Senior Cloud Architect

We are seeking a highly experienced and technically exceptional Senior Cloud Architect to serve as a trusted technical advisor in a Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance (SETA) capacity directly supporting the Government Chief Technology Officer (CTO), in Huntsville, Alabama.

About the Program

Join a mission-critical, high-visibility program to architect and build the Agency's Enterprise IT environment. This groundbreaking initiative will establish a secure, resilient, and flexible hybrid, multi-cloud ecosystem designed to support national security objectives for years to come. As a key member of the government's technical leadership team, you will have a direct hand in shaping the future of our IT infrastructure, working alongside top-tier commercial vendors like AWS, Azure, and VMware in a government-led integration effort.

Position Summary:

In this role, you will provide critical oversight, ensuring that all components of the Enterprise IT environment are designed and integrated to form a cohesive, secure, and interoperable system. You will act as the bridge between high-level mission requirements and the complex technical solutions delivered by a diverse vendor community as a senior technical advisor to senior Government representatives.

Key Responsibilities:

• Architectural Oversight: Serve as a technical authority in architectural review boards, evaluating and validating vendor-proposed solutions (from AWS, Azure, VMware, etc.) against the government's master architecture and security requirements.
• Strategic Advisory: Advise the Government CTO and other senior leaders on complex technical matters, translating intricate cloud and security concepts into actionable, data-driven recommendations.
• Systems Integration: Design and document holistic, end-to-end solutions for the Enterprise IT environment, defining data flows, API contracts, and integration patterns for a seamless hybrid and multi-cloud environment.
• Security & Compliance: Architect solutions compliant with the highest levels of security, including JSIG PL-3/PL-4, Zero Trust (ZT) principles, and Commercial Solutions for Classified (CSfC) at the Top Secret level.
• Vendor Engagement: Act as a key technical liaison between the government and multiple vendors, facilitating technical exchange meetings, de-conflicting competing architectures, and driving towards integrated, consensus-based solutions.
• Problem Resolution: Lead the technical troubleshooting of complex, cross-vendor interoperability issues, acting as the final escalation point for the government program office.

Required Qualifications:

Experience:

• Bachelors degree with 12 years of experience in systems engineering, systems architecture, or solutions architecture.
• Demonstrated experience designing and deploying solutions in classified (TS//SCI) environments.
• Proven experience with both AWS and Azure in an architectural or senior engineering capacity.

Security Clearance:

• Must currently possess an active Top Secret security clearance with the ability to obtain and maintain SCI access.
• DoD Compliance: Must meet DoD 8140/8570 requirements for an IAM Level III position. An active (ISC)² CISSP certification is required.

Desired Qualifications (Highly Valued):

• Deep, hands-on experience architecting and designing solutions according to JSIG PL-3/PL-4 and CSfC capability packages.
• Proven expertise in designing and integrating Zero Trust (ZT) architectures.
• AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Professional
• Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert
• VMware Certified Master Specialist (VCF) or equivalent advanced certification (e.g., VCP-DCV, VCAP).
• Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) or equivalent container orchestration expertise.
• Experience with Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools such as Terraform or Ansible.
• Prior experience in a SETA or A&AS advisory role, directly supporting a government program office or senior leadership.

Why Join Us?

This is a rare opportunity to move beyond a traditional engineering role and become a true technical force multiplier for a critical government mission. You will operate at the strategic level, influencing the direction of a major digital transformation while remaining deeply engaged with cutting-edge technology. If you are a master architect who thrives on solving complex integration challenges and wants to make a lasting impact, we invite you to apply.

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