- Career Center Home
- Search Jobs
- Solutions Architect & Proposal Manager
Description
About the Role:
The Solutions Architect & Proposal Manager plays a critical role in bridging the gap between complex technical solutions and client requirements to drive successful business outcomes. This role is responsible for leading federal proposals from kickoff through submission in support of mission-critical programs across Space Operations, Missile Defense, Cyber, and Intelligence. The position requires direct involvement in capture activities, technical solution development, proposal management, and content creation in response to U.S. Government solicitations. The individual in this role will coordinate cross-functional teams, manage proposal schedules and deliverables, support development of compliant and compelling technical and management approaches, and produce high-quality proposal content under tight deadlines. Responsibilities include facilitating proposal reviews, ensuring alignment with customer requirements, maintaining proposal quality standards, and supporting overall capture and business development efforts. Success in this role requires strong proposal management skills, the ability to work independently in fast-paced environments, effective collaboration with technical and executive leadership, and the ability to contribute meaningfully to both strategy and written deliverables throughout the capture and proposal lifecycle.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Information Technology, Business, or a related technical or professional field.
- 7+ years of experience in Federal or DoD proposal management, business development, or technical writing.
- Demonstrated record of managing and winning competitive bids under FAR/DFARS-governed solicitations (RFP, RFQ, BAA), OTAs, CSOs, SBIRS, etc.
- Proficiency with FAR Part 15 source selection, LPTA, and Best Value/Tradeoff evaluation frameworks.
- Strong technical writing ability; can produce compliant, compelling proposal volumes independently.
- Experience developing technical approaches, staffing plans, management plans, and past performance narratives.
- Ability to build and manage proposal schedules, compliance matrices, and color team review cycles.
- Comfortable operating in a small, fast-moving BD team without extensive administrative support.
- Active Secret clearance, or eligibility and willingness to obtain.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Master's degree in a relevant technical, business, or national security discipline.
- Experience with DoW (USAF, USSF, USA, USN, etc.), Space Force, Missile Defense Agency (MDA), or Intelligence Community customers.
- Familiarity with Space Force mission systems, MILSATCOM, Optical, Radars, or analogous DoD sensor/command systems.
- Background in Cybersecurity (CMMC, DISA STIGs, RMF, Zero Trust) or Enterprise IT program delivery.
- Experience with Systems Engineering, MBSE (e.g., Cameo Systems Modeler), or software development lifecycle.
- A PMP certification (Foundation or Practitioner) or Shipley methodology training.
- Experience on OASIS+, GSA MAS, MDA SHIELD, SeaPort NXG, NASA SEWP, SBIRS, or other IDIQ/MAC vehicles.
- Familiarity with DoD customers including Army, Navy (NAVFAC, SPAWAR/PEO C4I), NASA, NGA, NRO, NOAA, or DISA.
- TS/SCI clearance or prior access.
Responsibilities:
Solutions Architecture & Capture Support
- Participate in capture activities from opportunity identification through RFP release, contributing to win theme development, competitive analysis, teaming strategy, and gap assessments
- Serve as a technical solutions architect on complex, multi-disciplinary pursuits: translate customer mission needs and evaluation criteria into differentiated technical approaches
- Develop concept-of-operations narratives, staffing models, transition plans, and technical solution graphics in coordination with program and engineering staff
- Support gate reviews and BD pipeline management; contribute to bid/no-bid analysis and probability-of-win assessments
- Maintain awareness of competitive landscape across ITS core markets including Space Operations, MDA, Cyber, and IT engineering services
Proposal Management
- Lead end-to-end proposal development for assigned opportunities, including compliance matrices, annotated outlines, writing assignments, color team coordination, and final production
- Develop and manage master proposal schedules; coordinate internal reviewers, technical SMEs, subcontractor inputs, and executive reviewers against hard deadlines
- Ensure proposal volumes are fully compliant with RFP Section L/M requirements and structured to maximize evaluator scoring
- Produce draft and final proposal content across technical, management, staffing, and past performance volumes
- Support pricing strategy development and coordinate with Finance to integrate cost narratives
- Manage lessons learned, maintain proposal library, and continuously improve reusable content assets
Technical Writing & Communications
- Write and edit proposal content that is clear, compliant, concise, and compelling; translate complex technical concepts into evaluator-accessible prose
- Develop graphics concepts, infographics, and visual frameworks to support proposal narratives; coordinate with graphic designers or produce figures directly as needed
- Support executive-level deliverables including white papers, capability briefings, customer presentations, and BD collateral
- Contribute to RFI and Sources Sought responses; support market research submissions and industry day engagements
Relevant Mission & Technical Domains:
ITS pursues and executes work across a broad set of Federal and DoD mission areas. Candidates are not expected to hold expertise across all areas; however, demonstrated familiarity with multiple domains below is strongly advantageous:
Space & Missile Defense | Cyber & IT Engineering | Agency & Customer Focus |
Space Force Operations Support | Cybersecurity (CMMC, RMF, Zero Trust) | DoD Space Force (Space Delta units) |
Missile Defense Agency (MDA) Programs | Enterprise IT Architecture & Engineering | Missile Defense Agency |
Ground-Based Sensor Systems (SBIRS, UEWR) | Software Development / DevSecOps | Army (USASMDC, SMDC) |
Command & Control (C2) Systems | Systems Engineering & MBSE | Navy (SPAWAR, NAVFAC, NSWC) |
Space Situational Awareness / SSA | Network Engineering & Infrastructure | NASA / NASA JPL |
Satellite Operations & TT&C | IT Operations & Managed Services | NGA / NRO / Intelligence Community |
Training Systems & Simulation | Facilities / O&M (DoD) | NOAA / DISA / GSA |
Skills:
The required skills enable the Solutions Architect & Proposal Manager to design and articulate robust technical solutions that meet client needs while aligning with business objectives. Strong communication and presentation skills are essential for effectively collaborating with internal teams and engaging clients during the proposal process. Technical expertise in cloud platforms, networking, and software development allows the candidate to create innovative and feasible architectures. Project management and organizational skills are used daily to coordinate proposal activities, manage deadlines, and ensure quality deliverables. Preferred skills such as certifications and experience with Agile or government contracting enhance the candidate's ability to navigate complex environments and increase the competitiveness of proposals.
PI284892586