Cloud Architect

Summary:

• The Cloud Solutions Architect is responsible for designing, implementing, and optimizing cloud-based infrastructure and application architecture that meet organizational and mission requirements. This role translates business and technical needs into scalable, secure, and cost-effective cloud solutions across public, private, and hybrid environments.
• The Cloud Solutions Architect partners with development teams, operations staff, and stakeholders to define cloud migration strategies, establish architectural standards, and ensure compliance with security and governance policies.
• The ideal candidate brings hands-on experience with major cloud platforms and a strong understanding of enterprise architecture principles.

Responsibilities:

• Design and implement cloud architectures across Azure, that align with organizational requirements for scalability, availability, and security.
• Develop cloud migration strategies and roadmaps, including assessment of existing on-premises workloads for cloud readiness.
• Define and enforce cloud architectural standards, design patterns, and best practices across project teams.
• Collaborate with DevOps, security, and development teams to ensure seamless integration of cloud services into CI/CD pipelines and application workflows.
• Evaluate and recommend cloud services, tools, and third-party solutions to optimize performance and reduce costs.
• Implement infrastructure-as-code (IaC) solutions using tools such as Terraform, CloudFormation, or ARM templates.
• Ensure cloud environments comply with applicable security frameworks (FedRAMP, NIST 800-53, FISMA) and data protection requirements.
• Conduct architecture reviews, proof-of-concept initiatives, and technical presentations for stakeholders.
• Monitor cloud resource utilization and recommend optimization strategies for cost management and performance tuning.
• Document cloud architectures, design decisions, and operational procedures.

Desired Skills and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field.
• 4–7 years of experience in cloud architecture, cloud engineering, or infrastructure roles.
• Hands-on experience with Azure including core compute, storage, networking, and identity services.
• Experience with infrastructure-as-code tools (Terraform, CloudFormation, Pulumi, or equivalent).
• Working knowledge of containerization technologies (Docker, Kubernetes, ECS/EKS).
• Familiarity with cloud security principles, identity and access management (IAM), and network security controls.
• Understanding of microservices architecture, API gateway patterns, and serverless computing.
• Cloud certification preferred (e.g., AWS Solutions Architect Associate, Azure Solutions Architect Expert, GCP Professional Cloud Architect).
• Strong analytical, communication, and documentation skills.
• Experience in government or DoD cloud environments (e.g., GovCloud, IL5/6) is a plus.

Security Clearance

• Active TS/SCI with CI poly