Sabel is a digital engineering and Defense technology partner helping organizations simplify complexity and improve mission outcomes with secure, scalable solutions across the lifecycle. Our people-first culture blends large-business opportunity with small-business agility, enabling us to deliver high-impact, secure solutions rapidly while investing in our people’s growth and success.

This is not a back-office architecture role. You’ll work directly with Air Force leadership, engineering organizations, and acquisition stakeholders to shape how the Air Force’s Product Lifecycle Management capabilities support the design, sustainment, and modernization of Air Force systems. Your work will influence how lifecycle data is structured, governed, and integrated across programs that support the warfighter. You will have an impact on the fight tonight and for decades to come.

You will be joining a dynamic and highly motivated team with one shared goal: “Get quality and secure solutions in the customers’ hands as soon as possible.”

Why This Role Matters

The U.S. Air Force is accelerating its transition toward digital engineering, model-based practices, and data-centric acquisition. Air Force Product Lifecycle Management sits at the center of that transformation, connecting engineering data, sustainment information, and program decision-making across the lifecycle of Air Force systems.

As Chief Architect and PLM Strategist for AF-PLM, you will help define how that transformation takes shape. This role sits at the intersection of enterprise architecture, digital engineering strategy, and mission execution—guiding how lifecycle data and digital thread capabilities are integrated across platforms, programs, and functional domains.

If you are a senior architect who understands Air Force mission systems, digital engineering, and enterprise PLM environments—and you’re motivated by the opportunity to shape how the Air Force manages engineering data and lifecycle information at scale—this is the kind of role where your experience directly impacts mission outcomes.

This role is well suited for senior engineers and architects who have spent their careers supporting Air Force acquisition, digital engineering initiatives, or enterprise lifecycle data environments and are ready to shape how those capabilities evolve across the Air Force enterprise.

We’re seeking a Chief Architect and PLM Strategist for U.S. Air Force Product Lifecycle Management (AF-PLM) to serve as the technical and strategic leader responsible for designing, aligning, and delivering the architectural vision of the AF-PLM enterprise.

This role bridges strategy, technology, and mission outcomes, guiding the transformation of lifecycle data and digital thread integration across platforms, programs, and functional domains. The Chief Architect will ensure alignment with DoD digital engineering and data-centric acquisition priorities while advancing scalable, interoperable PLM solutions across Air Force acquisition, sustainment, and operational communities.

What You’ll Do

Enterprise Architecture Leadership: Develop and maintain the AF-PLM enterprise architecture while ensuring alignment with the Air Force Data Strategy.

PLM Strategy Development: Define and drive a comprehensive Air Force level PLM strategy that enables digital thread capabilities, an authoritative source of truth (ASOT), and full lifecycle data management across Air Force systems and platforms.

System Integration and Interoperability: Guide integration strategies that connect PLM solutions with enterprise systems while ensuring compliance with DoD open system architecture principles.

Mission Alignment: Translate operational and acquisition needs into PLM system capabilities that support readiness, cost reduction, and modernization objectives. Align the PLM roadmap with Air Force priorities and AFMC / SAF-AQ initiatives.

Stakeholder Engagement: Serve as a principal advisor to senior stakeholders across SAF-AQ, AFLCMC, AFNWC, AFSC, and industry partners. Lead cross-functional collaboration across engineering, acquisition, and sustainment communities.

Innovation and Thought Leadership: Evaluate emerging technologies such as AI/ML, semantic data models, and digital twin frameworks for potential incorporation into the PLM ecosystem. Represent AF-PLM at industry, academic, and DoD forums.

What You Bring

Required

• Master’s degree in Systems Engineering, Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field, or a bachelor’s degree with equivalent experience.
• 12+ years of experience in enterprise architecture, PLM implementation, and digital engineering within a defense environment.
• Deep knowledge of DoD acquisition frameworks, Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), and Siemens Teamcenter PLM.
• Demonstrated experience supporting enterprise-level digital thread and data governance initiatives.
• Familiarity with Air Force mission systems and lifecycle sustainment environments.
• Strong Interpersonal Skills.
• U.S. Citizenship required with an Active DoD Secret security clearance.

Preferred

• Institute of Configuration Management CMII certification or similar credential.
• Siemens Teamcenter Professional Certification.
• Program/Project Management or Agile certification.
• Experience supporting AF-PLM or major USAF / DoD / OEM digital transformation initiatives.
• Prior experience supporting AFLCMC, AFNWC, or similar U.S. Air Force organizations.

Work Location & Schedule

This is a full-time, hybrid position, requiring partial, but weekly on-site support at Wright-Patterson AFB (Dayton, OH).

Our Core Values

• Bias for Action: Decisive. Purposeful. Agile. We move with the speed of relevance to drive impact and progress.
• Integrity: Respect. Ethics. Transparency. We do what’s right and earn lasting trust.
• Delivery Excellence: Customer-obsessed. Mission-focused. Quality-driven. We deliver innovative outcomes that exceed expectations.

Our EVP Promise
Join Sabel Systems, where your contributions drive impact, your growth is continuously supported, and your well-being is at the center of how we work—so together, we can build the future with purpose.

“Rewarding Impact. Building Futures Together.”

Compensation

The estimated salary range for this position is $180,000 – $225,000 annually. Compensation will be determined in partnership with the Hiring Manager and may vary based on factors such as contract and labor category alignment, relevant experience, skills, education, certifications or licenses, and geographic location.

Sabel Systems is committed to offering all employees a competitive benefits and compensation package that is comprehensive enough to meet their goals and needs. Our employees are our most valuable asset, and one of Sabel Systems largest financial investments is our benefits program. As a valued member of the organization, employees are provided with a host of benefits to include healthcare; financial assistance in the event of illness, injury, disability, loss of work, or death; health savings accounts; retirement plans; paid time off; paid holidays; education and training program reimbursement, to name a few.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Sabel Systems is an equal opportunity employer. Our hiring decisions are based solely on qualifications, merit, and business need. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind across all employment practices within our organization. Sabel Systems participates in the E-Verify Employment Verification Program.

Reasonable Accommodation

Sabel Systems is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and ensuring an accessible application process for all candidates. Applicants with disabilities who require reasonable accommodation to participate in the application or interview process are encouraged to contact us at recruiting@sabelsystems.com for assistance.