Empowerment & Accountability: Establishes clear direction and guardrails while empowering teams to execute and holding them accountable for outcomes.
- Resilience & Adaptability: Adjusts, perseveres, and overcomes when assumptions, constraints, or program conditions change while maintaining focus on long-term enterprise value.
- Architecture Visualization & Executive Influence: Uses clear visuals and concise communication to simplify complexity, expose dependencies, facilitate decisions, and influence leaders without reliance on positional authority.
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or a related technical discipline; equivalent relevant professional experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
- 12+ years of progressive experience across software engineering, cloud engineering, solution architecture, and/or enterprise architecture, including substantial experience leading architecture for large, complex enterprise initiatives.
- Demonstrated experience serving as the lead architect or senior technical authority for a major enterprise transformation, cloud migration, or similarly complex multi-system program.
- Deep architecture and engineering expertise in public cloud environments such as Azure and/or AWS, including IaaS, PaaS, SaaS, hybrid architecture, and cloud-native design.
- Significant hands-on experience designing and implementing Infrastructure as Code, cloud landing zones, cloud resource structures, compute services, automated provisioning, and reusable cloud services.
- Strong software development background and demonstrated understanding of modern software engineering practices.
- Deep knowledge of DevOps/DevSecOps, CI/CD, source control, automated testing, deployment automation, observability, and contemporary SDLC/PDLC practices.
- Demonstrated ability to create enterprise architecture patterns, standards, reference architectures, and technical roadmaps and drive adoption across multiple teams.
- Strong knowledge of integration architecture, application dependencies, APIs, data flows, and distributed application environments.
- Demonstrated proficiency with an enterprise architecture modeling/repository tool.
- Advanced architecture visualization skills, including cloud/platform architecture views, application interaction diagrams, data-flow diagrams, solution-sequencing diagrams, transition architectures, capability maps, and roadmaps.
- Working knowledge of architecture and delivery methodologies including TOGAF, Agile, iterative/incremental delivery, and Waterfall, with the judgment to apply them pragmatically.
- Demonstrated experience using AI to accelerate architecture, software engineering, DevSecOps, or complex technology delivery.
- Experience designing architecture and governance for automation, digital, and citizen-development/low-code platforms.
- Working knowledge of Salesforce and enterprise CRM/customer-facing application ecosystems.
- Strong understanding of cybersecurity, Zero Trust, and secure-by-design architecture, with exceptional verbal, written, and visual communication skills and the ability to lead through influence in a matrixed enterprise.
- TOGAF certification.
- Advanced degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, Business, or related discipline.
- Azure, AWS, and/or other major cloud architecture certifications.
- 15+ years of combined software engineering, cloud engineering, and architecture experience.
- Experience architecting cloud transformation within aerospace, defense, manufacturing, or another large regulated enterprise.
- Experience with controlled-data and defense-aligned environments, including CUI, ITAR/EAR, NIST 800-171/53, DFARS, RMF, and/or CMMC.
- Deep Salesforce/CRM architecture experience and knowledge of customer-facing digital ecosystems.
- Experience with AI platforms, AI-assisted engineering, agentic development approaches, and enterprise AI-enabled delivery governance.
#LI-DM2
#LI-Hybrid
Pay Information
Full-Time Salary Range: $149603 - $254317
Please note: This range is based on our market pay structures. However, individual salaries are determined by a variety of factors including, but not limited to: business considerations, local market conditions, and internal equity, as well as candidate qualifications, such as skills, education, and experience.
Employee Benefits: At BAE Systems, we support our employees in all aspects of their life, including their health and financial well-being. Regular employees scheduled to work 20+ hours per week are offered: health, dental, and vision insurance; health savings accounts; a 401(k) savings plan; disability coverage; and life and accident insurance. We also have an employee assistance program, a legal plan, and other perks including discounts on things like home, auto, and pet insurance. Our leave programs include paid time off, paid holidays, as well as other types of leave, including paid parental, military, bereavement, and any applicable federal and state sick leave. Employees may participate in the company recognition program to receive monetary or non-monetary recognition awards. Other incentives may be available based on position level and/or job specifics.
About BAE Systems, Inc.BAE Systems, Inc. is a defense, aerospace, and security company headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, with more than 40,000 employees worldwide. We serve, supply, and protect those who protect us. As one of the most geographically diverse international defense companies, we deliver a full range of products and services spanning air, land, maritime, space, and cyber, including advanced electronics, intelligence solutions, and dedicated customer support.
Our culture is performance-driven and values-led, built on curiosity, creativity, and collaboration. Purpose isn't a tagline here. It's what drives us. We're developing breakthrough technologies that defend national security and make a lasting impact on our communities and our planet. When you join BAE Systems, you're not just building a career. You're contributing to a mission that truly matters.
This position will be posted for at least 5 calendar days. The posting will remain active until the position is filled, or a qualified pool of candidates is identified.