Infrastructure Architect

Description:
We are seeking a highly experienced Enterprise Infrastructure Architect on a contract basis to provide on-site infrastructure leadership and expert-level technical support. This role is critical in supporting the department's migration from on-premise infrastructure to a hybrid cloud model using Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services (AWS). The architect will act as a trusted SME, designing secure, scalable infrastructure and supporting operations across both cloud and on-prem environments. The architect will also serve as a subject matter expert and mentor, providing structured knowledge transfer and technical training to internal staff throughout the engagement.

Due to client requirement, applicants must be willing and able to work on a w2 basis. For our w2 consultants, we offer a great benefits package that includes Medical, Dental, and Vision benefits, 401k with company matching, and life insurance. Due to federal security clearance requirements, applicant must be a United States Citizen or Permanent Resident with an active Public Trust clearance.

Rate: $65 - $75 / hr. w2

Responsibilities:
Key Responsibilities

1. Architecture & Strategic Planning
   1. Lead the technical architecture of a secure, resilient, and scalable hybrid environment
2. (Azure, AWS, and on-prem)
3. Define integration strategies for legacy systems and cloud-based workloads.
4. Develop infrastructure standards, policies, and lifecycle strategies to guide modernization.

2. Infrastructure Operations & SME Duties

1. Serve as the lead technical expert (Level 4) for infrastructure, virtualization, networking, and cloud services.
2. Work on-site to provide hands-on leadership in system implementation, maintenance, and performance optimization.
3. Provide after-hours support and overtime as needed during critical cutovers, incidents, or emergency responses.
4. Act as a subject matter expert and technical mentor to IT staff, supporting internal knowledge transfer and skill-building.
5. Mentor IT staff on Microsoft 365, Intune, Azure Backup, and Endpoint Manager operations

3. Security & Compliance

1. Design secure architectures compliant with CJIS, NIST, and state/local law enforcement standards.
2. Oversee identity architecture (Active Directory, Azure AD, Entra ID, AWS IAM, MFA, RBAC).
3. Oversee the PKI infrastructure, ensure encryption, access control, auditability, and secure connectivity across environments.

4. Cloud Integration & Migration

1. Guide the phased migration of infrastructure workloads and services to cloud platforms.
2. Architect hybrid networking (VPN, SD-WAN, ExpressRoute, Direct Connect) and ensure connectivity with public safety systems.
3. Utilize Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, PowerShell, CloudFormation) to automate deployments.

5. Documentation, Training & Support

1. Maintain detailed and current documentation: diagrams, SOPs, runbooks, security plans, recovery procedures.
2. Conduct technical knowledge transfer sessions and provide formal and informal training to department staff.
3. Create and maintain compliance documentation for internal and third-party audits.

Experience Requirements:
Required Qualifications

1. Expert-level knowledge of Azure, AWS, on-prem virtualization (VMware/Hyper-V), and enterprise storage.
2. Proven experience in public-sector IT or similarly regulated environments.
3. Hands-on knowledge in:
   1. Virtualization (vSphere/ESXi)
   2. Enterprise Networking (Cisco, Palo Alto, Fortinet)
   3. Storage (SAN, NAS, Object Storage)
   4. Identity and Access Management
   5. Hybrid Cloud Networking and Security
   6. Infrastructure automation tools: Terraform, PowerShell, ARM templates, CloudFormation.
   7. Strong understanding of CJIS, NIST, or FedRAMP compliance frameworks.
   8. Demonstrated ability to mentor technical teams and provide structured training in operational environments.

Education Requirements:

• Minimum 8 years in enterprise infrastructure roles, with a strong focus on cloud and hybrid environments.