Senior System Architect

Job description

At **Ardent**, we hire people who want more than a job — they want to serve a mission that matters. Our teams support the federal government’s most critical national security and defense priorities, helping protect the nation, strengthen resilience, and advance the technologies and capabilities that keep America secure. For veterans, cleared professionals, and purpose-driven innovators, Ardent is a place to continue serving alongside a team that understands the importance of the mission and the people behind it. We also know top talent has choices, which is why we back our mission with benefits and flexibility that stand out: competitive pay, comprehensive health coverage, flexible PTO, federal holidays off, tuition reimbursement, professional development support, wellness stipends, and a culture that values and rewards hard work, dedication, and adaptability. If you want to build something meaningful, while enjoying the kind of flexibility and support that you need to do your best work — **Ardent** is where your next mission begins. --- **Ardent** is seeking a **Senior System Architect** to join our team. This is role is hybrid working onsite 1 - 2 days a week in Washington DC. **Position Description:** Ardent is seeking a highly skilled Senior System Architect to support the design, development, and evolution of enterprise technology solutions in support of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) mission objectives. The Senior System Architect will apply extensive knowledge of enterprise IT environments to design and improve business and technical processes, gather and document user requirements, and ensure solutions align with DHS Enterprise Architecture models, standards, and requirements. This role serves as a trusted advisor to stakeholders and leadership, recommending enhancements to existing architectures to address emerging requirements, improve operational efficiency, and achieve mission outcomes. The ideal candidate possesses strong technical expertise, strategic thinking, and the ability to translate complex business requirements into scalable and effective enterprise solutions. **Responsibilities and Duties:** - Analyze enterprise IT environments and recommend architectural solutions that align with organizational goals and mission requirements. - Design, document, and implement enterprise architecture solutions that comply with DHS standards, frameworks, and best practices. - Gather, analyze, and validate business and user requirements to ensure solutions meet operational needs. - Evaluate existing systems and architectures and recommend improvements to support emerging requirements and technologies. - Serve as a technical advisor to program leadership, stakeholders, and project teams on architecture-related initiatives. - Develop architectural artifacts, diagrams, models, and documentation to support planning and implementation efforts. - Ensure solutions adhere to enterprise architecture principles, governance requirements, and security standards. - Collaborate with engineers, developers, cybersecurity personnel, and business stakeholders to integrate solutions across the enterprise. - Identify opportunities to improve workflows, increase efficiencies, and enhance organizational performance through technology solutions. - Support technology modernization initiatives and strategic planning efforts. **Requirements:** - Bachelor's degree and six (6) years of specialized experience; or - Master's degree and four (4) years of specialized experience. - Experience designing and implementing enterprise architecture solutions within complex IT environments. - Strong understanding of enterprise architecture frameworks, methodologies, and governance processes. - Experience gathering, documenting, and managing user and business requirements. - Demonstrated ability to assess current-state architectures and develop future-state recommendations. - Experience evaluating technologies and proposing architectural solutions to address evolving business and mission needs. - Strong analytical, problem-solving, and strategic planning skills. - Ability to communicate complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences. - Experience developing architecture documentation, models, and technical recommendations. Due to the nature of the work we support, all candidates in consideration for this role must be willing to undergo the government issued background investigation process. --- **Ardent** is an equal opportunity employer. We will not discriminate in employment, recruitment, advertisements for employment, compensation, termination, upgrading, promotions, and other conditions of employment against any employee or job applicant on the bases of race, color, gender, national origin, age, religion, creed, disability, veteran's status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or any other basis protected by state, local, or federal law.