Chief Automation and Digital Solutions Architect

Chief Automation And Digital Solutions ArchitectTorch Technologies is seeking a highly experienced Chief Automation and Digital Solutions Architect to serve as the senior technical advisor and chief developer for enterprise automation, digital modernization, and data-centric solution engineering supporting the Eglin Research Site (ERS).The successful candidate will lead the design, development, integration, and sustainment of secure, scalable, mission-aligned digital solutions that improve workforce efficiency, data quality, business-process execution, and operational readiness. This role requires demonstrated expertise in enterprise database engineering, workflow automation, Microsoft Power Platform development, application architecture, cybersecurity, and technical team leadership within complex United States Air Force (USAF), Department of War (DoW), or comparable enterprise environments.Essential Duties and ResponsibilitiesEnterprise Automation, Innovation, and Digital Solutions- Serve as the Chief Developer and senior technical advisor for enterprise automation, digital modernization, data-centric solution engineering, and associated technical architecture.- Engage directly with senior leaders, mission owners, functional organizations, and cross-functional stakeholders to identify operational challenges, gather requirements, and translate needs into actionable data-driven business solutions.- Lead the design and implementation of scalable digital products, automated workflows, data pipelines, dashboards, applications, and integrated enterprise services.- Establish and promote technical standards, reusable design patterns, development practices, and governance processes for enterprise automation solutions.- Independently lead solution discovery, requirements refinement, architecture design, technical execution, stakeholder engagement, and continuous improvement activities with minimal oversight.- Assess evolving mission requirements and recommend modernization opportunities that improve usability, efficiency, readiness, resilience, and data-informed decision-making.Enterprise Database Engineering and Data Architecture- Architect, oversee, develop, and sustain advanced enterprise database solutions using Structured Query Language (SQL), relational data-modeling principles, Microsoft Dataverse, and enterprise data-assurance practices.- Design secure and maintainable database schemas, data models, data-integration patterns, and data-quality controls.- Develop and optimize data pipelines that support automated personnel, equipment, workflow-management, and mission-support capabilities.- Ensure data solutions support appropriate data integrity, availability, traceability, access control, and lifecycle-management requirements.- Identify database performance, integration, data-quality, and sustainability issues and develop corrective recommendations.Power Platform and Application Development Leadership- Lead enterprise-scale application and automation development using Microsoft Power Apps, Power Automate, Power BI, Microsoft Dataverse, Azure services, and RESTful Application Programming Interface (API) integrations.- Develop and oversee custom business logic, user interfaces, workflow automations, approval processes, notifications, dashboards, reporting tools, and integrated data solutions.- Apply modern programming and scripting capabilities as needed, including JavaScript, TypeScript, C, JavaScript Object Notation (JSON), and related technologies.- Develop technical approaches that enable secure interoperability among enterprise applications, data sources, APIs, cloud services, and mission-support systems.- Guide application lifecycle practices from requirements definition and design through development, testing, deployment, sustainment, and retirement.Cybersecure Architecture and Application Lifecycle Management- Advise leadership and technical teams on secure system architecture, identity and authentication, access management, application security, and cybersecurity best practices.- Support Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) practices, including source control, environment management, release planning, change control, testing, documentation, and sustainment.- Ensure automation and digital solutions are designed and implemented in accordance with applicable USAF, DoW, customer, and enterprise security requirements.- Identify, document, track, and mitigate technical risks, security concerns, integration dependencies, and potential single points of failure.- Promote secure-by-design and data-protection principles throughout the solution-development lifecycle.Technical Leadership, Collaboration, and Documentation- Provide strategic technical direction, mentorship, structured development, and quality oversight to developers, automation specialists, network engineers, cybersecurity personnel, and other technical team members.- Build effective working relationships among mission stakeholders, system owners, developers, cybersecurity teams, infrastructure teams, and enterprise IT organizations.- Communicate technical concepts, implementation options, risks, timelines, dependencies, and recommendations to both technical and executive-level audiences.- Maintain comprehensive documentation for development processes, solution architectures, application configurations, data schemas, workflows, interfaces, integration patterns, and operating procedures.- Lead continuous evaluation and improvement of enterprise applications, workflows, data pipelines, and automation capabilities to remain aligned with mission needs and modernization objectives.Required QualificationsU.S. Citizenship.Bachelor's degree in computer science, cybersecurity, information systems, software engineering, data engineering, information technology, or a related technical discipline.Professional certifications relevant to enterprise architecture, cloud architecture, systems engineering, cybersecurity, program management, or agile delivery such as CISSP, CISM, or GSLC certifications or equivalent.Extensive experience in enterprise application development, workflow automation, digital modernization, data engineering, solution architecture, or comparable technical leadership roles.Demonstrated experience leading multi-functional technical teams and coordinating complex modernization efforts across development, infrastructure, cybersecurity, and mission organizations.Advanced experience designing and implementing relational databases, SQL queries, database schemas, data models, and data-quality processes.Demonstrated experience with Microsoft Power Platform technologies, including Power Apps, Power Automate, Power BI, and Microsoft Dataverse.Experience designing, developing, or integrating RESTful APIs and enterprise application interfaces.Proficiency with one or more modern programming or scripting languages, such as JavaScript, TypeScript, C, or similar technologies.Knowledge of Azure services, cloud-based application architecture, identity and authentication concepts, and secure application-development practices.Experience applying ALM, source control, release management, testing, change control, and documentation practices to enterprise applications.Ability to independently gather requirements, develop solution approaches, manage stakeholder expectations, and execute technical work with minimal supervision.Strong written, verbal, technical briefing, and stakeholder-engagement skills.Ability to meet applicable customer access, security, onsite-work, and mission-support requirements.Must be able to obtain/maintain an Active Secret Security Clearance.Preferred QualificationsMaster's degree in computer science, cybersecurity, information systems, software engineering, data science, cybersecurity, or a related field.Experience supporting USAF, Department of War, federal, defense, research and development, or similarly mission-critical environments.Experience implementing enterprise governance for low-code/no-code platforms and citizen-development ecosystems.Experience with DevSecOps, agile software delivery, infrastructure as code, cloud integration, API management, or enterprise data platforms.Experience developing automation solutions for personnel management, equipment management, workflow tracking, asset management, readiness reporting, or business-process modernization.Experience with enterprise reporting, dashboard development, data visualization, performance metrics, and executive decision-support products.Experience developing technical standards, solution patterns, development playbooks, or governance processes for enterprise automation portfolios.Key CompetenciesEnterprise automation and digital modernizationMicrosoft Power Platform architecture and developmentDatabase engineering and SQLMicrosoft Dataverse and relational data modelingPower Apps, Power Automate, and Power BIAzure services and RESTful API integrationApplication Lifecycle Management and DevSecOps practicesSecure application architecture and identity managementUser experience design and workflow optimizationTechnical leadership, mentorship, and stakeholder engagementTechnical documentation and configuration managementData quality, data governance, and enterprise integrationSchedule: (M-F; 8-5)Work Location: (onsite - Eglin AFB, FL)Travel: (10%)