Director of Solutions Architecture Data

This is a U.S. based position. All of the programs we support require

U.S. citizenship to be eligible for employment. All work must be conducted within the continental U.S.
Who we are:
Raft ( is a customer-obsessed non-traditional small business with a purposeful focus on Distributed Data Systems, Platforms at Scale, and Complex Application Development, with headquarters in McLean, VA. Our range of clients include innovative federal and public agencies leveraging design thinking, cutting edge tech stack, and cloud native ecosystem. We build digital solutions that impact the lives of millions of Americans.
We're looking for an experienced Director of Solutions Architecture (Data) . The role will be dedicated to being able to deeply understand all projects at Raft, collaborate with technical teams and stakeholders, and respond to Government Contracting solicitations (RFIs/RFPs).
What we are looking for:
Demonstrated experience in designing and implementing scalable data architectures, with a deep understanding of data warehousing, data lakes, ETL processes, and big data technologies such as Hadoop, Park, or similar. Proficient in data modeling is essential
Demonstrated experience in authoring technical volumes to support Government Contracting (Gov Con), preferably DoD, solicitation responses (e.g. Request for Information (RFI) and Request for Proposal (RFP))
Ability to align data solutions with business goals, ensuring that data architectures support and enhance long-term goals
Strong analytical ability to address complex technical challenges
Strong ability to clearly communicate complex solutions in plain English both written and verbally across a diverse stakeholder audience (technical, non-technical)
Excellent leadership skills with experience in guiding cross-functional teams. Ability to work collaboratively with product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders
In-depth understanding of industry best practices and emerging trends in data architecture and big data technologies. Continuous learning mindset with a passion for staying updated on the latest technological advancements

Highly preferred:
Experience being in the DoD around software platform modernization
Deeply technical background and eagerness to constantly learn
You'd like to remain 25% with hands on building (hands on keyboard)

Clearance Requirements:
Active Secret security clearance

Work Type:
Colorado Springs, CO or Los Angeles, CA
May require up to 20% travel

What we will offer you:
Highly competitive salary
Fully covered healthcare, dental, and vision coverage
401(k) and company match
Take as you need PTO + 11 paid holidays
Education & training benefits
Annual budget for your tech/gadgets needs
Monthly box of yummy snacks to eat while doing meaningful work
Team off-site in fun places!
Generous Referral Bonuses
And More!

Our Vision Statement:
We bridge the gap between humans and data through radical transparency and our obsession with the mission.
Our Customer Obsession:
We will approach every deliverable like it's a product. We will adopt a customer-obsessed mentality. As we grow, and our footprint becomes larger, teams and employees will treat each other not only as teammates but customers. We must live the customer-obsessed mindset, always. This will help us scale and it will translate to the interactions that our Rafters have with their clients and other product teams that they integrate with. Our culture will enable our success and set us apart from other companies.
How do we get there?
Public-sector modernization is critical for us to live in a better world. We, at Raft, want to innovate and solve complex problems. And, if we are successful, our generation and the ones that follow us will live in a delightful, efficient, and accessible world where out-of-box thinking, and collaboration is a norm.
Raft's core philosophy is

Ubuntu: I Am, Because We are . We support our "nadi" by elevating the other Rafters. We work as a hyper collaborative team where each team member brings a unique perspective, adding value that did not exist before. People make Raft special. We celebrate each other and our cognitive and cultural diversity. We are devoted to our practice of innovation and collaboration.
We're an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.