Systems Engineer / Solution Architect
CACI International· enterprise· Defense· Sep 23, 2026 · 1mo ago
Washington DC US
Hybrid
Full-time
Principal
$115K–$252K
15+ years exp
Job description
Job Title: Systems Engineer / Solution Architect
Job Category: Information Technology
Time Type: Full time
Minimum Clearance Required to Start: None
Employee Type: Regular
Percentage of Travel Required: Up to 10%
Type of Travel: Local
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The Opportunity:
FEMA s technology modernization decisions will shape emergency management capabilities for the next decade—determining which systems are positioned to leverage cloud, AI, and modern architecture patterns, and which require fundamental transformation. As a System Engineer / Solutions Architect on our FEMA ITSA program, you will provide expert-level technical leadership across the entire portfolio assessment, translating complex architectural realities into actionable modernization strategies that balance risk, cost, mission impact, and technical feasibility.
You ll conduct deep-dive architectural reviews spanning application design, hosting patterns, data architecture, integration maturity, API readiness, and cybersecurity posture. Your analysis will cut through complexity to identify the optimal modernization pathway for each system—whether retain, rehost, replatform, reengineer, replace, consolidate, or retire—with clear, evidence-based rationale that connects technical decisions to mission outcomes and financial implications. This role places you at the strategic center of FEMA s technology future, where your architectural expertise will directly inform enterprise investment decisions, cloud migration priorities, integration strategy, and portfolio rationalization. You ll build defensible modernization roadmaps that executives can confidently act upon, knowing the recommendations are grounded in rigorous technical analysis and aligned to federal compliance frameworks.
Responsibilities:
Application & System Architecture Assessment:
Analyze application and system architectures including platform dependencies, middleware components, configuration management practices, and deployment patterns
Evaluate monolithic vs. microservices architectures and assess decomposition opportunities
Review development frameworks, technology stacks, programming languages, and technical debt accumulation
Assess containerization readiness, cloud-native architecture potential, and modernization feasibility
Document architectural constraints, tightly coupled dependencies, and technical barriers to modernization
Identify legacy technology risks including unsupported platforms, vendor lock-in, and obsolescence challenges
Data Architecture & Analytics Readiness:
Assess data architecture including conceptual, logical, and physical data models
Review data dictionaries, metadata management practices, and data governance maturity
Evaluate data lineage, data flows, and upstream/downstream data dependencies
Analyze data accessibility, quality, completeness, and fitness for analytics and AI/ML applications
Identify data consolidation opportunities, master data management needs, and data standardization gaps
Assess data residency requirements, privacy controls, and sensitive data handling practices
Cybersecurity Posture & Compliance Assessment:
Contribute to comprehensive cybersecurity posture reviews including Authority to Operate (ATO) status and RMF package currency
Assess NIST SP 800-53 security control implementation across control families
Evaluate Identity and Access Management (IAM) architecture, Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) enforcement, and privileged access management
Review logging, monitoring, and Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) integration maturity
Identify legacy technology security risks including unsupported operating systems, unpatched vulnerabilities, and compensating controls
Assess alignment with DHS cybersecurity policies, zero-trust principles, and continuous diagnostics and mitigation (CDM)
AI/Automation Readiness & Emerging Technology Evaluation:
Evaluate AI and automation readiness including data quality, volume, and structure suitable for machine learning
Assess data governance frameworks necessary to support responsible AI adoption
Analyze technical feasibility of AI/automation use cases aligned to mission value propositions
Identify risks, oversight requirements, and ethical considerations for AI implementation
Recommend opportunities to leverage Robotic Process Automation (RPA), intelligent document processing, or predictive analytics
Modernization Pathway Analysis & Strategy Development:
Develop detailed modernization options across the full spectrum: retain, rehost (lift-and-shift), replatform, reengineer (refactor), replace, consolidate, or retire
Quantify modernization complexity including technical effort, duration, team size, and skill requirements
Outline cost implications including migration costs, licensing changes, hosting model shifts, and total cost of ownership (TCO) analysis
Document transition risks, technical dependencies, sequencing constraints, and rollback strategies
Identify opportunities for phased migration, strangler pattern adoption, or incremental modernization approaches
Trace evidence through findings to recommendations, ensuring defensible, auditable decision rationale
Qualifications:
Required:
Bachelor s degree and 15 years of enterprise systems engineering and solution architecture experience across hybrid cloud and on-premises environments
Proven expertise in integration architecture, API design and governance, data architecture, and security engineering
Demonstrated ability assessing complex federal IT portfolios and developing modernization strategies
Deep hands-on experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or hybrid multi-cloud) including cloud migration patterns and cloud-native architecture
Strong analytical skills with the ability to evaluate technical trade-offs, quantify complexity, and assess cost implications
Ability to write clear, compelling engineering narratives for both executive and technical audiences
Experience translating architectural findings into actionable recommendations with defensible rationale
Ability to obtain DHS Entry on Duty (EOD) clearance
Compliance & Framework Expertise:
Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA) and federal security frameworks
OMB Circulars: A-130 (Information Security/Privacy), A-11 (Budget/Capital Planning), A-123 (Management Accountability & Internal Controls)
NIST SP 800-53 (Security and Privacy Controls), NIST SP 800-37 (Risk Management Framework)
Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) and DHS 4300A Sensitive Systems Policy
Privacy Act, E-Government Act, and Federal Records Act requirements
Section 508 Accessibility Standards and accessible technology design principles
FedRAMP authorization processes and cloud security requirements (as applicable)
DHS MD 11042.1 (For Official Use Only/Controlled Unclassified Information handling)
Desired:
Direct experience with DHS enterprise architecture frameworks, reference architectures, and technical standards
FedRAMP authorization experience including security assessment, continuous monitoring, and RMF package development
Prior experience modernizing legacy, highly coupled, monolithic systems within federal government portfolios
Hands-on experience with digital transformation initiatives including cloud migration, application modernization, and data platform consolidation
TOGAF, Zachman, or federal enterprise architecture framework certification
Cloud architecture certifications (AWS Solutions Architect Professional, Azure Solutions Architect Expert, or equivalent)
Experience with DevSecOps practices, CI/CD pipelines, and infrastructure as code
Familiarity with FEMA mission systems, emergency management operations, or disaster response technology
Background in agile architecture, evolutionary design, and incremental modernization approaches
Knowledge of emerging technologies including AI/ML platforms, containerization (Docker/Kubernetes), and serverless architectures
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What You Can Expect:
A culture of integrity.
At CACI, we place character and innovation at the center of everything we do. As a valued team member, you’ll be part of a high-performing group dedicated to our customer’s missions and driven by a higher purpose – to ensure the safety of our nation.
An environment of trust.
CACI values the unique contributions that every employee brings to our company and our customers - every day. You’ll have the autonomy to take the time you need through a unique flexible time off benefit and have access to robust learning resources to make your ambitions a reality.
A focus on continuous growth.
Together, we will advance our nation s most critical missions, build on our lengthy track record of business success, and find opportunities to break new ground — in your career and in our legacy.
Pay Range :
There are a host of factors that can influence final salary including, but not limited to, geographic location, Federal Government contract labor categories and contract wage rates, relevant prior work experience, specific skills and competencies, education, and certifications. Our employees value the flexibility at CACI that allows them to balance quality work and their personal lives. We offer competitive compensation, benefits and learning and development opportunities. Our broad and competitive mix of benefits options is designed to support and protect employees and their families. At CACI, you will receive comprehensive benefits such as; healthcare, wellness, financial, retirement, family support, continuing education, and time off benefits.
Since this position can be worked in more than one location, the range shown is the national average for the position.
The proposed salary range for this position is:
$114,600-$252,100
CACI is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected characteristic.
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