Senior Systems Architect

Your Talent. Their Success. Powering the mission of the United States Air Force.

The Air Force Civilian Service is looking for your skills and talents to join our team supporting the United States Air Force.

The Air Force Civilian Service (AFCS) is looking for a full-time Senior System Architect, GS-1550-13, USAF Warfare Center, ) at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Seeking a senior Systems Architect with a strong engineering background and industry-leading experience in data-center design, cloud architecture, virtualization, Kubernetes, and infrastructure automation as code.

The selectee will design, integrate, and modernize resilient cloud and virtual platforms; translate mission requirements into technical architecture; lead technical evaluations; and solve complex performance, reliability, security, and scalability challenges. Ideal candidates have led hybrid-cloud or on-premises platforms, virtual networking, workload orchestration, and repeatable deployment pipelines.

Base Salary Range: $90,925 to $118,204

Depending on the type of position (competitive/excepted) you are selected for; you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period OR 2-year trial period. Upon completion of your probationary/trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

(NOTE: Typically, the 1-year probationary period is for Competitive Jobs, and 2-year trail period is for Excepted Jobs.)

This position can close at any time. Apply Now!

Qualifications/Requirements The primary purpose of this position is: To serve as a senior professional Senior Systems Architect with cloud and virtualization engineering responsibility in assigned area(s).

Considered the technical expert for the organization in systems engineering assignments concerning cloud and virtual infrastructure architecting and engineering; employee provides technical leadership in planning, analyzing, and evaluating efforts used to define total weapons systems/subsystem requirements, translate requirements into design criteria, evaluate alternative design approaches, and develop system specifications.

Work encompasses several phases of the development process in which the employee guides and evaluates the design and development activities of others.

This is a designated Drug Testing Position.

Must be able to obtain and retain a TOP SECRET security clearance with access to Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI).

This position requires at a minimum, a professional engineering degree at the bachelor’s level from an ABET accredited institution in Computer Science or bachelor's degree with 30 semester hours in a combination of mathematics, statistics, and computer science. At least 15 of the 30 semester hours must have included any combination of statistics and mathematics that included differential and integral calculus.

All academic degrees and course work must be from accredited or pre-accredited institutions.

https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/1500/computer-science-series-1550/

Knowledge of professional cloud engineering concepts, principles, practices, standards, methods, techniques, materials, and equipment to effectively apply advanced engineering theories, principles, and concepts to project development, execution, and advisory services.

Knowledge of development testing and evaluation sufficient to apply experimental theories and new applications to issues and provide technical advice and direction in support of weapon systems, subsystems, and/or support equipment.

Knowledge of cloud architectures, virtualized environments, and systems development sufficient to plan, design, test, troubleshoot, evaluate, and oversee the development and/or sustainment of systems, architectures, and applications.

Knowledge of systems engineering practices and procedures as they pertain to sustainment, modification, logistics, and production management principles, concepts, policies, and systems; of standard acquisition regulations, practices, and procedures; and of other engineering disciplines.

Ability to devise and evaluate criteria, parameters, characteristics, and interrelationships for design approaches, and to assess the impact of new technology on current systems and processes.

Click the apply button to complete an application and upload your two-page resume to comply with the Merit Hiring Plan. As of 27 September 2025, Federal agencies will only accept resumes up to two pages in length.

To learn more about the new resume requirements visit: https://afciviliancareers.com/resumetips/ OR https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/merit-hiring-plan-resources/agency-guidance-on-the-two-page-limit-on-resume-length/

To receive additional information about current and future job openings with AFCS via email notification, please subscribe at www.Afciviliancareers.com and sign up to “Get Career Updates.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

U.S. citizenship required. Must be of legal work age.

AFCS is an Equal Opportunity Employer: https://help.usajobs.gov/equal-employment-opportunity