Job Title: Mil-Space Embedded Solutions Architect - US (Pre-Sales)Job Description
This role is a customer-facing Mil-Space Embedded Solutions Architect position focused on supporting pre-sales efforts in the aerospace, defense, and space sectors. You act as the key technical authority, bridging deep embedded systems expertise with business development strategy to define, architect, and demonstrate rugged, mission-critical solutions across sea, land, air, and space domains. You engage directly with customers to understand their missions and operational challenges, shape requirements, and design compliant, high-reliability embedded architectures that meet demanding aerospace and defense standards while advancing strategic growth opportunities.
Responsibilities
Engage with aerospace, defense, and space customers to understand their missions, mission gaps, and tactical and strategic goals, and translate these into candidate embedded system architectures.
Architect embedded system solutions that integrate hardware, firmware, and software to meet mission-specific requirements for programs that are active or in acquisition.
Design ruggedized, high-reliability embedded architectures suitable for operation in extreme environments, including radiation-intensive and harsh military conditions.
Develop and support technical proposals, including system architecture diagrams, performance analyses, compliance matrices, and supporting documentation.
Provide technical leadership during customer meetings, RFP and RFQ responses, and solution demonstrations, ensuring alignment with customer needs and program objectives.
Serve as the primary technical point of contact during the pre-sales process, addressing customer inquiries, resolving technical challenges, and ensuring a high level of customer satisfaction.
Collaborate closely with customers to build strong relationships, deepen mission and platform understanding, and establish trust through innovative and operationally focused solutions.
Shape and influence technical requirements with government agencies, industry primes, and Tier 1 and Tier 2 companies to position proposed solutions favorably.
Work closely with product management, engineering, and business development teams to align customer solutions with current product capabilities and future development roadmaps.
Influence internal IRAD (Independent Research and Development) plans for future building-block boards, systems, and software solutions that expand presence across US sea, land, air, and space domains.
Provide structured feedback to product teams based on customer gaps, requirements, and industry trends to guide future product and platform development.
Partner with Field Application Engineers to support both pre-sales and post-sales customer engagements, ensuring smooth technical transitions and solution adoption.
Leverage competitive intelligence to position offerings effectively and positively influence solution selection and win probability.
Lead technical demonstrations of embedded solutions, clearly showcasing system capabilities, differentiators, and mission relevance.
Deliver technical training to internal sales teams and external customers to ensure a strong understanding of product features, benefits, and integration approaches.
Represent the organization at industry events, conferences, and customer forums, presenting technical capabilities and promoting embedded solutions for Mil-Space applications.
Lead the US-side transfer of knowledge from international teams to US cross-functional teams, ensuring consistent technical understanding and solution quality.
Apply understanding of AI/ML capabilities and use cases, including hands-on experience with GPGPU, neuromorphic processors, and other leading AI/ML technologies, to enhance solution architectures.
Incorporate Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS) such as FreeRTOS, QNX, RT Linux, Integrity, and similar platforms into embedded system designs where appropriate.
Ensure all proposed solutions adhere to relevant aerospace and defense standards and frameworks, including VPX, SOSA, MOSA, FACE, and related specifications.
Design and validate solutions that use protocols such as CAN, ARINC 429, UART, TSN, and Ethernet-based standards, ensuring robust and interoperable communication.
Maintain up-to-date knowledge of industry regulations and certifications, including DO-178, DO-254, MIL-STD-810, MIL-STD-461, ARINC 653, and related standards, and use this knowledge to guide solution compliance.
Apply cybersecurity principles and secure system design practices to embedded solutions intended for aerospace, defense, and radiation-sensitive environments.
Demonstrate the ability to take loosely defined mission goals or mission gaps and formulate clear, feasible, and innovative architectural solutions.
Collaborate effectively in a cross-functional, global environment, coordinating with engineering, product, and commercial teams to deliver integrated solutions.
Travel up to approximately 30% of the time across the US and Canada to meet with customers, support demonstrations, and participate in industry events.
Essential Skills
Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related technical field.
Minimum of 4 years of experience in embedded systems design, system architecture, or a similar technical role.
Professional experience in aerospace, defense, or space markets, with strong familiarity with their missions and platforms.
Deep knowledge of embedded systems architecture, including hardware, firmware, and software integration.
Experience designing or working with ruggedized embedded solutions and high-reliability systems for extreme environments, including radiation and harsh military conditions.
Strong knowledge of US Department of Defense military, aerospace, and space platforms and missions.
Experience with embedded systems development, requirements analysis, and solution design for mission-critical applications.
Familiarity with aerospace and defense standards and frameworks such as SOSA, MOSA, and FACE.
Proficiency with standard embedded hardware platforms such as VPX, COM Express, single-board computers (SBCs), and similar architectures.
Experience with Aerospace & Defense systems such as mission computers, display computers, and related subsystems.
Understanding of AI/ML capabilities and use cases, with technical experience in GPGPU and neuromorphic processors or similar AI/ML acceleration technologies.
Familiarity with Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS) such as FreeRTOS, QNX, RT Linux, Integrity, or comparable platforms.
Knowledge of relevant aerospace and defense standards and protocols, including VPX, SOSA, MOSA, FACE, CAN, ARINC 429, UART, TSN, and Ethernet-based standards.
Working knowledge of industry regulations and certifications such as DO-178, DO-254, MIL-STD-810, MIL-STD-461, and ARINC 653, and how they impact system design and compliance.
Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Strong problem-solving skills and a customer-centric mindset, with the ability to address operational challenges in rugged environments.
Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in a cross-functional, global environment with engineering, product, and commercial teams.
Ability and willingness to travel approximately 30% of the time across the US and Canada.
Eligibility to work with information and hardware subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), including meeting all applicable ITAR requirements.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
Prior experience in pre-sales engineering, customer-facing technical roles, or solutions architecture in the aerospace, defense, or space sectors.
Direct experience with customer engagement in aerospace and defense, including RFP/RFQ support, solution demonstrations, and technical workshops.
Familiarity with cybersecurity principles and secure system design for aerospace, defense, and radiation-sensitive environments.
Experience designing or supporting radiation-tolerant or radiation-aware embedded systems for space and high-altitude applications.
Active security clearance or the ability to obtain a security clearance, depending on program requirements.
Demonstrated ability to take loosely defined mission goals or mission gaps and translate them into well-structured architectural concepts and solution options.
Experience influencing IRAD or internal roadmap priorities based on customer feedback, competitive insights, and emerging technology trends.
Experience presenting at industry events, conferences, or technical forums, representing complex embedded solutions to diverse audiences.
Proven ability to build strong customer relationships, develop customer intimacy, and maintain trust through consistent technical support.
Experience working with or alongside prime contractors and Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers in the aerospace and defense ecosystem.
Work Environment
You will work at the forefront of rugged embedded computing, contributing to solutions that operate reliably in some of the world's most challenging environments across military, defense, aerospace, and space applications. The environment centers on innovation in conduction-cooled, MIL-SPEC-grade embedded platforms, including advanced SBCs, VPX-based systems, GPGPU-based computing solutions, and cybersecurity-enhanced mission systems. Day-to-day work involves close collaboration with global engineering, product management, field application engineers, and business development teams, blending office-based technical design and proposal work with regular customer interaction. The role includes approximately 30% travel across the US and Canada for on-site customer meetings, technical demonstrations, and industry events. You will engage with cutting-edge technologies such as AI/ML accelerators, neuromorphic processors, RTOS platforms, and high-speed interconnects, and operate within a culture that values technical excellence, cross-functional collaboration, and pushing the boundaries of embedded computing for land, sea, air, and space missions.
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Chatsworth, CA.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $110000.00 - $165000.00/hr.
Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: - Medical, dental & vision - Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital - 401(k) Retirement Plan - Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available - Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) - Short and long-term disability - Health Spending Account (HSA) - Transportation benefits - Employee Assistance Program - Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)
Workplace Type
This is a fully onsite position in Chatsworth,CA.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Apr 29, 2026.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
At Actalent, diversity and inclusion are a bridge towards the equity and success of our people. DE&I is embedded into our culture through:
Hiring diverse talent
Maintaining an inclusive environment through persistent self-reflection
Building a culture of care, engagement, and recognition with clear outcomes
Ensuring growth opportunities for our people
Actalent is an equal opportunity employer.
About Actalent
Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services. For more than 40 years, we've helped visionary companies advance their goals. Headquartered in the United States, our teams span 150 offices across North America, EMEA, and APAC-with four delivery centers in India led by 1,000+ extraordinary employees who connect their passion with purpose every day.
Our Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, and Chennai delivery centers are hubs of engineering expertise, with core capabilities in mechanical and electrical engineering, systems and software, and manufacturing engineering. Our teams deliver work across multiple industries including transportation, consumer and industrial products, and life sciences. We serve more than 4,500 clients, including many Fortune 500 brands. Learn more about how we can work together at actalentservices.com.
