Forward Deployed Architect - US Government
Job Description
As a Forward Deployed Architect, you will own the architectural vision and secure system design of complex systems of systems in support of Palantir’s US Department of Defense and Intelligence Community customers. Alongside Palantir engineering and business leads, you will guide deployment teams to execute securely in customer technical environments, design sustainable architectures, and act as a thought partner to our government counterparts. You will also help set the strategic direction for our customer engagements and participate in technical outreach meetings.
We are looking for an individual that deeply understands the architecture of software systems and how all the components integrate into a complete solution that meets both end user needs and stringent information security requirements. As a Forward Deployed Architect, you will also act as an advisor to our product development teams to ensure their solutions comply with current and future requirements and can operate in heterogeneous deployment environments.
Sample backgrounds for individuals in this role include having worked as a Software Architect, Cybersecurity Architect, Enterprise Systems Architect and/or a Solutions Architect for cloud or distributed system environments. Success in this role requires becoming technically proficient in Palantir’s products, understanding our customers’ governance processes and security obligations, and demonstrating how we’ll comply with them through product demonstrations, presentations, and documents. You’ll operate independently but with a team-first mindset as you partner with our product development teams and deployment teams to design and shape holistic solutions in complex technical environments.
Responsibilities
- Design and architect technical solutions to complex problems, with consideration for security, networking, availability, resourcing, and time constraints.
- Engage directly with customers as a credible expert on the architecture and security of Palantir's offerings.
- Advise and shape product roadmaps for development teams to ensure Palantir complies with existing USG requirements and stays ahead of emerging trends.
- Document and diagram solutions and architectures clearly.
Job Requirements
- Deep understanding of the fundamental building blocks of public cloud solutions (e.g., Amazon AWS, Microsoft Azure, or Google GCP) and how they fit together.
- Knowledge of large scale production software systems and the technologies that enable them - for example, distributed systems, load balancing and scaling, monitoring, identity and access management, configuration-as-code.
- Experience with information security fundamentals and core technologies (e.g., encryption, firewalls, SIEM/SOAR, intrusion detection, audit logs).
- Understanding of the modern software development lifecycle, including design, development, continuous integration, and continuous delivery/deployment.
- Basic familiarity with fundamental networking protocols (IP, TCP, UDP, TLS, DNS, SSH, HTTPS, etc.) and operating system concepts (processes, filesystems, kernel vs user space, etc.).
- Eagerness to solve open-ended technical problems with significant autonomy.
- Strong client interaction skills.
- 5+ years of industry experience in a role that requires rigorous technical aptitude and understanding.
- Experience with the US government’s security authorization process (the Risk Management Framework) is a plus.
- Experience working in a classified environment is a plus.
- Experience working with Kubernetes and containerized applications is a plus.
Requirements
- Active US security clearance at Secret level or higher.
- Willingness and eligibility for security clearance up to TS/SCI.
- Willingness and interest to travel as needed to client sites. Ability to travel 25% preferred, but requirements vary by location.
