AWS is seeking a transformational technical leader to serve as the Director of Solution Architecture for our strategic national security customers. This leader owns the executive technical strategy for a large-scale, multi-
segment portfolio spanning the Intelligence Community (IC) leads an elite organization of solutions architects and serves as the critical bridge between
AWS product innovation and mission outcomes. The role requires independent executive engagement with customer C-suite (CIO/CTO/
CDAO/SES/Flag-level), peer-level influence across multiple organizations without positional authority, and product roadmap influence. This is one of the most consequential technical leadership roles in the national security technology — requiring the credibility to engage independently with government executives, the organizational gravity to influence peer organizations, and the technical depth to shape the future of cloud and AI adoption for national security.
Functional Experience & Key Leadership Principles
Executive Technical Sponsorship & Customer Obsession: 15+ years of experience in IT, cloud computing, or defense/intelligence technology leadership with direct engagement at government C-suite level (CIO/CTO/
CDAO).
Experience developing and maintaining strategic relationships with customer executives at agencies and congressional oversight bodies.
Experience representing organizations as a speaker at senior government and congressional forums.
Experience shaping customer acquisition strategies and influencing technology roadmaps toward cloud-native and AI-first outcomes.
Organizational Leadership & Think Big: Experience driving
cross-functional alignment with Sales,
Go-to-Market, Services, and Product teams to deliver solutions — influencing through technical credibility and shared metrics rather than positional authority.
Experience owning technical win strategy for AI adoption, mission resilience, and modernization across a $500M+ portfolio.
Experience influencing product roadmap priorities for national security customers.
Experience authoring cross-agency technical strategies accounting for evolving threats, policy changes, and emerging technology (GenAI, agentic AI, quantum-safe architecture).
People Leadership & Hire and Develop the Best:
8+ years of people management experience, including managing managers (leader of leaders) with demonstrated experience leading large technical organizations in classified environments.
Experience building and sustaining cleared technical talent pipelines in competitive markets for technologists.
Experience mentoring senior individual contributors toward Principal and Distinguished Engineer trajectories.
Operational Excellence & Deliver Results:
Experience defining and executing organizational goals and metrics aligned to revenue and growth targets. Experience owning the rhythm of business through Monthly Metrics, WBRs, QBRs, and Annual Operational Planning.
Experience driving mechanisms that scale technical excellence: solution reviews, architecture decisions, and reusable classified reference architectures.
Key job responsibilities
This position requires that the candidate selected be a US Citizen and must currently possess and maintain an active TS/
SCI security clearance with polygraph.
Serve as executive technical sponsor for the portfolio's most strategic programs, customers, and capture efforts
Develop and maintain direct, strategic relationships with customer C-suite leaders (CIOs, CTOs, CDAOs, Special Advisors) at agencies and congressional oversight bodies
Represent
AWS as a speaker at senior government and congressional forums Drive measurable adoption of next-generation architectures across the national security customer base
Jointly own the technical win rate and pipeline with Sales leadership
Influence
AWS product and service team roadmap priorities for classified and air-gapped environments
Lead a 40+ person cleared Solution Architecture organization, including senior managers and principal architects
Own the cleared talent strategy: identify, develop, retain, and grow the next generation of technical leaders
Build and sustain the cleared technical talent pipeline for technologists
Define and execute organizational goals and metrics aligned to $1.5B+ revenue and growth targets
Manage
cross-functional operating rhythms with Sales, Services, Professional Services, and Partner teams
15+ years of experience in IT, cloud computing, or defense/intelligence technology leadership
8+ years of people management experience, including managing managers (leader of leaders)
Current, active US Government Security Clearance of TS/
SCI with Polygraph
Experience leading large technical organizations in classified environments
Experience with executive engagement at government C-suite level (CIO/CTO/
CDAO)
Experience driving technical strategy for large-scale ($500M+) programs or portfolios
Experience with public speaking at government/industry forums in classified settings
Experience as a recognized thought leader in national security technology, AI/ML, or cloud modernization
Experience across multiple intelligence domains (GEOINT, HUMINT, SIGINT)
Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or MBA (or equivalent experience)
AWS certifications (Solutions Architect Professional, Security Specialty)
Experience in strategic capture or technical solutioning for IC/DoD programs
Experience building cleared talent pipelines in competitive markets
Experience influencing product roadmaps at a major cloud or technology provider
Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.
Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding process, please visit
https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region you’re applying in isn’t listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner.
The base salary range for this position is listed below. Your Amazon package will include sign-on payments and restricted stock units (RSUs). Final compensation will be determined based on factors including experience, qualifications, and location. Amazon also offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance (medical, dental, vision, prescription, Basic Life & AD&D insurance and option for Supplemental life plans, EAP, Mental Health Support, Medical Advice Line, Flexible Spending Accounts, Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement coverage), 401(k) matching, paid time off, and parental leave. Learn more about our benefits at https://amazon.jobs/en/benefits.
USA, VA, Arlington - 241,200.00 - 326,400.00 USD annually