LEO Data Processing Architect

Booz Allen Hamilton•Ashburn, VA

About The Position

LEO Data Processing Architect The Opportunity: Everyone is trying to “harness the cloud,” but not everyone knows how. As a cloud computing application architect, you know how to create a cloud-based technical architecture that meets client needs and takes advantage of cloud capabilities. This is an opportunity to use the latest cloud technologies as you look for ways to improve your client’s environment using current cloud capabilities. You’ll recommend tools and solutions based on your research of the current environment and knowledge of various on-premise, cloud-based, and hybrid resources. You’ll use your experience to guide your team as they help the client overcome their most difficult challenges in the cloud. We are seeking a Data Processing Architect to design and implement mission data processing pipelines for Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites, focusing on AWS-native architectures for real-time ingest, transformation, storage, and exploitation. This is a hands-on role—you will own technical decisions, produce reference architectures, and guide engineering teams. What You'll Work On: Architect AWS-centric data pipelines, from ground-station ingest, such as AWS Ground Station, through streaming ETL, tiered storage, cataloging, and secure dissemination. Design cloud-native reference architecture. Emphasize AWS services such as EKS, Kinesis, Lambda, S3, Glue, EMR, and Step Functions, and incorporate Kubernetes, serverless, and IaC, such as Terraform or CloudFormation. Integrate ground segment workflows. Handle CCSDS telemetry frames, mission ops interfaces, and downlink ingest with resilience and low latency. Model geospatial data. Use STAC, COG, GeoTIFF/NITFS, and OGC APIs for imagery and time-series datasets. Conduct performance and reliability engineering. Optimize throughput, autoscaling, caching, and cost controls, and implement observability with CloudWatch, OpenTelemetry, and Prometheus/Grafana. Perform security and compliance. Apply zero-trust principles, encryption, IAM policies, and compliance frameworks, such as FedRAMP or ITAR/EAR. Prototype and benchmark. Lead AWS-focused trade studies and proofs-of-concept and produce decision briefs and architecture runbooks. Enable DevSecOps. Standardize CI/CD pipelines, container hardening, and policy-as-code using AWS-native tools and GitHub and GitLab. Support documentation and lifecycle. Author ADRs, ICDs, and deployment playbooks and support ATO and readiness reviews. Join us. The world can’t wait.

Requirements

8+ years of experience in cloud architecture and AWS services, including EKS, Kinesis, Lambda, S3, Glue, EMR, or IAM, and networking
5+ years of experience building high-throughput, real-time streaming, and data lake solutions
Experience with multi-region cloud networking and high-volume data processing
Experience with data storage architectures, including data discovery and data service APIs
Experience in Kubernetes, containers, IaC, including Terraform or CloudFormation, and CI/CD
Experience with geospatial data processing, including STAC, COG, or OGC APIs
Knowledge of LEO mission data concepts, including downlink ingest, CCSDS telemetry, and ground segment workflows
Knowledge of security architecture, including encryption, KMS, zero-trust, or compliance frameworks
Ability to obtain and maintain a Public Trust or Suitability/Fitness determination based on client requirements
HS diploma or GED

Nice To Haves

Experience integrating AWS Ground Station with mission ops toolchains
Experience with GPU or HPC acceleration for image processing
Knowledge of US public sector compliance, such as FedRAMP High, or CJIS
Knowledge of RF or SDR pipelines and forward error correction
Ability to produce architecture artifacts
Possession of excellent oral and written communication skills
AWS Solutions Architect – Professional Certification

Responsibilities

Architect AWS-centric data pipelines, from ground-station ingest, such as AWS Ground Station, through streaming ETL, tiered storage, cataloging, and secure dissemination.
Design cloud-native reference architecture.
Emphasize AWS services such as EKS, Kinesis, Lambda, S3, Glue, EMR, and Step Functions, and incorporate Kubernetes, serverless, and IaC, such as Terraform or CloudFormation.
Integrate ground segment workflows.
Handle CCSDS telemetry frames, mission ops interfaces, and downlink ingest with resilience and low latency.
Model geospatial data.
Use STAC, COG, GeoTIFF/NITFS, and OGC APIs for imagery and time-series datasets.
Conduct performance and reliability engineering.
Optimize throughput, autoscaling, caching, and cost controls, and implement observability with CloudWatch, OpenTelemetry, and Prometheus/Grafana.
Perform security and compliance.
Apply zero-trust principles, encryption, IAM policies, and compliance frameworks, such as FedRAMP or ITAR/EAR.
Prototype and benchmark.
Lead AWS-focused trade studies and proofs-of-concept and produce decision briefs and architecture runbooks.
Enable DevSecOps.
Standardize CI/CD pipelines, container hardening, and policy-as-code using AWS-native tools and GitHub and GitLab.
Support documentation and lifecycle.
Author ADRs, ICDs, and deployment playbooks and support ATO and readiness reviews.