---
title: 'Chief Systems Engineer/Architect Lead at Foxhole Technology'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/chief-systems-engineer-architect-lead-foxhole-technology-north-chicago-sekjmx8rw56d'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-05'
---

# Chief Systems Engineer/Architect Lead at Foxhole Technology

- **Company:** Foxhole Technology
- **Location:** North Chicago, IL
- **Compensation:** $200k–$245k
- **Posted:** 2026-08-12
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-05
- **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/foxholetechnology/jobs/4366850009

## Job description

Work Arrangement: Hybrid

Clearance: Active DoD Secret

Start: Based on Contract Award

Foxhole Technology provides robust cybersecurity and IT support capabilities for federal civilian and defense agencies. A recognized leader in navigating technology and security challenges, Foxhole delivers mission-focused innovations to answer evolving and complex needs. Our talented employee-owners provide agile, scalable services and solutions that solve operational gaps, operate critical systems, and protect and secure the enterprise – across the organization and around the world.

Foxhole Technology is seeking a Chief Systems Engineer/Architect to lead a large-scale enterprise IT services program supporting the development, administration, maintenance, and modernization of mission-critical application systems. The Chief Systems Engineer/Architect will serve as the senior technical advisor and provide subject matter expertise to organizational leadership for systems engineering and technical innovation. The individual shall design and develop solutions to complex application problems system administration issues, or network concerns as well as perform systems management and integration functions.

## Responsibilities

- Serve as the contractor’s lead technical point of contact and authorized interface with government leadership for all technical delivery matters.
- Provide overall leadership and accountability for technical performance, engineering quality, and delivery.
- Lead technical transition activities, ensuring continuity of services, knowledge transfer, operational readiness, and risk mitigation during transition.
- Establish, communicate, and enforce technical work standards, engineering processes, and performance expectations across subordinate personnel.
- Define and maintain enterprise architecture standards, reference architectures, technology roadmaps, and technical governance processes.
- Develop and implement a progressive modernization strategy that leverages emerging technologies to enhance system performance, scalability, security, resilience, automation, and user experience.
- Lead cloud, hybrid-cloud, infrastructure modernization, and technology migration initiatives in alignment with organizational requirements and enterprise architecture standards.
- Lead engineering support for all changes to organizational IT infrastructure and service offerings. This support includes conducting technical activities, establishing priorities, adjusting schedules, estimating rough costs, and developing high-level Concept of Operations (CONOPS) documentation.
- Ensure proposed architectures and technical solutions address cybersecurity, zero-trust, compliance, resiliency, and operational requirements.
- Lead technical risk assessments, architecture reviews, and resolution of complex cross-domain engineering and integration issues.
- Evaluate emerging technologies and provide recommendations to senior leadership regarding their technical feasibility, operational value, cost, risk, and alignment with the modernization strategy.
- Provide technical direction, mentoring, and oversight to systems engineers, architects, and other technical personnel.
- Manage O&M engineering support.

## Minimum Requirements

- Active Secret security clearance.
- A minimum of five years of recent experience providing enterprise-level systems architecture and engineering services across infrastructure, network, cloud, application, and/or cybersecurity domains.
- Demonstrated experience leading technical teams and providing technical direction for large-scale enterprise IT programs.
- Experience developing enterprise architecture, technical roadmaps, modernization strategies, CONOPS, and technical recommendations for senior leadership.
- Experience with cloud or hybrid-cloud architectures and enterprise technology modernization.
- Possess one cloud security (e.g., CompTIA, Cloud Security Alliance) or cloud-related technology certification (e.g., Microsoft (MS), VMware, IBM, AWS, Google).
- A minimum of one year of recent experience providing executive-level technical briefings and presentations to senior personnel.
- Demonstrated ability to analyze complex technical problems and develop secure, scalable, and supportable enterprise solutions.

Desired Qualifications

- Possess two or more cloud-related technology certifications (e.g., MS, VMware, IBM, AWS, Google).
- Possess one or more ITIL certifications.
- Possession of a DoDI 8570.01 Information Assurance System Architect and Engineer (IASAE) Level III certification.
- Meet the Department of Defense Manual (DoDM) 8140 Foundational Qualifications – Advanced Standard.

#MON At Foxhole Technology, we are committed to pay transparency in accordance with applicable laws for both applicants and our employee-owners. Actual compensation will be determined based on a number factors as permitted by law.

Foxhole Technology offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package for employees and their eligible dependents. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision coverage; paid time off; retirement plans (401(k), Roth, and ESOP); life and disability insurance; flexible spending accounts; and education and training assistance.

Illinois Pay Range $200,000—$245,000 USD

Requirements of position:  Think analytically, effective verbal and written communication skills, make decisions, observe/remember details, interpret data, concentrate on tasks, adjust to change, handle stress/emotions.  Regular attendance, maintain work schedule, attend meetings, meet deadlines, keyboard/type, handle confidential information, use math/calculations, stay organized, operate office equipment, may direct others.   May be exposed to dust/dirt, humidity, and noise

Foxhole Technology is an Equal Opportunity Employer and makes hiring decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, military/veteran status, or any other protected class.

## About Foxhole Technology

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Foxhole Technology is a veteran-founded cybersecurity and IT engineering firm delivering mission-critical DevSecOps, cloud modernization, and full-scope cyber services to U.S. federal civilian and defense agencies.
- **Entity Type**: Private (ESOP – Employee Stock Ownership Plan)
- **Headquarters**: Herndon, Virginia, United States
- **Founded**: 2007
- **Founders**: Wes Hester

## Core Business
- **Primary industry/industries**: Cybersecurity, IT Services, DevSecOps, Systems Engineering, Cloud Modernization
- **Target customers**: U.S. Federal Government (Defense & Civilian agencies), primarily B2G (Business-to-Government)
- **Mission or purpose statement**: "To provide excellence in service delivery and be a trusted advisor."

## Products & Services

- **Full-Scope Cyber Services**: Penetration testing, threat hunting, forensics, vulnerability management, governance & compliance, and SOC operations.
- **Cloud & System Modernization**: Cloud optimization, architecture & infrastructure modernization, big data & data science, and IT/OT integration.
- **Application Development (Agile / DevSecOps)**: Scaled Agile, DevSecOps pipeline engineering, software/application development, and operational support.
- **Innovation as a Service (IaaS)**: Research & development, reverse engineering, and custom solution development.
- **Test & Evaluation**: Independent verification and validation, operational testing, and system-level evaluation.
- **BunkerWave (Proprietary Solution)**: Achieved "Awardable" status on the Platform One (P1) Solutions Marketplace and the CDAO Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not publicly available (Private, ESOP-owned)
- **Key Metric**: Annual Revenue estimated at **USD $22.5 million** (LinkedIn estimate)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Employee-owned (ESOP since 2021); holds key GSA contract vehicles including GSA MAS, GSA VETS 2, GSA OASIS+ (Unrestricted, SB, SDVOSB), and NIH CIO-SP3 SB (SDVOSB).
- **Growth Signals**:
    - Headcount of 86 employees, with **+5.9% yearly growth** (+7 people).
    - Earned **fifth-straight Great Place to Work® certification**.
    - BunkerWave solution achieved "Awardable" status on both Platform One and CDAO Tradewinds marketplaces, signaling innovation traction.

## Competitive Advantages
- **Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB)** status provides preferential contracting access within the federal market.
- **Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)** creates a unique ownership culture where every eligible employee has a direct stake in company success.
- **Deep federal specialization** with 35+ years of leadership experience (CEO Wes Hester) and a leadership team with decades of DoD and civilian agency expertise.
- **Best-in-Class GWACs** (GSA OASIS+, NIH CIO-SP3, VETS 2) reduce barriers for clients to procure services quickly.

## Strategic Focus
- **Expanding DevSecOps & Cloud Modernization**: Leveraging Platform One and CDAO Tradewinds awards to grow in the defense innovation ecosystem.
- **Veteran Talent Pipeline**: Deepening the DoD SkillBridge partnership to recruit transitioning service members.
- **Employee Ownership Growth**: Using the ESOP structure to attract and retain top technical talent in a competitive government contracting market.
- **Innovation Services**: Growing the "Innovation as a Service" practice to solve complex, mission-critical problems for federal clients.

## Why Work Here
- **Employee Ownership**: All eligible employees receive annual ESOP shares at no cost, building long-term wealth.
- **Strong Work-Life Balance**: Flexible Paid Time Off (PTO), federal holiday leave, and a culture that values equity in personal life.
- **Veteran-Friendly**: Veteran-founded and a DoD SkillBridge authorized partner; actively supports the military-to-civilian transition.
- **Total Rewards Package**: Medical, dental, vision, fully funded HRA, 401(k) with 5% company match, short/long-term disability, and life/AD&D insurance fully paid by the company.
- **Career Development**: Robust education reimbursement program for certifications and degrees.
- **Culture**: Certified Great Place to Work® for five consecutive years, based entirely on employee feedback.
- **Work Model**: Roles are primarily on-site at government client locations (e.g., Charleston, SC; Pensacola, FL; Ft. Meade, MD; Herndon, VA; Scott AFB, IL; Columbus, OH).
- **Engineering Culture**: Focus on mission-critical work for defense and civilian agencies, with opportunities to work on cutting-edge DevSecOps and cyber operations.

## Sources
1. [foxholetechnology.com](https://www.foxholetechnology.com/)
2. [foxholetechnology.com/company](https://www.foxholetechnology.com/company)
3. [foxholetechnology.com/careers](https://www.foxholetechnology.com/careers)
4. [LinkedIn - Foxhole Technology](https://www.linkedin.com/company/foxhole-technology)
5. [Greenhouse - Foxhole Technology Jobs](http://job-boards.greenhouse.io/foxholetechnology)

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