Systems Architect

Provide end-to-end delivery and operational performance of network services supporting DoD missions across IL4/5/6 environments. The SDM owns SLAs/SLOs, service governance, compliance alignment, vendor performance, and continuous improvement across data center, campus/branch, WAN/SD WAN, boundary security, and cloud connectivity. This role coordinates cross functional teams (Routing/Switching, Boundary Security, Platform, Cyber, Field Ops, Vendors) to deliver reliable, secure, and cost-effective services Establish the service vision, charter, and roadmap aligned to agency objectives and portfolio priorities Lead Service Governance (CAB/CCB/ARB participation) balancing velocity, reliability, and security; maintaining decision records and traceability Define and maintain network service policies, operating level agreements (OLAs), underpinning contracts (UCs), and escalation matrices Own Service Catalog entries for network services (definitions, owners, SLAs/SLOs, dependencies, support model, runbooks) Coordinate readiness for new/changed services (support model, staffing, monitoring/alerting, KPIs, DR/backup, ATO evidence, handover) Forecast demand and plan capacity (circuits, bandwidth, ports, licenses, spares, staff) to meet growth and seasonal mission loads Manage budgets, cost to serve, and chargeback/show back; deliver monthly variance analyses and optimization recommendations Chair/drive change quality: peer reviews, pre implementation checks, maintenance windows, freeze periods, and rollback validation Ensure deployments meet readiness gates (approvals, testing, monitoring, comms) and verify post change health and user impact Ensure high quality first response (Own P1/P2 Major Incident bridges, communications, and stakeholder updates through restoration Drive RCA with durable corrective actions; track aging and verify effectiveness Manage availability targets, error budgets, technical debt, and resiliency patterns (path diversity, ECMP, QoS policy hygiene) Maintain service continuity and DR plans; schedule and document periodic tests (RTO/RPO attainment) Align operations to DoD RMF, NIST SP 800 53/37, and DISA STIGs; steward POA&M items to closure Support ATO/cATO sustainment (control inheritance, artifacts, evidence collection) and apply Zero Trust operating principles Ensure data handling, identity/access, and audit logging meet policy; coordinate with Cyber/Blue Team on detections and after-action improvements Manage third party performance to underpin SLAs (circuits, managed services, hardware/software support); drive remediation plans where needed Validate vendor change participation, runbooks, notifications, and contribution to incidents/RCAs Provide daily/weekly/monthly performance reporting (site/service availability, SLO attainment, MTTA/MTTR, change success rate, incident induced change rate, capacity/utilization, ticket backlog aging, CSAT/NPS) Run MBRs/QBRs with stakeholders; publish dashboards and executive summaries with trend analysis and actions Lead a matrixed team of controllers/engineers/analysts; set objectives, staffing plans, training paths, and on call rotations Maintain runbooks, playbooks, KEDB, service standards, and knowledge articles; drive cross training and succession depth Other duties as assigned Requirements Education/Training:  Bachelor’s Degree in relevant engineering or science discipline required Master’s Degree preferred Must have, or obtain within 6 months of start date, current DoD 8570 or 8410 compliant certifications (i.e. Security+) ITIL v4 Foundation Certification preferred PMP or PMI certification preferred Lean Six Sigma Green Belt preferred AWS Advanced Networking – Specialty (or equivalent) or Azure Network Engineer Associate (AZ 700) preferred Experience: 12+ years of professional experience in the required task area  5+ years of professional experience as an IT Service Delivery Manager or similar role 1+ years of professional experience working in a management or leadership role Experience, knowledge of, or exposure to delivering and/or managing IT Service Delivery within several large and complex organizations across government and commercial environments In-depth understanding of ITIL framework and best practices, including incident management, problem management, change management, and service release management Proven ability to manage budgets, vendor contracts, and executive reporting Familiarity with enterprise network architectures (data center, campus/branch, WAN/SD WAN, boundary security), observability concepts (telemetry, logs/metrics/flows), and RMF/STIG operating constraints in IL4/5/6 environments Security: Must be a US citizen Candidate must be in possession of a minimum DoD issued Secret Clearance and eligibility for TS/SCI Candidates with active current TS/SCI preferred Physical Requirements: Able to occasionally reach with hands and arms Prolonged periods of computer screen use, while sitting or standing at a desk Adhere to safety protocols when in work areas requiring use of PPE (e.g. eyewear, gloves, masks, hearing protection, steel toed shoes, etc.) Able to safely lift and carry up to 20 pounds at a time Benefits Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision) Retirement Plan (401k, IRA) Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D) Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays) Short Term & Long Term Disability Training & Development Wellness Resources Salary: $150,000.00 - 180,000.00 Salary rates for this position are competitive and commensurate with experience and industry standards. We offer a comprehensive benefits package that may include health insurance, paid time off, and retirement savings options.

Ensure consistent, reliable, and efficient IT delivery service within a technical domain Ensure consistent, high-quality service and drive continuous improvement through standardizing management practices, measuring team efficiency, and fostering ongoing team development Act as the primary point of contact for leadership regarding performance of IT service delivery quality within a technical domain in design, transition, deployment, and operational support Oversee the end-to-end delivery of IT service quality within the Desktop User Experience domain Monitor, manage, enhance and report on IT service performance against agreed SLAs, and KPIs Foster a culture of continuous improvement and knowledge sharing within the team Ensure the team has the necessary skills and resources to deliver excellent service Oversee the resolution of major incidents and problems impacting service delivery Coordinate internal IT teams to drive root cause analysis, After Action reports, and remediation solutions Understand, evangelize, and enforce service delivery lifecycle principles envisioning, design, plan, stabilize and deploy phases Collaborate with the Change Management team to ensure changes to IT services are implemented in the most effective and efficient manner, and with minimal disruption to the business Identify opportunities for service improvement and drive initiatives to enhance service quality, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness Provide regular reports on IT service performance to senior management and business stakeholders Manage relationships with key IT vendors, ensuring they deliver services according to agreed contracts and SLAs Contribute to the development and management of the IT service delivery budget. Track and control service delivery costs Be aware of the financial health of assigned projects, including budget management, forecasting, and variance analysis Oversee and actively participate in operations maintenance and sustainment activities Optimize the allocation and utilization of operational resources, identifying opportunities to improve efficiency and reduce costs Other duties as assigned Requirements Education/Training:  Bachelor’s Degree in relevant engineering or science discipline required Master’s Degree preferred Must have, or obtain within 6 months of start date, current DoD 8570 or 8410 compliant certifications (i.e. Security+) ITIL v4 Foundation Certification preferred PMP, or PMI certification preferred AWS Cloud Practitioner or Azure Fundamentals (AZ 900) preferred Experience: 10+ years of professional experience in the required task area  5+ years of professional experience as an IT Service Delivery Manager or similar role 1+ years of professional experience working in a management or leadership role Experience, knowledge of, or exposure to delivering and/or managing IT Service Delivery within several large and complex organizations across government and commercial environments In-depth understanding of ITIL framework and best practices, including incident management, problem management, change management, and service release management Experience with service management tools (e.g., ServiceNow, BMC Remedy) Experience with and exposure to technology services within the Service Infrastructure domain, to include: o  Linux and Windows Servers o  Server Virtualization o  Cloud Infrastructure o  Storage Infrastructure o  DevOps and Automation o  Management and Orchestration Tooling o  Identity, Credentials, and Access Management Security: Must be a US citizen Candidate must be in possession of a minimum DoD issued Secret Clearance and eligibility for TS/SCI Candidates with active current TS/SCI preferred Physical Requirements: Able to occasionally reach with hands and arms Prolonged periods of computer screen use, while sitting or standing at a desk Adhere to safety protocols when in work areas requiring use of PPE (e.g. eyewear, gloves, masks, hearing protection, steel toed shoes, etc.) Able to safely lift and carry up to 20 pounds at a time Benefits Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision) Retirement Plan (401k, IRA) Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D) Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays) Short Term & Long Term Disability Training & Development Wellness Resources Salary: $150,000.00 - 180,000.00 Salary rates for this position are competitive and commensurate with experience and industry standards. We offer a comprehensive benefits package that may include health insurance, paid time off, and retirement savings options.

Oversee end-to-end delivery and operational performance of application services supporting DoD missions Coordinate cross functional teams (App Dev, DB, Platform, Cyber, Network, Field Ops, Vendors) to deliver reliable, secure, and cost-effective services Establish the service vision, charter, and roadmap aligned to agency objectives and portfolio priorities Lead Service Governance (CAB/CCB/ARB participation) to balance velocity, reliability, and security; maintain decision records and traceability Define and maintain service policies, operating level agreements (OLAs), underpinning contracts (UCs), and escalation matrices Own the Service Catalog entries for application services (definitions, owners, SLAs/SLOs, dependencies, support model, runbooks) Coordinate readiness for new or changed services (support model, staffing, monitoring/alerting, KPIs, DR/backup, ATO artifacts, handover) Forecast demand and plan capacity (computer, storage, licenses, staff) to meet growth and seasonal mission loads Manage budgets, cost to serve, and chargeback/show back; deliver monthly variance analyses and optimization recommendations Chair/drive change quality: pre implementation reviews, maintenance windows, freeze periods, and rollback validation Ensure releases meet readiness gates (approvals, testing, monitoring, comms) and verify post change health Own P1/P2 Major Incident bridges, communications, and stakeholder updates through resolution Ensure first response quality (MTTA), restoration (MTTR), user experience impact tracking, and formal post incident reviews Drive RCA with durable corrective actions; track aging and effectiveness checks Manage availability targets, error budgets, technical debt, and resiliency patterns (graceful degradation, retries, circuit breakers) Maintain service continuity, DR plans, and evidence of periodic tests (RTO/RPO attainment) Align service operations to DoD RMF, NIST SP 800 53/37, and DISA STIGs; steward POA&M items to closure Support ATO/cATO sustainment (control inheritance, artifacts, evidence collection) and apply Zero Trust operating principles Ensure data handling, identity/access, and audit logging meet policy; coordinate with Cyber/Blue Team on detections and after-action improvements Manage third party performance to underpin SLAs; negotiate improvements or remediation plans Validate vendor runbooks, maintenance notifications, and participation in incidents/RCAs Provide daily/weekly/monthly performance reporting (availability, SLO attainment, MTTA/MTTR, change success rate, incident induced change rate, ticket backlog aging, CSAT/NPS) Run MBRs/QBRs with stakeholders; publish dashboards and executive summaries with trend analysis and actions Lead a matrixed team of controllers/analysts/engineers; set objectives, staffing plans, training paths, and on call rotations Maintain runbooks, playbooks, KEDB, service standards, and knowledge articles; drive cross training and succession depth Other duties as assigned Requirements Education/Training:  Bachelor’s Degree in relevant engineering or science discipline required Master’s Degree preferred Must have, or obtain within 6 months of start date, current DoD 8570 or 8410 compliant certifications (i.e. Security+) ITIL v4 Foundation Certification preferred Relevant Technical Certifications (Azure Administrator Associate, AWS, etc.) preferred Experience: 12+ years of professional experience in the required task area  5+ years of professional experience as an IT Service Delivery Manager or similar role 1+ years of professional experience working in a management or leadership role Experience, knowledge of, or exposure to delivering and/or managing IT Service Delivery within several large and complex organizations across government and commercial environments In-depth understanding of ITIL framework and best practices, including incident management, problem management, change management, and service release management Proven ability to manage budgets, vendor contracts, and executive reporting Familiarity with application architectures (web tiers, APIs, microservices/containers), observability concepts (APM, logs/metrics/traces), and security controls in IL4/5/6 environments Security: Must be a US citizen Candidate must be in possession of a minimum DoD issued Secret Clearance and eligibility for TS/SCI Candidates with active current TS/SCI preferred Physical Requirements: Able to occasionally reach with hands and arms Prolonged periods of computer screen use, while sitting or standing at a desk Adhere to safety protocols when in work areas requiring use of PPE (e.g. eyewear, gloves, masks, hearing protection, steel toed shoes, etc.) Able to safely lift and carry up to 20 pounds at a time Benefits Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision) Retirement Plan (401k, IRA) Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D) Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays) Short Term & Long Term Disability Training & Development Wellness Resources Salary: $150,000.00 - 180,000.00 Salary rates for this position are competitive and commensurate with experience and industry standards. We offer a comprehensive benefits package that may include health insurance, paid time off, and retirement savings options.

Ensure consistent, reliable, and efficient cybersecurity service delivery within a technical domain Ensure high-quality service and drive continuous improvement through standardized management practices, measuring team efficiency, and fostering ongoing team development Act as the primary point of contact for leadership regarding the performance of IT and cybersecurity service delivery in design, transition, deployment, and operational support Demonstrate strong leadership, interpersonal, and management skills along with a solid understanding of technology services within the Desktop User Experience technical domain Oversee the end-to-end delivery of IT service quality within the Desktop User Experience domain Monitor, manage, enhance and report on IT service performance against agreed SLAs, and KPIs Foster a culture of continuous improvement and knowledge sharing within the team. Ensure the team has the necessary skills and resources to deliver excellent service Oversee the resolution of major incidents and problems impacting service delivery Coordinate internal IT teams to drive root cause analysis, After Action reports, and remediation solutions Understand, evangelize, and enforce service delivery lifecycle principles envisioning, design, plan, stabilize and deploy phases Collaborate with the Change Management team to ensure changes to IT services are implemented in the most effective and efficient manner, and with minimal disruption to the business Identify opportunities for service improvement and drive initiatives to enhance service quality, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness Provide regular reports on IT service performance to senior management and business stakeholders Manage relationships with key IT vendors, ensuring they deliver services according to agreed contracts and SLAs Contribute to the development and management of the IT service delivery budget. Track and control service delivery costs Maintain awareness of the financial health of assigned projects, including budget management, forecasting, and variance analysis Oversee and actively participate in operations maintenance and sustainment activities Optimize the allocation and utilization of operational resources, identifying opportunities to improve efficiency and reduce costs Other duties as assigned Requirements Education/Training:  Bachelor’s Degree in relevant engineering or science discipline required Master’s Degree preferred Must have, or obtain within 6 months of start date, current DoD 8570 or 8410 compliant certifications (i.e. Security+) ITIL v4 Foundation Certification preferred Relevant Technical Certifications (Azure Administrator Associate, AWS, etc.) preferred Experience: 12+ years of professional experience in the required task area  5+ years of professional experience as an IT Service Delivery Manager or similar role 1+ years of professional experience working in a management or leadership role Experience, knowledge of, or exposure to delivering and/or managing IT Service Delivery within several large and complex organizations across government and commercial environments In-depth understanding of ITIL framework and best practices, including incident management, problem management, change management, and service release management Experience with service management tools (e.g., ServiceNow, BMC Remedy) Working knowledge and understanding of the following technical areas: Microsoft 365 (M365) Email and Collaboration Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) and Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD Windows Client Operating Systems Desktop Management Client-side Application Management Mobile Device Management (MDM File & Print Services Security: Must be a US citizen Candidate must be in possession of a minimum DoD issued Secret Clearance and eligibility for TS/SCI Candidates with active current TS/SCI preferred Physical Requirements: Able to occasionally reach with hands and arms Prolonged periods of computer screen use, while sitting or standing at a desk Adhere to safety protocols when in work areas requiring use of PPE (e.g. eyewear, gloves, masks, hearing protection, steel toed shoes, etc.) Able to safely lift and carry up to 20 pounds at a time Benefits Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision) Retirement Plan (401k, IRA) Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D) Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays) Short Term & Long Term Disability Training & Development Wellness Resources Salary: $150,000.00 - 180,000.00 Salary rates for this position are competitive and commensurate with experience and industry standards. We offer a comprehensive benefits package that may include health insurance, paid time off, and retirement savings options.

Ensure consistent, reliable, and efficient cybersecurity service delivery within a technical domain Ensure high-quality service and drive continuous improvement through standardized management practices, measuring team efficiency, and fostering ongoing team development Act as the primary point of contact for leadership regarding the performance of IT and cybersecurity service delivery in design, transition, deployment, and operational support Oversee end-to-end delivery of cybersecurity service quality Monitor, manage, enhance, and report on IT service performance against agreed SLAs and KPIs Foster a culture of continuous improvement and knowledge sharing Ensure the team has the necessary skills and resources to deliver excellent service Oversee resolution of major incidents and problems impacting cybersecurity service delivery Coordinate internal IT teams to drive root cause analysis, After Action reports, and remediation solutions Understand, evangelize, and enforce service delivery lifecycle principles (envisioning, design, plan, stabilize, and deploy phases) Collaborate with Change Management to ensure changes to cybersecurity services are implemented effectively, efficiently, and with minimal disruption Identify opportunities for service improvement and drive initiatives to enhance service quality, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness Provide regular reports on service performance to senior management and business stakeholders Manage relationships with key IT and cybersecurity vendors, ensuring services meet contractual obligations Contribute to development and management of the service delivery budget. Track and control service delivery costs Maintain awareness of financial health for assigned projects, including budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis Oversee and actively participate in operational maintenance and sustainment activities Optimize allocation and utilization of operational resources, identifying opportunities to improve efficiency and reduce costs Other duties as assigned Requirements Education/Training:  Bachelor’s Degree in relevant engineering or science discipline required Master’s Degree preferred Must have, or obtain within 6 months of start date, current DoD 8570 or 8410 compliant certifications (i.e. Security+) ITIL v4 Foundation Certification preferred Experience: 12+ years of professional experience in the required task area  5+ years of professional experience as an IT Service Delivery Manager or similar role 1+ years of professional experience working in a management or leadership role Experience, knowledge of, or exposure to delivering and/or managing IT Service Delivery within several large and complex organizations across government and commercial environments In-depth understanding of ITIL framework and best practices, including incident management, problem management, change management, and service release management Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills Experience with service management tools (e.g., ServiceNow, BMC Remedy) Experience in DoD IT Operations preferred Project management experience preferred Security: Must be a US citizen Candidate must be in possession of a minimum DoD issued Secret Clearance and eligibility for TS/SCI Candidates with active current TS/SCI preferred Physical Requirements: Able to occasionally reach with hands and arms Prolonged periods of computer screen use, while sitting or standing at a desk Adhere to safety protocols when in work areas requiring use of PPE (e.g. eyewear, gloves, masks, hearing protection, steel toed shoes, etc.) Able to safely lift and carry up to 20 pounds at a time Benefits Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision) Retirement Plan (401k, IRA) Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D) Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays) Short Term & Long Term Disability Training & Development Wellness Resources Salary: $150,000.00 - 180,000.00 Salary rates for this position are competitive and commensurate with experience and industry standards. We offer a comprehensive benefits package that may include health insurance, paid time off, and retirement savings options.

Description: Zifo is working with a large pharma client to build a team of laboratory IT (lab computing, & Lab IT systems) professionals. **This role will require a 100% on-site presence in Albany, NY ** **This role is not eligible for relocation assistance** Requirements Responsibilities: ·       Execute validation test plans once approved by client(s) ·       Revise and route Lifecycle documents for review and approval ·       Update relevant IT lifecycle documents ·       Participate in Sandboxing sessions with multifunctional teams ·       Coordinate delivery of PC hardware to various laboratories and manufacturing areas ·       Troubleshoot and resolve any IT issues / tickets as needed   Qualifications: Bachelor of Science in computer science, life science Previous technical experience including (but not limited to); Windows technologies, networking, remote computing and backup systems preferred Excellent customer service skills complemented by an ability to listen to and interpret client requests Ability to troubleshoot complex instrument and technology issues Strong oral and written communication skills Ability to identify, track and complete tasks for multiple projects Knowledge of laboratory safety practices as defined by the company and/or customer’s site safety code Experience with virtual machine support (preferred) Experience with scientific instrumentation (preferred)   A successful Zifo-ite is: Independent, Self-Motivated & Results driven Willing & able to quickly acquire new Technical Skills & Business Principles A critical thinker who possesses logical reasoning Curious and always looking for creative solutions to complex problems Benefits About Zifo: CURIOSITY DRIVEN, SCIENCE FOCUSED, EMPLOYEE BUILT. Our culture is unlike any other, one where we debate, challenge ourselves, and interact with all alike. We are a curious bunch, characterized by our passion to learn and spirit of teamwork. Zifo is a global R&D solutions provider focused on the industries of Pharma, Biotech, Manufacturing QC, Medical Devices, specialty chemicals and other research-based organizations. Our team’s knowledge of science and expertise in technology help Zifo better serve our customers around the globe, including 7 of the Top 10 Biopharma companies. We look for Science – Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical Technology, Biomedical Engineering, Microbiology etc. We possess scientific and technical knowledge and bear professional and personal goals. While we have a “no doors” policy to promote free access within, we do have a tough door to walk in. We search with a two-point agenda – technical competency and cultural adaptability. We offer a competitive compensation package including accrued vacation, medical, dental, vision, 401k with company matching, life insurance, and flexible spending accounts. If you share these sentiments and are prepared for the atypical, then Zifo is your calling! Zifo is an equal opportunity employer, and we value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.