Location : Austin, TX – Hybrid (3 days per week on-site)
Schedule : 40 hours / week, Monday–Friday (8 : 00 AM–5 : 00 PM)
Contract Duration : 6 months, with potential for extension
Pay Rate : $60–$72 / hour
Regulatory & Eligibility Requirements :
- Valid passport required
- This position is subject to U.S. government export control and security regulations. Only candidates who meet U.S. citizenship eligibility requirements may be considered.
- Must be eligible to obtain post-hire clearance from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. (CFIUS) and the U.S. Department of the Treasury
Job Title : Technical Lead / Project Design Authority (Identity & Biometric Solutions)
Position Summary
Our client is seeking an experienced Technical Lead / Project Design Authority (PDA) within the Identity and Biometric Solutions (IBS) domain. This role serves as the primary technical authority for the design, development, and deployment of complex identity and biometric systems.
Working with minimal supervision from the Program / Project Leader or Engineering Director, you will lead multidisciplinary engineering teams, define solution architecture, and ensure delivery of secure, high-quality, and customer-aligned solutions. You will be accountable for one or more projects of significant complexity, cost, and strategic importance to the organization.
In partnership with the Project Manager, you will also support project planning, scheduling, reporting, and cross-functional coordination to ensure successful execution and delivery.
Key Responsibilities
Bid & Presales Support
Act as the primary technical authority for the engineering aspects of bids and proposalsEnsure solution feasibility, architecture maturity, and compliance with contractual, technical, cost, schedule, and customer constraintsContribute to the development of the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) and organization of engineering activitiesReview and approve key bid and project engineering deliverablesSupport customer demonstrations and technical workshops, including presentations and discussionsProject Technical Leadership
Develop Design Validation Architecture (DVa) documentation, detailing solution architecture, technology choices, regulatory constraints, standards, risks, and mitigation plansTranslate customer requirements into functional specifications, solution-level requirements, and interface documentationOwn and govern overall solution architecture, guiding technical decisions related to security, performance, cost, environment, and timelinesCollaborate closely with architects and Work Package Managers (WPMs) to ensure architectural consistencyReview and approve technical documentation produced by the engineering teamValidate workload estimates and optimize project timelines while maintaining high quality standardsLead customer workshops to gather requirements and translate needs into clear, actionable specificationsDefine and manage interfaces between customer systems, internal subsystems, and integrated solution componentsProject & Team Leadership
Organize and lead technical meetings, peer reviews, and design reviews with Project Managers, Engineering leadership, and stakeholdersMaintain accountability for engineering delivery and progress across multiple work packagesDrive execution of engineering processes and activities throughout the project lifecycleCoordinate technical work packages to ensure seamless solution integrationDefine and support verification, validation, and integration strategiesPrepare and present engineering steering committee updates to management and / or customersIdentify, track, and mitigate technical, quality, and security risksReport engineering project status to the Project Manager and Engineering Operations leadershipMinimum Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline (or equivalent experience)8+ years of software engineering experience with strong knowledge of engineering best practices and processesDemonstrated technical leadership experience with a pragmatic, results-driven approachStrong architectural and systems design expertise, able to collaborate effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholdersExcellent communication and interpersonal skills, with proven ability to lead teams and facilitate collaborationExperience managing multiple projects and leading technical workshops to clarify scope and requirementsProficiency with project tracking and collaboration tools such as Jira and ConfluenceStrong analytical and problem-solving skills with a focus on cost-effective, high-quality solutionsSelf-motivated with excellent technical documentation and writing capabilitiesAdditional Requirements
Travel : Approximately 15–20% annually within North America