Who we are:

Raft (https://TeamRaft.com) is a customer-obsessed non-traditional small business with a purposeful focus on Distributed Data Systems, Platforms at Scale, and Complex Application Development, with headquarters in Reston, VA. Our range of clients includes innovative federal and public agencies leveraging design thinking, cutting-edge tech stack, and cloud-native ecosystem. We build digital solutions that impact the lives of millions of Americans.

We’re looking for an experienced Principal Cloud Architect to support our customers and join our passionate team of high-impact problem solvers.

About the role:

As Principal Cloud Architect, you will collaborate across departments to guide and implement enterprise strategies for our customer. As a key technical advisor, you’ll lead the cloud strategy execution by leveraging your expertise and business insights. Additionally, you’ll tackle complex issues through critical thinking and hands-on coding, while working closely with various teams to foster strategic solution initiatives.

What we are looking for: 

• Minimum 7 years of relevant hands-on experience
• Proven expertise in software engineering, with significant experience in Python scripting
• Demonstrated proficiency in creating Infrastructure as Code (IaC) solutions, with a preference for Terraform
• Strong analytical skills to evaluate complex issues using all available data
• Background in deploying containerized services in production environments using Kubernetes, Docker, Mesos, or similar platforms
• Familiarity with version control tools such as Git, Subversion, or Mercurial
• Expertise in Pipeline Architecture with at least 3 years in developing CI/CD pipelines using GitLab CI, GitLab Runners, or similar technologies, alongside a foundation in DevOps, platform engineering, and the automation of build processes for contemporary programming languages
• Comprehensive experience in setting up automated testing via pipelines and proficiency with package managers like Maven, Gradle, PyPi, and npm
• Knowledge in cybersecurity practices, including vulnerability scanning using SAST and DAST, and familiarity with microservice architectures
• Understanding and application of various DevSecOps CI/CD pipeline-enhancing technologies, including DoD DevSecOps Reference Architecture, ArgoCD, Ansible, Helm Charts, SOPS, SonarQube, Fortify, and container security tools like Twistlock, Trivy, or NeuVector
• A Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Mathematics, or a related technical field, or comparable industry experience
• Ability to obtain a Security within the first 90 days of employment with Raft

Highly preferred:

• Knowledge and experience with GovCloud or AWS networking
• Proficiency in Hashicorp Vault and Immutable Infrastructure concepts
• Experience with Gitlab, its CI/CD pipelines, and familiarity with the CI/CD system landscape
• Background in enhancing and managing brownfield environments
• A strong advocate for and experienced in Test Driven Development (TDD) practices
• Advanced qualifications include a Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, IT, or a related field with extensive experience (10 years for engineering, 15 years for IT fields), including 5 years of guiding junior team members and 4 years in a leadership role on technical projects

Clearance Requirements:

• Active Top Secret Clearance with SCI eligibility

Work Type: 

• Hybrid - San Antonio, TX
• May require up to 10% travel

Salary Range:

• $140,000 - $225,000
• The determination of compensation is predicated upon a candidate's comprehensive experience, demonstrated skill, and proven abilities

What we will offer you:

• Highly competitive salary
• Fully covered healthcare, dental, and vision coverage
• 401(k) and company match
• Take as you need PTO 11 paid holidays
• Education & training benefits
• Annual budget for your tech/gadgets needs
• Monthly box of yummy snacks to eat while doing meaningful work
• Remote, hybrid, and flexible work options
• Team off-site in fun places!
• Generous Referral Bonuses
• And More!

Our Vision Statement: 

We bridge the gap between humans and data through radical transparency and our obsession with the mission. 

Our Customer Obsession: 

We will approach every deliverable like it's a product. We will adopt a customer-obsessed mentality. As we grow, and our footprint becomes larger, teams and employees will treat each other not only as teammates but customers. We must live the customer-obsessed mindset, always. This will help us scale and it will translate to the interactions that our Rafters have with their clients and other product teams that they integrate with. Our culture will enable our success and set us apart from other companies.

How do we get there? 

Public-sector modernization is critical for us to live in a better world. We, at Raft, want to innovate and solve complex problems. And, if we are successful, our generation and the ones that follow us will live in a delightful, efficient, and accessible world where out-of-box thinking, and collaboration is a norm. 

Raft’s core philosophy is Ubuntu: I Am, Because We are. We support our “nadi” by elevating the other Rafters. We work as a hyper collaborative team where each team member brings a unique perspective, adding value that did not exist before. People make Raft special. We celebrate each other and our cognitive and cultural diversity. We are devoted to our practice of innovation and collaboration.