Cloud Solution Architect

DataStaff, Inc is seeking a Cloud Solution Architect for a long-term contract opportunity with one of our direct clients located in Richmond, VA.
* This role is 100% remote however; selected candidate must be able to commute to office on request for face-to-face meetings
* Must adhere to EST Hours during the week
Job Description:
Our client is seeking a highly skilled Cloud Solution Architect with advanced expertise in solution development to support a modern cloud-based ecosystem. This role involves implementing technology solutions that enhance business decision-making and processes across all business units, in alignment with the agency's architectural roadmap and enterprise goals.

This position requires technical proficiency in cloud initiatives, adherence to software engineering best practices, leading a team of architects, and alignment with the agency s technical direction. Additionally, the role involves training teams on leveraging the possibilities of cloud technologies to ensure successful adoption and implementation.
Responsibilities:

• Hands on solution development on AWS cloud networking and security aspects of all the applications and data eco-system.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to understand business requirements and convert them into actionable solution components aligned with the Enterprise Solution architecture patterns, procedures, and policies.
• Design and develop scalable, resilient cloud solution architectures and engineering solutions using cloud-native services and technologies.
• Develop front-end components and back-end services to create cohesive applications within cloud and hybrid infrastructures using AWS.
• Create comprehensive solution documentation detailing the design, testing, and production support processes and procedures.
• Set up and maintain continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines to automate updates and feature deployments.
• Ensure solution completeness through thorough testing and quality assurance processes, ensuring compliance with security policies and best practices.
• Manage configuration drift and ensure consistency across different environments, using tools like AWS Code Build/Deploy and AWS CloudFormation.
• Apply DevOps principles to streamline the software development lifecycle (SDLC) and enhance automation.
• Deploy solutions to various environments, establish monitoring processes, and ensure ongoing operational stability and application resiliency through system stress testing and feature enhancements.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to understand change requirements, provide technical expertise, and ensure solutions align with business needs.
• Identify opportunities for innovation and process improvement to enhance solution efficiency, scalability, and reliability.

Qualifications include:

• Expertise in Cloud Solutions: Translate business requirements into fully tested solution workflows by designing, implementing, and maintaining technology assets using approved tools for both cloud (e.g., AWS, Azure) and on-premises environments.
• Proficiency in Cloud Platforms: Strong proficiency in cloud platforms, leveraging native cloud services for solution engineering.
• Cloud Networking and Security: Understanding of cloud networking concepts (e.g., VPCs, subnets, security groups) and cloud security best practices, including identity and access management (IAM). Need to understand AWS Security Finding Format (ASFF), Pulling the data from security services (for example, AWS Security Hub, Amazon Macie, Amazon GuardDuty, Amazon Inspector, AWS Config, Amazon Detective, AWS Identity and Access Management Access Analyzer) and Configuring integrations with native AWS services and third-party services (for example, by using Amazon Event Bridge and the ASFF) to build security dashboards.
• Understand networking and networking security WAF and other related AWS services.
• Serverless Computing: Experience with serverless computing concepts, event-driven architecture, and serverless platforms (e.g., AWS Lambda).
• Expert Understanding & experience with Networking design, Implementation, Management and Ops, security, Governance and Compliance
• Building Monitoring and Logging Solutions: Experience in setting up alerts, dashboards, and logs for cloud infrastructure and applications.
• Compliance: Adhere to all policies and procedures of the Agency.

• Candidates should possess advance level of expertise and showcase experience in cloud architecture and software engineering skills (ex: API Development, Algorithm design), Scripting (preferably python/NodeJS), Serverless computing, Containerization and Orchestration, DevOps for pipelines. Experience building products in a modern cloud ecosystem is crucial.
• The role demands refined communication and training skills, and the ability to collaborate effectively across diverse teams. Building rapport and relationships with peers and end-users is vital, as is the ability to interface amicably with business partners showcasing an understanding of the business process that agency supports is crucial.
• Analytical mindset and problem-solving skills to troubleshoot issues, optimize processes, and implement automation solutions will enable the role to create an immediate impact.
• AWS Certified Solution Architect Professional and at least one of AWS Specialty certification (networking or security) are preferred qualifications for executing tasks on this role

Required Skills:

• 12 Years - Hands on solution development on AWS cloud using Security and Infrastructure Services.
• 12 Years - Expertise in designing, developing, and maintaining APIs specifically tailored for cloud environments (e.g., AWS API Gateway).
• 12 Years - Experience with containerization technologies (e.g., Docker) and orchestration platforms (e.g., Kubernetes).
• 12 Years - Automate the provisioning and management of cloud infrastructure using tools like AWS CloudFormation
• 12 Years - Strong understanding of DevOps practices, including developing and optimizing CI/CD pipelines, version control, and collaboration tools
• 10 Years - Infrastructure design, debugging, security design for the AWS cloud platform including VPCs, Subnets, Lambdas, API Gateway, WAF, Cloud Front etc.
• 10 Years - Setting up custom dashboards by utilizing the logs and other related data available through AWS services like Security Hub & build runtime audit logs
• 10 Years - Securing inter-VPC traffic within an account or across multiple accounts - securing resources access
• 10 Years - Using orchestration services to build and support applications Lambda, EventBridge, Amazon Managed Workflows for ApacheAirflow

Desired Skills:

• AWS Cloud Solution Architect, Network and/or Security Specialty

This opportunity is available on a corp-to-corp basis or as a W2 position with a competitive benefits package. DataStaff, Inc. offers medical, dental, and vision coverage options as well as paid vacation, sick, and holiday leave. As many of our opportunities are long-term, we also have a 401k program available for employees after 6 months.