Director, Enterprise Platforms (IT System Architect - Director I)
BAE Systems · Falls Church · $153,377–$260,743 (stated in the posting)
Job Description We are seeking a Director, Enterprise Platforms (IT System Architect - Director I) to own and mature the platforms, information assets, workflows, governance processes, and digital experience that enable the Enterprise Architecture (EA) organization to operate at enterprise scale.This role is the authoritative product and process owner for the EA tooling ecosystem. The Director will lead selection and implementation of a new enterprise architecture platform, including the RFI/RFP/RFS process, with tight integration to authoritative enterprise sources such as ServiceNow CMDB/CSDM, Collibra, network-management platforms, and related technology and portfolio systems.
The role also owns EA's digital knowledge experience: a central architecture document repository implemented through Microsoft Power Apps over SharePoint and the EA SharePoint portal used broadly by internal stakeholders. The successful candidate must combine enterprise-level product/process leadership with hands-on Power Platform and expert SharePoint development capability.
Equally important, this Director will mature how EA integrates with SDLC/PDLC, Agile, Waterfall, ITSM, cybersecurity, PMO, product, and operational processes. Success requires a highly engaging, pragmatic leader who listens well, leads through influence, and turns complex governance needs into simple, usable workflows that improve both control and delivery speed.
Key Responsibilities
Own the EA Platform Strategy, Sourcing & Product Roadmap
- Own the enterprise strategy, roadmap, operating model, and product lifecycle for the EA platform and associated tooling ecosystem.
- Lead the end-to-end RFI/RFP/RFS process for the next-generation EA platform, from requirements discovery and market evaluation through vendor selection, contracting support, implementation, migration, adoption, and steady-state operation.
- Translate EA, business, security, data, application, infrastructure, network, PMO, and operational needs into clear functional, technical, integration, reporting, security, usability, support, and non-functional requirements.
- Design objective vendor-evaluation criteria, scoring models, proof-of-concept scenarios, scripted demonstrations, reference checks, TCO comparisons, implementation-readiness assessments, and executive recommendations.
- Maintain a prioritized platform backlog covering capabilities, integrations, data quality, reporting, workflow automation, usability, adoption, and technical debt; balance near-term needs with long-term sustainability.
- Develop business cases, sourcing and licensing recommendations, implementation sequencing, success measures, and vendor/platform roadmap decisions.
- Define and govern the integration architecture connecting the EA platform with ServiceNow CMDB/CSDM, Collibra, network-management platforms, SharePoint/Power Platform, and other relevant enterprise systems.
- Establish system-of-record and data-stewardship principles for capabilities, applications, technologies, infrastructure/configuration items, data assets, interfaces, network information, lifecycle status, ownership, standards, and architecture metadata.
- Partner with ServiceNow platform/CMDB teams to align EA workflows and information models with CSDM, business applications, services, configuration data, and lifecycle processes.
- Partner with Data Governance/Collibra and Infrastructure/Network teams to connect authoritative metadata and operational sources without creating duplicate systems of record.
- Establish synchronization, reconciliation, data-quality, exception, ownership, and control processes that keep architecture information current, traceable, and trusted.
- Manage and optimize the Architecture Review Board (ARB) and Cloud Service Provider (CSP) review intake queues, ensuring timely throughput, appropriate prioritization, and high-quality submissions by partnering with requestors to clarify requirements, strengthen documentation, and resolve gaps before formal review.
- Own and continuously improve the EA engagement and governance process, including intake, review triggers, decision rights, required artifacts, approvals/exceptions, traceability, and handoffs.
- Embed architecture into SDLC/PDLC, Agile, iterative, Waterfall, ITSM, cybersecurity, project/program, product, and operational workflows so EA engages at the right time and level of rigor.
- Establish a risk- and complexity-based governance model that scales architecture involvement based on business criticality, security impact, integration complexity, data sensitivity, and enterprise reach.
- Create end-to-end traceability from business need and architecture decision through solution design, implementation, testing, deployment, and operational outcome where appropriate.
- Automate architecture intake, review, standards validation, exception management, decision records, evidence capture, and status reporting using ServiceNow, Power Platform, the EA tool, and related workflow technologies.
- Define and track service metrics such as cycle time, backlog, rework, standards adoption, exception trends, data quality, stakeholder satisfaction, and early architecture engagement.
- Partner with PMO, product, engineering, cybersecurity, infrastructure, and operations leaders to reduce governance friction while preserving accountability and appropriate enterprise controls.
- Own the architecture, product lifecycle, governance, and continuous improvement of the central EA document repository, including the Microsoft Power App that overlays the SharePoint-based architecture document store.
- Design and enhance Power Apps and Power Automate workflows for architecture document submission, metadata capture, routing, review, approval, publication, archival, search, and lifecycle management.
- Establish metadata, taxonomy, naming, versioning, permissions, retention, ownership, quality, and content-lifecycle standards for architecture artifacts.
- Design, build, curate, and continuously improve the EA SharePoint portal as the authoritative internal destination for standards, reference architectures, patterns, roadmaps, processes, templates, training, and organizational information.
- Deliver a polished, intuitive, accessible, and professional SharePoint experience with strong information architecture, navigation, page design, search, visual consistency, and audience-oriented content.
- Establish publishing standards, content ownership, review cadences, stale-content controls, usage analytics, and feedback mechanisms to keep EA knowledge current and trusted.
- Apply process-improvement methods to remove unnecessary handoffs, duplicate data entry, unclear ownership, manual controls, and avoidable delays across EA services.
- Use workflow automation and AI-enabled capabilities to accelerate reviews, improve data quality, reduce administrative effort, generate insights, and make EA information easier to create, maintain, find, and consume.
- Create as-is/to-be process models, service blueprints, RACI/decision-rights models, workflows, operating procedures, and repeatable playbooks for critical EA services.
- Lead organizational adoption for EA platforms and processes through stakeholder engagement, communications, training, office hours, release readiness, feedback loops, and adoption measurement.
- Establish platform governance for roles/access, environments, release management, testing, support, incident/problem resolution, enhancement intake, change control, and lifecycle planning.
- Manage strategic vendor and implementation-partner relationships, including roadmap alignment, support/service issues, licensing and renewal planning, and escalation.
- Develop executive-ready dashboards and reporting on platform adoption, governance performance, workflow efficiency, data quality, stakeholder experience, risks, and improvement opportunities.
- Operate as an advocate, communicator, and bridge between business stakeholders and technical teams, translating outcomes into usable platform/process requirements and complex governance issues into understandable decisions.
- Lead with purpose by establishing the why, business impact, alternatives, cost, risk, and consequences of action or inaction before converging on a platform or process solution.
- Listen actively, facilitate difficult cross-functional decisions, and build durable alignment in a matrixed enterprise where success depends on credibility and influence rather than positional authority.
- Partner with EA leadership to continuously improve the EA charter, service model, governance forums, standards lifecycle, metrics, documentation approach, and overall operating effectiveness.
- Enterprise Platform & Process Leadership: Owns enterprise capabilities that materially affect how architecture and technology delivery operate across the company; exercises sound judgment and executive presence.
- Lead With Purpose: Establishes the business and mission rationale - the why - before determining process, platform, and implementation - the how and what.
- Pragmatic Governance: Balances discipline, traceability, security, and control with usability and delivery speed; avoids process for process's sake.
- Empowerment & Accountability: Creates clear roles, standards, workflows, and decision rights that empower teams while preserving accountability for outcomes.
- Resilience & Adaptability: Adjusts, perseveres, and overcomes when requirements, technologies, or organizational conditions change while protecting long-term value.
- Visualization & Executive Communication: Uses clear process models, architecture views, dashboards, roadmaps, and concise communication to simplify complexity and enable decisions.
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, Business, Public Policy, or a related discipline; equivalent relevant professional experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
- 12+ years of progressive experience across enterprise technology, program/project management, IT governance, process improvement, platform/product ownership, enterprise architecture enablement, or related disciplines, including leadership of large cross-functional initiatives.
- Demonstrated experience owning or leading implementation of an enterprise platform, governance capability, or operating process with significant organizational change and cross-functional integration.
- Strong ServiceNow platform familiarity, including CMDB/CSDM concepts, ITSM/governance workflows, configuration data, platform integrations, and related enterprise processes.
- Advanced hands-on proficiency developing Microsoft Power Apps and Power Automate solutions and expert-level SharePoint site development, including information architecture, permissions, lists/libraries, metadata, navigation, content management, and user-experience design.
- Demonstrated experience leading formal technology sourcing activities such as RFI/RFP/RFS, vendor evaluation, proof-of-concept, scoring, business-case development, and implementation planning.
- Strong SDLC/PDLC knowledge and experience integrating architecture, governance, risk, compliance, or review processes into Agile, Waterfall, product, project, and operational delivery models.
- Demonstrated experience with process modeling, as-is/to-be design, workflow optimization, RACI/decision rights, change management, stakeholder engagement, and measurable continuous improvement.
- Experience designing or governing integrations among enterprise platforms and establishing system-of-record, data ownership, synchronization, reconciliation, and data-quality responsibilities.
- Strong knowledge of ITSM and IT governance and the relationship among architecture, portfolio/program management, cybersecurity, operations, and service delivery.
- Proven ability to manage large, ambiguous, multi-workstream initiatives and move work from concept through sustainable operation.
- Exceptional verbal, written, visual, facilitation, and relationship-building skills with demonstrated ability to influence senior leaders, technical teams, vendors, and business stakeholders in a matrixed enterprise.
- TOGAF certification or demonstrated experience with enterprise architecture frameworks and operating models.
- ITIL v4 Foundation or advanced ITIL certification; Certified ScrumMaster (CSM), Agile, or equivalent delivery-method certification.
- Microsoft Power Platform and/or SharePoint certification.
- ServiceNow certification such as Certified System Administrator (CSA), implementation certification, or equivalent platform expertise.
- Experience implementing or administering an enterprise architecture management platform integrated with ServiceNow CMDB/CSDM, Collibra, network/infrastructure management platforms, or comparable enterprise systems, including data governance, metadata management, application/technology portfolio management, capability mapping, roadmapping, and architecture lifecycle management.
- Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
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Pay Information
Full-Time Salary Range: $153377 - $260743
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.