Job Description

MIKEL invests in people and technology - empowering the creative process, building responsive relationships, and propelling innovative solutions from conception to completion for the U.S. Navy. MIKEL is a small woman owned business that has been providing Undersea Warfare Solutions to the Department of Defense since the company's inception in 1999.



Be a part of our dynamic team whose solutions and services enable the Navy to solve their toughest problems and meet their mission requirements. We have undersea operations experience, combined with engineering and specific subject matter expertise, that provides an in-depth understanding of the problem and a novel, innovative and cost-effective solution. MIKEL is committed to providing an environment that challenges its employees to use and advance their skills and knowledge to provide solutions that exceed customer expectations.

Position: Systems Architect

Nature of Role:

The Senior Systems Software Architect will provide technical leadership and architectural guidance to define requirements, evaluate proposed designs and evaluate the implementation of a re-architected AN/BQQ-10 Submarine SONAR System in alignment with the Submarine Warfare Federated Tactical Systems (SWFTS) System of Systems guidelines.



The Senior Architect will ensure the SONAR system architecture is scalable, maintainable, secure, cyber-resilient, ensuring hardware and software components work together effectively and is aligned with Navy business objectives for successful integration into the SWFTS Common Computing Environment (CCE). This re-architecture will emphasize microservices, containerization, application development, hardware/software decoupling, and automated deployment and testing.



The Architect will directly support the Lead Systems Engineer (LSE) and work closely with government and industry Systems Architecture and SONAR System Subject Matter Experts (SME) to define requirements and evaluate proposed designs for the SONAR system re-architecture. The Architect will also work closely with Systems engineers, software developers, and technicians to gain and maintain SONAR and SWFTS software and hardware design expertise. In addition, the Architect will work closely with the systems engineering teams, development teams, product owners, and other stakeholders to translate business requirements into technical solutions and drive the overall re-architecture technical vision, providing independent systems architecture assessments and recommendations.

Responsibilities:

include but are not limited to:

Architectural Design & Standards:

+ Defining and maintaining architectural patterns and standards
+ Providing recommendations on designs and technologies
+ Ensuring compliance with relevant standards and best practices

Re-Architecture Assessment and Planning:

+ Conducting thorough assessments of the existing SONAR system architecture, system complexity and the current re-architecture plan
+ Developing and maintaining re-architecture assessment deliverables including
- Assessment reports (dependency mapping, performance bottleneck analysis, technology stack evaluation)
- Microservice decomposition plan (identifying microservice boundaries & responsibilities, API definition)
- Technology selection rationale, data migration strategy, deployment architecture (Kubernetes, Containerization, Cloud Services)
- Security architecture (authentication, authorization, data encryption)
- Risk assessment and mitigation plan

Technology Evaluation and Recommendations:

+ Evaluating new technologies and approaches for potential use

Technical Leadership & Mentorship:

+ Providing technical guidance and mentorship to engineering and development teams on systems architecture in general
+ Leading architectural reviews and design discussions
+ Resolving technical conflicts and making critical recommendations in support of systems re-architecture
+ Promoting best practices for architecture models, design, and development
+ Providing training, technical guidance, coaching, and feedback to help the SONAR Systems Engineering team improve their skills and knowledge in systems architecture

Collaboration & Communication:

+ Collaborating with partners from government, industry and academia to develop and maintain the overall SONAR and SWFTS system architecture
+ Working closely with product owners to understand and implement business requirements
+ Communicating architectural decisions to stakeholders, including Senior Leadership
+ Serving as a senior technical SME in SONAR systems architecture and related Integrated Product Teams (IPTs) and working groups

Performance and Security:

+ Analyzing system performance and identifying areas for optimization
+ Collaborating with the Cyber community to integrate improved security measures to protect the system and address vulnerabilities

Deliverables:

+ Systems Architectural design assessments
+ Software Development Plan for Re-Architected SONAR System
+ Technical specifications (e.g. individual components, interfaces, and data flows)
+ Technology selection reports for chosen technologies and frameworks
+ Scalability and performance plans to ensure system can handle future growth and varying workloads

Requirements:

Ability to Obtain/maintain SECRET Clearance.

Technical Expertise:

Minimum 10 years of practical, relevant, and recent experience designing the architecture of complex software systems; Senior SME-level understanding of System of Systems Architecture, including microservices and containerization; Expert knowledge of software and network architecture; Expertise in architectural design patterns, standards, and documentation; Experience with cloud technologies and infrastructure-as-code tools, such as: Kubernetes, Terraform, AWS, Azure, JIRA, Confluence, IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management/Engineering Test Management (IBM ELM/ETM); Gerrit/Artifactory may be useful; AGILE understanding, Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), and Cameo Systems Modeler; Strong knowledge of API design, development, and management; Experience with performance analysis, security architecture, and integration with other systems.

Software Development and Re-architecture Experience:

Solid understanding of the software development lifecycle (SDLC) and Agile methodologies; Proficiency in programming languages commonly used in distributed systems.

Leadership & Communication:

Proven ability to provide technical leadership and mentorship to engineering teams; Excellent communication skills (oral and written) with the ability to effectively communicate ideas, policy, and procedures to senior leadership and stakeholders; Demonstrated ability to deal effectively at all levels with internal and external stakeholder teams and associated senior leaders.

DoD/Navy Experience:

Knowledge of SONAR systems or DOD warfare systems, missions, and capabilities is beneficial but not required for this role. Familiarity with the organization, missions, programs, and management processes of relevant organizations is beneficial but not required for this role.

Work Location:

Naval Base Newport, RI or Navy On-Site Office, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Manassas, VA. Business Travel is required.

Business Travel to support the teams' efforts will be required. If based in Newport, RI can expect 25% of the time traveling to Manassas, VA or Washington, DC. If based in Manassas, VA can expect 50% of the time traveling to Newport, RI to support work with the Rhode Island-based team.


MIKEL offers a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package that includes Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance, Flexible Spending Account (FSA), 401k Retirement Plan, Life Insurance, Disability Insurance, Paid Time Off (PTO), and Tuition Reimbursement.



Department of Defense Secret Security Clearance or higher is required at time of hire. Applicants selected will be subject to a U.S. Government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information. Due to the nature of work performed within our facilities, U.S. citizenship is required.



MIKEL is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.