IT Enterprise Applications Lead {W}

ARKA Group L.P. (“ARKA”) is an advanced technologies company serving the U.S. military, intelligence community, and commercial space industry delivering next-generation solutions to support the national security space enterprise. Built on more than six decades of excellence, ARKA brings modern approaches and a culture of innovation to the challenges of today.

Join the ARKA team to learn how Beyond Begins Here. Discover your next career opportunity now!

Position Overview:

We are seeking a visionary and hands-on leader to drive our Enterprise Application Services function. This role is pivotal in ensuring the reliability, scalability, and strategic alignment of our business-critical applications—including SAP, engineering tools, collaboration platforms, and integrated systems. The ideal candidate will blend deep technical expertise with strategic foresight, guiding application lifecycle management while fostering cross-functional collaboration and vendor partnerships.

We offer generous relocation benefits for eligible candidates.

Responsibilities:

Application Operations & Support

• Oversee end-to-end support for business applications, including ERP (SAP), engineering tools, and collaboration platforms (e.g., M365, Teams)
• Lead incident management, root cause analysis, and continuous improvement initiatives across the application portfolio
• Ensure high availability, performance, and user satisfaction through proactive monitoring and support

Integration & Architecture

• Design and manage application integrations across enterprise systems, ensuring data integrity and seamless workflows
• Collaborate with infrastructure and security teams to maintain robust, compliant, and scalable architectures

Database & Platform Management

• Supervise database administration activities, including performance tuning, backup/recovery, and lifecycle upgrades
• Partner with platform owners to optimize cloud/on-prem hosting strategies

Strategy & Roadmapping

• Develop and execute multi-year application roadmaps aligned with business and IT strategy.
• Create and manage an inventory of all enterprise applications, including SaaS systems, for support, license, and compliance efficiencies
• Lead application consolidation efforts to reduce complexity, cost, and technical debt
• Champion modernization initiatives, including upgrades, cloud migration, and process automation

Vendor & License Management

• Manage relationships with software vendors, negotiating contracts, renewals, and service levels
• Oversee license compliance, usage optimization, and cost control across the application landscape

Leadership & Collaboration

• Build and mentor a high-performing team of application analysts, engineers, and administrators, from scratch
• Serve as a strategic partner to business units, translating needs into scalable technology solutions
• Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous learning

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in information systems, computer science or related subject or equivalent experience; master’s preferred
• 5 years of experience in enterprise applications, including ERP, collaboration tools, and application integration
• Proven leadership in managing a large application landscape, consolidation efforts, and vendor management
• Strong understanding of ERP (prefer SAP) architecture and support models
• Experience with M365 and engineering tool ecosystems (e.g., PLM, CAD platforms)
• Knowledge of database technologies (SQL Server, Oracle, etc.) and integration frameworks (e.g., APIs, middleware)
• Excellent communication, stakeholder engagement, and project management skills

Preferred:

• Experience in manufacturing, engineering, or regulated industries
• Familiarity with ITIL, Agile, and DevOps methodologies
• Working knowledge of compliance frameworks such as CMMC, NIST, or SOX, and their impact on enterprise applications
• Experience operationalizing process discipline through ITIL-aligned service delivery, change management, and audit readiness

Location: Ypsilanti, MI

Ypsilanti is artistic, genuine, and original. A college town and city located on the Huron River in Washtenaw County. Ypsilanti is all about community and making families new to the area feel right at home. From educational opportunities and local museums for all ages, to accessible healthcare and transportation it’s a wonderful location. It’s well known for its historical museums, parks, and historic districts as well as home to Eastern Michigan University. The University of Michigan and Michigan State University also are great institutions! Ann Arbor is close by and has many things, including a bustling university town, culinary hotspot, and a tech hub with a walkable downtown that includes world-class arts and culture. Located in southeast Michigan's Lower Peninsula, Ann Arbor lies at the center of a greater collection of communities in Washtenaw County. With so many thriving communities nearby, Ann Arbor has become a cultural melting pot and urban oasis.

What We Offer:

• Comprehensive medical/vision/dental insurance packages
• Company contributions to qualified HSA accounts
• 401k retirement plan with industry leading company contributions
• 3 weeks of vacation accrual per year plus time off for sick leave and unscheduled life events
• 13 paid holidays
• Upfront tuition assistance for approved degree programs
• Annual bonus program based on company and employee performance
• Company paid life insurance, AD&D, Short-Term and Long-Term disability insurance
• 4 weeks paid Parental Leave
• Employee assistance program (EAP)

EHS/Environmental Requirements:

This job operates in a professional office environment. While performing the duties of this job, the employee routinely is required to use hands to keyboard, communicate, listen to, and interpret instructions and remain stationary for extended periods of the time. This would require the ability to move around the campus and occasionally move/lift items weighing up to 25 lbs. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Applicants are invited to apply for a reasonable accommodation to perform the essential duties of the job. To apply, send a request to staffing@arka.org or contact 203-797-5000 and press 2 for Human Resources.

ITC & Security Clearance Requirements:

This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI U.S. Government Security Clearance.

Visa Restrictions:

No visa sponsorship is available for this position.

Pre-employment Screenings:

Employment with any ARKA companies in the U.S. is contingent upon satisfactory completion of several pre-employment requirements to include a credit check, background check, and drug screen.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.