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 ProgramJoin 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 - ProfessionalMicrosoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect ExpertVMware 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.#LI-AT1