Senior Director, Solutions Architecture

About Gallatin At Gallatin, we are rebuilding logistics infrastructure for the national security missions of the United States and allied partners. We build AI systems that determine how logistics decisions are made, not just how they're executed. From factory to foxhole, we operate at the layer where data becomes decisions, and decisions make the advantage. About the Role We are looking for a Sr. Director, Solutions Architecture to lead the design, deployment, and operation of agentic AI platforms in high-stakes, mission-critical government environments, and to build the team that delivers them. This is a forward-deployed, customer-facing leadership role that sits at the intersection of modern AI technology and national security. It's ideal for someone who has moved fluidly between the operational military world and the commercial defense tech industry. You'll serve as the primary technical authority with customers and program offices, translating complex mission requirements into scalable, secure architectures, and then rolling up your sleeves to make sure they get built and delivered. You're equally comfortable in a briefing room with senior government stakeholders as you are in a terminal troubleshooting a production system. You'll also strategize and build Gallatin's forward deployed engineering structure across both pre-sales and post-sales. You'll lead pre-sales engineers who shape solutions and help win work, and post-sales forward deployed engineers who deploy, operate, and scale those solutions at customer sites. You'll define how the team is organized, how work moves from pursuit to delivery, and how the function grows as our customer base does. What You'll Do Team Leadership & Org Building Build and lead Gallatin's forward deployed engineering organization, spanning pre-sales engineers and post-sales forward deployed engineers. Define the structure, roles, and operating model from first customer conversation through production. Hire, develop, and hold a high bar for engineers who earn trust in the field and deliver under pressure. Solution Architecture Conceptualize and design end-to-end technical solutions for customer-facing agentic AI and data platforms tailored to government mission requirements, including classified and austere network environments. Customer Engagement Serve as the senior technical point of contact for program offices and mission partners, building credibility and trust through deep technical competence and operational understanding. Map the end-user experience to our software and hardware solutions and be the critical technical translator between customer and our engineering & product teams. Forward Deployment Work directly at or alongside customer sites, and lead the engineers who do the same, to deploy, operate, and continuously improve AI/ML enabled software platforms, owning outcomes from initial design through production. Cross-Functional Leadership Partner with product, engineering, and business development teams to shape roadmaps, respond to RFPs, and ensure delivered solutions align with both mission needs and company strategy. Compliance & Security Navigate and drive security architecture requirements including FedRAMP, IL4/IL5/IL6, Zero Trust frameworks, and RMF/ATO processes. Automate & Optimize Identify opportunities to reduce manual operations, automate workflows, and improve reliability and scalability of deployed systems to maximize customer experience. What We're Looking For - Active security clearance preferred; TS/SCI a plus. - 10+ years of experience spanning software/systems engineering, infrastructure, or technical program leadership, ideally with a mix of military, government, and commercial defense tech. - Proven experience building and leading technical, customer-facing teams, ideally spanning both pre-sales (solutions or sales engineering) and post-sales (forward deployed, implementation, or field engineering). - Hands-on experience deploying and operating platforms in classified or government cloud environments (AWS GovCloud, Azure Government, IL4/IL5/IL6). - Familiarity with modern AI/ML technologies including LLMs and agentic AI systems, and a passion for applying them to real mission problems. - Proven ability to engage senior government stakeholders, translating technical concepts into mission value and building long-term relationships. - Strong working knowledge of Kubernetes, cloud infrastructure, and modern DevSecOps practices. - Proficiency in Python, JavaScript/TypeScript, or similar languages. - Experience navigating compliance frameworks: FedRAMP, RMF/ATO, Zero Trust, NIST. - Comfort operating in ambiguous, fast-moving environments with high stakes and limited playbooks. This position is hands-on and embedded with customers. Bonus Points - Military service with a technical or special programs background. - Experience at defense tech companies operating at the civil/military AI frontier. - Experience standing up a forward deployed or solutions engineering function from the ground up at an early-stage company. - Prior experience bridging product, engineering, and government customers. - Familiarity with JADC2, C2 systems, or other defense mission platforms. Mission and Identity We are building the system that enables faster, smarter logistics decisions in contested environments, and we're doing it with a team of seasoned entrepreneurs, operators, and technologists who have built and scaled solutions in this space before. We hold ourselves to an extremely high standard. We value clear thinking, direct communication, and the kind of ownership that doesn't stop until something actually works. Our mission is to create decision advantage when the stakes are the highest. If we succeed, the system doesn't just run; it gets smarter. We're not building AI for its own sake. We're building it because faster, smarter decisions in the most demanding environments on earth can't wait. If you want to work somewhere the stakes are real and the mission is urgent, you'll fit in here. Why Gallatin? The logistics infrastructure that supports America's warfighters and humanitarian disaster responders is overdue for transformation, and we are building it. From defense operations to disaster response, we're solving the hardest problems that keep missions moving when it matters most. Join a team where the mission is the point. Compensation: Gallatin offers competitive compensation commensurate with experience. Actual compensation may vary based on experience, skills, and location. In addition to base salary, we offer a generous equity grant, full healthcare coverage, 401k, unlimited PTO, and the perks of working in a high-caliber, mission-driven environment. Gallatin is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. This position may require the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance. The successful candidate must be able to work in a classified environment when necessary. We comply with the United States Department of Labor's Pay Transparency provision. Note: Due to the nature of certain government contracts held by this organization, U.S. citizenship is a requirement for all positions at Gallatin. Proof of citizenship will be required prior to employment if selected.