Cloud Data Architect

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

📋 Description

• Lead and document the Summit Enterprise Reference Architecture and roadmap for Azure-based data, analytics, integration, and platform services.

• Define and oversee approved cloud and lakehouse patterns, along with data management standards for ingestion, storage, data modeling, interoperability, metadata, access controls, and platform operations.

• Act as the primary technical liaison for VA architecture governance and the Architecture Review Board (ARB).

• Prepare architecture decision records and manage design exceptions effectively.

• Design and evaluate Azure cloud and hybrid integration patterns, encompassing identity, networking, segmentation, routing, trust boundaries, and secure connectivity with adjacent VA platforms.

• Collaborate with security and compliance leaders to ensure architecture alignment with Zero Trust, NIST 800-53, RMF/ATO, security-impact analysis, and VA enterprise cloud requirements.

• Offer architectural guidance to solution architects, data engineers, DevSecOps teams, and product leaders.

• Review intricate designs for scalability, interoperability, resilience, and cost-effectiveness.

• Advise on cloud transition options and modernization strategies, including considerations for Azure Government/Commercial, migration risks, and service continuity.

• Support the transition-in process from the government and incumbent contractor by validating current-state architecture, documentation, dependencies, technical debt, and operational handover.

⛳️ Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related field.

• Over 15 years of extensive relevant experience in cloud/data architecture; final experience threshold to be validated against the approved labor category.

• Proficiency in designing and integrating Microsoft Azure data environments, including Azure Data Lake Storage, Azure Data Factory, and Azure Databricks or equivalent enterprise data services.

• Experience in managing and documenting technical architecture, security/compliance strategies, and data platform engineering.

• Proven track record in designing complex enterprise data architectures, cloud/hybrid integrations, identity and access patterns, and scalable data services.

• Familiarity with federal security controls, secure architecture reviews, and operational compliance requirements.

• Capable of leading technical reviews, documenting architectural decisions, and communicating trade-offs with Government and multidisciplinary engineering stakeholders.

• Experience working with government stakeholders, presenting architectural designs and policies, and securing approvals for implementation.

• Ability to obtain and maintain the required VA Public Trust suitability (Tier 2/Moderate Risk) and fulfill VA system-access requirements.

• Highly preferred: Direct experience with the VA Summit Data Platform, VA Enterprise Cloud, or related VA enterprise analytics platforms.

• Hands-on experience with Delta Lake/lakehouse architectures, including data modeling, optimization, governance, and performance tuning.

• Familiarity with federated data access, metadata catalogs, and governance technologies such as Starburst, Collibra, and Immuta, along with high-performance data streaming and integration technologies like Kafka.

• Experience with VA or other federal ATO/RMF processes, NIST 800-53, Zero Trust, and Azure landing-zone security.

• Preferred certifications: Azure Solutions Architect Expert, Azure Security Engineer Associate, and/or relevant cloud or data architecture certification.

🏝️ Benefits

• Remote work available within CONUS.

• Occasional after-hours or weekend support may be necessary for critical incidents or planned maintenance.