Systems Architect

Overview

The Systems Architect will play a crucial role in advancing the CDC Foundation’s mission by leading the design of scalable data and technology architecture that supports mission-critical public health reporting, analytics, and operational decision-making. This role is aligned to the Workforce Acceleration Initiative (WAI). WAI is a federally funded CDC Foundation program with the goal of helping the nation’s public health agencies by providing them with the technology and data experts needed to accelerate information system and data modernization efforts.

Working within St. Mary’s County Health Department, Office of Research and Epidemiology, the Systems Architect will provide expertise and guidance in enterprise systems and data architecture with a focus on data integration, data flows, analytics enablement, and the development of a sustainable data foundation. This includes designing architecture strategies, technical roadmaps, and methodologies that support reliable reporting, interoperability, and improved access to trusted data across programs.

The Systems Architect will collaborate with agency leadership and technical partners to assess current-state systems, identify data and integration gaps, and develop a phased architecture approach that supports modernization goals. The role will emphasize the design of scalable data environments that enable consistent reporting, improved data quality, and future analytics capabilities while aligning with governance, security, and compliance requirements.

The Systems Architect will be hired by the CDC Foundation and assigned to the St. Mary’s County Health Department, Office of Research and Epidemiology. This position is eligible for a fully remote work arrangement for U.S. based candidates.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership in foundational data and systems architecture, with a focus on data flows, integration patterns, analytics enablement, and scalable technical design that supports public health reporting, surveillance, and compliance needs.
• Partner closely with the Data Modernization Senior Advisor and DMI leadership to translate validated current-state assessments, governance decisions, and prioritized use cases into a sequenced technical architecture and modernization roadmap.
• Develop and maintain project-level architecture artifacts, including conceptual and logical data models, source-of-truth patterns, data flow diagrams, and architectural decision records aligned with governance and validated use cases.
• Collaborate with agency stakeholders to understand business and program requirements and design architectural solutions that account for current-state constraints, including legacy systems, spreadsheet-based workflows, and file-driven integrations.
• Evaluate existing systems, data assets, and technical workflows to identify integration gaps, architectural risks, and opportunities for modernization and optimization.
• Define and document architecture standards, patterns, and guidelines that promote interoperability, scalability, security, sustainability, and long-term maintainability.
• Design logical and physical data models and scalable data environments that enable trusted analytics, reporting, interoperability, and audit readiness.
• Conduct feasibility analyses and risk assessments for proposed architectural initiatives, including evaluation of technical constraints, dependencies, and long-term impacts.
• Ensure privacy, security, and regulatory requirements are incorporated into architectural designs in alignment with governance policies and applicable federal, state, and local regulations.
• Provide architectural guidance and oversight during implementation phases to ensure solutions align with approved designs and phased modernization plans.
• Collaborate with infrastructure, cloud, network, and security teams to ensure architectural designs are resilient, secure, and aligned with organizational standards.
• Maintain awareness of emerging technologies and industry best practices relevant to public health data systems, applying them strategically and in alignment with agency readiness.
• Build strong working relationships with agency leadership and technical teams to foster alignment, trust, and successful adoption of architectural solutions.
• Support the development of cloud and hybrid data architecture strategies aligned with business objectives and governance constraints.
• Up to 10% domestic travel may be required.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Health Informatics, Data Science, or a related field.
• Minimum 5 years of professional experience in systems and/or data architecture, including designing and guiding architecture for complex, multi-system environments.
• Demonstrated expertise in foundational architecture design, including data flows, integration patterns, system interoperability, and scalable technical frameworks that support analytics, reporting, and operational needs.
• Data Warehousing: Designing and maintaining enterprise data warehouses and understanding architectures like Star Schema or Snowflake Schema.
• Database Systems: Mastery of Relational Database Management Systems (RDBMS) like SQL Server, Oracle, and PostgreSQL, alongside NoSQL databases like MongoDB, Cassandra, or HBase.
• Experience designing architectural solutions that account for both modern and legacy systems, including environments with limited integration, file-based workflows, and evolving technical maturity.
• Strong understanding of cloud and hybrid architecture standards, including principles for security, scalability, reliability, and maintainability.
• Experience developing conceptual and logical data models and translating business and use-case requirements into clear architectural artifacts.
• Experience developing conceptual and logical data models and translating business and use-case requirements into clear architectural artifacts.
• Experience defining and applying architecture standards, patterns, and guidelines to ensure consistency, interoperability, and sustainability across systems.
• Proven ability to conduct technical feasibility assessments and risk analyses, including evaluating constraints, dependencies, and long-term implications of architectural decisions.
• Experience resolving complex integration challenges involving multiple systems, data sources, partners, and unclear or evolving requirements.
• Working knowledge of information security principles, privacy considerations, and regulatory requirements as they apply to system and data architecture.
• Ability to translate business and program requirements into clear architectural designs and technical guidance, without serving as the primary solution implementer.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and systems-thinking skills, with the ability to operate effectively in ambiguous and evolving environments.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain architectural concepts and trade-offs to non-technical stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with diverse teams, build trust with partners, and work productively in virtual or distributed environments.
• Proficiency in standard productivity tools (e.g., Microsoft Office).

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of and experience with healthcare or public health IT standards (e.g., FHIR, HL7).
• Understanding data privacy, security, and ethical data use, particularly as applied to public sector or public health data.
• Familiarity with federal, state, and local public health agencies or population health systems, including their regulatory and operational environments.

Job Highlights

• Location: Remote, must be based in the United States, Up to 10% domestic travel may be required.
• Salary Range: $103,500-$143,500 per year, plus benefits. Individual salary offers will be based on experience and qualifications unique to each candidate. 
• Work schedule: Must be available to work Eastern Time business hours, with flexibility as needed.
• Position Type: Grant funded, limited-term opportunity
• Position End Date: June 30,2027 

Special Notes

This role is involved in a dynamic public health program. As such, roles and responsibilities are subject to change as situations evolve. Roles and responsibilities listed above may be expanded upon or updated to match priorities and needs, once written approval is received by the CDC Foundation in order to best support the public health programming.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, mental or physical disabilities, veteran status, and all other characteristics protected by law. We comply with all applicable laws including E.O. 11246 and the Vietnam Era Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 governing employment practices and do not discriminate on the basis of any unlawful criteria in accordance with 41 C.F.R. §§ 60-300.5(a)(12) and 60-741.5(a)(7). As a federal government contractor, we take affirmative action on behalf of protected veterans.

The CDC Foundation is a smoke-free environment.

Relocation expenses are not included.

About the CDC Foundation 

The CDC Foundation helps CDC save and improve lives by unleashing the power of collaboration between CDC, philanthropies, corporations, organizations and individuals to protect the health, safety and security of America and the world. The CDC Foundation is the go-to nonprofit authorized by Congress to mobilize philanthropic partners and private-sector resources to support CDC’s critical health protection mission. The CDC Foundation manages hundreds of programs each year impacting a variety of health threats from chronic disease conditions including cardiovascular disease and cancer, to infectious diseases like rotavirus and HIV, to emergency responses, including COVID-19 and Ebola. Visit www.cdcfoundation.org for more information.