API, Data Architect

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in United States.

📋 Description

• Design the architecture for enterprise APIs, focusing on service boundaries, integration patterns, and interoperability standards.

• Define schemas for RESTful and GraphQL APIs, alongside data contracts and payload structures.

• Establish boundaries for microservices, domain models, and strategies for service decomposition.

• Ensure that API and data architecture are in compliance with DoD Zero Trust policies, identity requirements, and data protection regulations.

• Develop and enforce governance for APIs, including naming conventions, versioning strategies, and lifecycle standards.

• Create diagrams for interface architecture, data flow maps, and documentation for system integration.

• Collaborate with development teams to ensure the implementation of APIs that are scalable, secure, and maintainable.

• Conduct architectural reviews to assess technical debt and provide guidance on modernization strategies.

• Support the tuning of API performance, hardening of security, and enhancements in integration reliability.

• Partner with cybersecurity teams to establish secure controls for authentication, authorization, and data protection.

• Define requirements for logging, monitoring, and observability that pertain to the health of services and APIs.

• Advise product teams regarding API strategy, feasibility of integrations, and impacts on data models.

⛳️ Requirements

• Must possess an active Top Secret clearance, validated by a Tier 5 background investigation.

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Systems Engineering, Data Engineering, or a related discipline.

• At least 10 years of experience in architecture, API engineering, integration design, or enterprise systems engineering.

• Proven experience leading architectural design for REST/GraphQL APIs, microservices, and system integrations.

• Background in developing data models, data contracts, and integration schemas.

• Experience working within secure federal, DoD, or enterprise environments.

• In-depth knowledge of REST, GraphQL, JSON, and API schema design.

• Strong understanding of microservices, service meshes, and event-driven architectures.

• Familiarity with DoD security principles and Zero Trust architecture.

• Knowledge of API gateways, developer portals, and integration tools.

• Understanding of secure authentication and authorization protocols, including OAuth2, SAML, and JWT.

• Experience with performance tuning, fault-tolerant service design, and observability for APIs.

• CompTIA Security+ certification is required.

• Preferred: AWS Architect or Developer certification, ITIL v4 Foundation, and API or integration architecture certifications.

• Experience with AWS GovCloud API services and cloud-native patterns is a plus.

• Familiarity with message brokers, event streaming, or asynchronous integration frameworks is preferred.

• Knowledge of integrating DevSecOps with API development is advantageous.

• Strong abilities in architectural decision-making and technical leadership.

• Excellent communication skills and stakeholder engagement capabilities.

• Ability to translate mission and business needs into scalable technical architectures.

• High attention to detail, coupled with strong documentation and governance practices.

• Capacity to drive consistency across distributed development teams and complex integrations.

🏝️ Benefits

• Competitive salary and comprehensive health benefits.

• Opportunities for professional development and growth.

• Flexible work arrangements to support work-life balance.

• Engaging team environment with a focus on collaboration and innovation.