Principal M365 Exchange & Collaboration Architect

Job Description

Description

We are seeking a highly experienced Principal M365 and Exchange Architect to support a federal customer in designing, operating, and modernizing enterprise collaboration, messaging, and identity platforms. This role provides architectural leadership and hands-on technical expertise across Microsoft 365, Exchange (SE and Online), Entra ID, Teams, and hybrid cloud environments in a highly regulated setting.

The ideal candidate will function as a technical authority and trusted advisor to government stakeholders, leading architecture decisions, large-scale migrations, and platform optimization efforts while ensuring security, compliance, and operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities:

Architecture & Technical Leadership:

• Serve as the lead architect for Microsoft 365, Exchange, and collaboration services in support of a federal customer.
• Design and maintain enterprise reference architectures, standards, and patterns for hybrid and cloud-based collaboration systems.
• Provide architectural guidance aligned with federal security, compliance, and governance requirements.
• Evaluate Microsoft roadmap features and recommend adoption strategies based on mission needs.

Exchange & Collaboration Services:

• Provide senior-level administration and architectural oversight of Exchange SE and Exchange Online environments.
• Architect and manage mail flow, security, compliance, retention, and eDiscovery solutions.
• Lead and support enterprise migrations, including hybrid-to-cloud transitions and tenant consolidations.
• Architect, configure, and support Microsoft Teams deployments, integrations, and lifecycle management.

Identity & Access Management:

• Design and support hybrid identity solutions using Entra ID and Entra ID Connect.
• Implement and maintain identity synchronization, access controls, and governance policies.
• Support conditional access, privileged identity management, and zero trust initiatives in coordination with security teams.

Automation & Engineering:

• Design and maintain PowerShell-based automation frameworks to improve operational efficiency and reliability.
• Develop scripts and tools for administration, monitoring, reporting, and compliance validation.
• Apply engineering best practices to scripting, version control, and documentation.

Cloud, Virtualization & Infrastructure:

• Support Azure and VMware environments hosting collaboration and identity workloads.
• Provide guidance on capacity planning, performance optimization, patching, and lifecycle management.
• Ensure infrastructure configurations align with architectural standards and security requirements.

Project Delivery & Customer Engagement:

• Act as technical lead on task orders, projects, and modernization initiatives.
• Collaborate with government stakeholders to translate requirements into implementable technical designs.
• Support ServiceNow workflows, including complex incidents, problems, and changes.
• Provide technical input to project plans, schedules, and risk mitigation strategies.

Documentation & Compliance:

• Produce and maintain architecture diagrams, design documents, SOPs, and operational runbooks.
• Support audits, assessments, and compliance activities through accurate documentation.
• Contribute to architecture reviews and change control boards.

Mentorship & Knowledge Transfer:

• Mentor junior contractor staff and provide technical escalation support.
• Promote knowledge transfer and operational continuity for government personnel.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

Experience:

• 10+ years of enterprise experience supporting Microsoft Exchange, M365, and identity platforms.
• Demonstrated experience in architecting and supporting large-scale, hybrid environments.
• Experience supporting federal or highly regulated customers preferred.

Technical Skills:

• Expert knowledge of Exchange SE and Exchange Online.
• Strong experience with Entra ID and Entra ID Connect.
• Hands-on administration and architecture experience with Microsoft Teams.
• Advanced PowerShell scripting skills; working knowledge of Python.
• Experience with Azure and VMware environments.
• Familiarity with email security platforms such as Trellix.

Security & Clearance:

• Must be a U.S. Citizen.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Tier 4 Public Trust clearance.

Soft Skills:

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Proven ability to work directly with government customers.
• Strong time management and multitasking skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Microsoft certifications (Exchange, M365, or Azure Solutions Architect).
• Experience leading enterprise migrations and modernization efforts.
• Familiarity with ITIL-based service delivery models.

Work Environment:

• 100% remote, with a preference to reside in the DC/DMV area for occasional on-site support.
• Supportive, mission-focused environment with opportunities to lead high-impact initiatives.

Overview

SAIC accepts applications on an ongoing basis and there is no deadline.

SAIC® is a premier Fortune 500® mission integrator focused on advancing the power of technology and innovation to serve and protect our world. Our robust portfolio of offerings across the defense, space, civilian and intelligence markets includes secure high-end solutions in mission IT, enterprise IT, engineering services and professional services. We integrate emerging technology, rapidly and securely, into mission critical operations that modernize and enable critical national imperatives.

We are approximately 24,000 strong; driven by mission, united by purpose, and inspired by opportunities. SAIC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, SAIC has annual revenues of approximately $7.5 billion. For more information, visit saic.com. For ongoing news, please visit our newsroom.