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Senior Director - Solution Architecture for Growth

Sterling, Virginia

Title:  Senior Director, Solution Architecture for Growth
Company: Heven AeroTech
Location: Washington, DC metro area (hybrid); travel to Heven AeroTech engineering/manufacturing sites and customer locations as needed
FLSA: Exempt

About Our Company:
At Heven AeroTech (Heven), we don’t just believe in the power of people—we build our success on it. As a recognized leader in hydrogen-powered drones, we’ve earned recognition for creating a workplace where innovation thrives, collaboration is second nature, and every employee feels valued. Our culture is anchored in trust and a shared commitment to excellence.

We believe great teams are built on individuals who are humble, hungry, and smart—those who put team success first, take initiative to continuously improve, and demonstrate strong interpersonal awareness. At Heven, your voice matters, your ideas are heard, and your contributions make a tangible impact as you grow through hands-on experience and collaboration across the team.

Role Summary:
Heven AeroTech is seeking a Senior Director of Solution Architecture for Growth to stand up and lead the company's Solutions Architecture function from the ground up. This individual will build the team, governance, and shared operating model that turn technical capability into competitive, revenue-generating pursuits, and will serve as the primary bridge between Engineering, the CTO organization, Product Development, and the Business Development directors driving growth across DoD, SOCOM, and Federal Civilian portfolios. The role requires someone who can translate technology and R&D investment into differentiated, proposal-ready solutions; train and mentor a growing technical team; and align functions that too often operate in silos around a shared set of growth goals.

Essential Responsibilities:

  • Stand up and lead the Solutions Architecture function, building the team, governance framework, playbooks, and shared operating model needed to scale technical support across concurrent pursuits
  • Recruit, train, and mentor Solution Architects, building the technical bench strength and talent pipeline required to support current and future growth priorities
  • Serve as the primary cross-functional bridge between Engineering, the CTO organization, Product Development, and BD/capture leads across each portfolio (DoD, SOCOM, DHS, and Federal Civilian), aligning technical roadmaps to pipeline priorities
  • Own solutioning strategy across priority pursuits, ensuring technical differentiation, competitive positioning, and PWIN (probability of win) optimization in coordination with capture and proposal teams
  • Translate R&D investment and platform roadmap decisions into proposal-ready, revenue-generating solutions, working directly with the CTO and Engineering leadership to identify and mature emerging capabilities
  • Support BD Directors and Capture Managers during active pursuits, providing technical strategy, solution story development, and ensuring the right technical resources are engaged at each Gate
  • Establish and scale a training and mentorship program to upskill technical staff on solutioning best practices, competitive differentiation, and emerging technology relevant to Heven's platforms and markets
  • Develop and maintain a repeatable solutioning operating model and playbooks across the business development lifecycle, from Gate 0 through proposal submission
  • Partner with executive leadership on technical narrative and positioning for board, investor, and customer-facing materials as needed
  • Represent the Solutions Architecture function directly in customer engagements requiring technical credibility alongside BD leads, including demonstrations, technical exchanges, and white paper development
  • Provide accurate, timely reporting on solutioning status, technical risk, and resourcing across the pursuit pipeline, consistent with company-wide BD operating rhythm

Qualifications & Experience:

Required:

  • 20 years of progressive experience in solutions architecture, technical leadership, systems engineering, or chief engineer roles supporting government or defense-related pursuits
  • Demonstrated success standing up, building, or scaling a solutions architecture or technical capture function, including the governance, processes, and playbooks that make it repeatable
  • Proven track record leading cross-functional teams and working directly across Engineering, Product, and Business Development to align technical direction with growth priorities
  • Experience translating technical capability and R&D investment into differentiated proposal solutions that improve win probability (PWIN) and competitive positioning
  • Experience designing and running training or mentorship programs that build technical bench strength across a growing organization
  • Bachelor's degree in engineering, computer science, or a related technical field
  • Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret clearance (Top Secret preferred given the breadth of the portfolio supported)

Preferred:

  • Advanced degree in a related technical field
  • Experience in UAS, aerospace, or other hardware-centric defense programs (significant plus)
  • PMP, SAFe Agilist, or equivalent program/agile management certification
  • Familiarity with OTA-to-program-of-record pathways and DoD, SOCOM, or DHS acquisition processes
  • Experience building AI-enabled tools or automation frameworks that support the capture and proposal lifecycle
  • Cloud or systems architecture certification (e.g., AWS Solutions Architect) reflecting hands-on technical depth

Physical Requirements:

  • Ability to remain in a stationary position for extended periods while working at a computer, developing solutions and proposal materials, and participating in virtual or in-person meetings.
  • Ability to travel periodically (up to 25%) via air and ground transportation to Heven AeroTech engineering and manufacturing sites, customer locations, demonstrations, and technical exchanges.
  • Ability to communicate clearly and effectively in person, by phone, and virtually, including presenting complex technical concepts to customers, executives, and large audiences.
  • Ability to view computer screens and review detailed technical documents, diagrams, and proposal materials for prolonged periods.
  • Ability to stand, walk, and move about during site visits, demonstrations, and customer engagements, which may include manufacturing floors, airfields, or other industrial environments requiring standard PPE.
  • Ability to occasionally lift and carry materials such as luggage, laptops, or demonstration equipment weighing up to 50 pounds.

Benefits Overview: 
Heven AeroTech offers a competitive benefits package designed to support the health, financial security, and overall well-being of our employees and their families. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision coverage, retirement plans, paid time off/sick, and additional protections such as critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident coverage, and short- and long-term disability.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement: 
Heven AeroTech is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

Virginia State Pay Transparency

$225,000 - $275,000 USD

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