Lead, Solutions Architect

As a Solutions Architect, you will sit at the center of Divergent’s most critical growth and execution efforts, serving as the connective tissue between Business Development, Engineering, and Program Management. You will own development of technically credible, executable solution architectures for future programs – translating ambiguous customer needs into compelling technical approaches aligned to strategic objectives, operational realities, and business constraints. 

You will help shape opportunities early in the capture lifecycle, working with customers and cross-functional internal teams to define how Divergent’s capabilities can solve customer challenges while maximizing competitiveness and probability of win (PWIN). This includes identifying technical differentiators, evaluating trade spaces, assessing execution risk, and aligning proposed solutions with real-world programmatic realities. 

This role requires a rare combination of technical breadth, programmatic judgment, business acumen, and communication skill. Successful candidates must be comfortable operating fluidly across disciplines, engaging deeply with engineering teams on capabilities and constraints while also supporting executives, capture teams, customers, and partners in shaping acquisition and growth strategy. 

You will help ensure that Divergent is not only building the right solutions, but pursuing the right opportunities in the right way. 

Key Responsibilities Include: 

• Own development of technically credible and executable solution architectures for strategic pursuits, serving as the primary connector across Business Development, Engineering, Program Management, Manufacturing, Technology and Executive teams 
• Identifies, shapes, and leads internal process improvement initiatives to enhance organizational efficiency and eliminate cross-functional operational roadblocks 
• Translate customer needs, operational problems, and acquisition objectives into compelling technical approaches aligned with evaluation criteria, execution realities, and Divergent’s differentiated capabilities 
• Support RFx responses, pitch decks, and customer briefings  
• Shape opportunities early through top-of-funnel customer engagement, technical framing, partner strategy, and solution positioning 
• Partner with Business Development, Proposals, Program Management, and Executive Leadership teams to support pricing strategy, Basis of Estimate (BOE) development, and price-to-win alignment 
• Serve as a trusted technical advisor during early customer and partner engagements, representing both current capabilities and future technical possibilities 
• Coordinate complex, cross-functional technical review cycles and ensure alignment across technical and business stakeholders  
• Operate with a high degree of autonomy and ownership across multiple complex efforts in fast-moving, ambiguous environments 

Key Interfaces and Relationships:  

The Solutions Architect serves as the critical connective layer between Business Development, Engineering, Program Management, Manufacturing, and Executive Leadership for complex, undefined efforts left of contract. The role aligns customer needs, acquisition strategy, technical feasibility, and execution realities from early shaping through contract award, operating at the center of Divergent’s highest-priority and highest-visibility growth efforts. Because these pursuits often involve significant technical risk, platform development tradeoffs, strategic customer engagements, and executive-level decisions – including alignment with CTO and senior technical leadership priorities – the Solutions Architect must possess the technical credibility, organizational judgment, and executive presence necessary to operate effectively as a high-trust partner to senior stakeholders across the organization. By bridging upstream capture activities with downstream execution realities, the role accelerates decision-making, reduces risk, and improves the likelihood of winning and successfully delivering strategically important programs. 

• Ability to lawfully access information and technology that is subject to US export controls 
• 8+ years of experience across multiple technical and growth-oriented roles spanning the product lifecycle, such as engineering, manufacturing, technical program management, business development, capture, technical sales, or government acquisition environments 
• Demonstrated ability to operate effectively across complex, cross-functional teams spanning Engineering, Program Management, Manufacturing, Business Development, and Executive leadership 
• Strong systems-level thinking and technical synthesis skills, with the ability to develop executable solutions and architectures under ambiguous, fast-moving conditions while balancing cost, schedule, manufacturing, integration, and technical risk tradeoffs 
• Exceptional communication, interpersonal, and emotional intelligence skills, including experience translating complex technical concepts into clear, persuasive recommendations for customers, executives, and other non-technical stakeholders 
• Familiarity with DoD acquisition processes, federal procurement cycles, customer evaluation frameworks, and the realities of delivering complex technical programs 
• Strong creative problem-solving skills, sound judgment, and the ability to bring structure and clarity to minimally defined environments with a strong bias toward action and ownership 
• Highly organized and capable of managing multiple concurrent efforts, stakeholders, and priorities simultaneously 
• U.S. citizen eligible and willing to obtain a Secret or Top Secret security clearance

• Experience operating in fast-paced, innovative environments such as startups, advanced manufacturing, non-traditional contractors, or other defense technology companies 
• Background supporting U.S. Government and/or aerospace and defense customers 
• Direct technical experience in hands-on technical work such as Technical Program Management, Engineering, Manufacturing, etc. 
• Demonstrated experience shaping and supporting large, complex captures or technical programs, including multi-volume RFPs, IDIQs, prototype efforts, and transitioning prototype concepts into scalable production programs 
• Technical leadership experience delivering executable solutions that balance cost, schedule, manufacturing and technical constraints, including support for pricing strategy, staffing plans, Basis of Estimates (BOEs), and price-to-win activities 
• Familiarity with digital engineering, systems integration, mission systems, autonomy, or advanced manufacturing workflows 
• Experience working with external partners, primes, and government stakeholders to shape integrated technical solutions and strategic partnerships 
• Preference for applicants with broad federal contracting experience supporting capture and proposal activities across commercial acquisitions (FAR Part 12), negotiated procurements (FAR Part 15), and rapid acquisition pathways including Other Transaction Authorities (OTAs). 

• The role will primarily be based onsite in our Torrance, CA office.