[Remote] Lead Cloud Architect - Data Center & Cloud Engineering (Remote)
Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. GovCIO is seeking an experienced Lead Cloud Architect with deep expertise in cloud and data center engineering to support the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Information Technology (OIT). In this role, you will provide technical leadership across hybrid infrastructure environments, collaborating with senior OIT partners, architects, engineering teams, and business stakeholders to design, modernize, and optimize secure, scalable, and resilient cloud and data center solutions.
Responsibilities
- Develop a deep understanding of VA enterprise infrastructure, including cloud platforms, on-premises data centers, and modernization initiatives
- Lead the design and implementation of hybrid cloud and data center architectures, ensuring alignment with VA strategic objectives
- Create and maintain architecture artifacts, engineering standards, technical guidance, and design documentation
- Conduct design reviews and provide technical validation for infrastructure and cloud solutions
- Drive infrastructure modernization initiatives, including hardware/software refresh, migration, and transformation strategies
- Support execution of multi-year modernization roadmaps and platform decommissioning efforts
- Perform and oversee advanced engineering analysis, including infrastructure performance modeling and optimization assessments
- Lead capacity planning, resource allocation, and performance monitoring to ensure efficient and scalable operations
- Architect integrated solutions across on-premises systems and cloud environments, ensuring high availability, resilience, and performance
- Ensure all architectures meet VA security requirements and federal compliance standards, incorporating cybersecurity controls into designs
- Oversee development of configuration management materials and ensure all engineering artifacts are audit-ready and traceable
- Collaborate with program leadership, operations teams, and business stakeholders to support portfolio planning and investment prioritization
- Present technical strategies and recommendations clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders
- Document and communicate value delivery, performance improvements, and modernization outcomes across initiatives
Skills
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent experience)
- 12+ years of experience in cloud architecture, data center engineering, or infrastructure leadership roles
- Deep expertise in: Hybrid cloud architecture (AWS, Azure, or similar), Data center infrastructure (compute, storage, networking), Infrastructure modernization and transformation initiatives
- Strong experience developing architecture artifacts, engineering standards, and technical documentation
- Demonstrated ability to lead complex technical initiatives across enterprise environments
- Experience with capacity planning, performance optimization, and infrastructure lifecycle management
- Strong communication skills with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and cross-functional teams
- Current in one or more of the following certificates: AWS Certified Solutions Architect (Associate/Professional), Google Professional Cloud Architect, Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert
- Experience supporting federal agencies, particularly the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), OIT, VBA, or VHA
- Familiarity with advanced modeling and analysis techniques (e.g., performance modeling, computational simulations)
- Experience with cloud financial management, cost optimization, or FinOps practices
- Experience with tools such as Jira for workflow and collaboration management
- Background in enterprise architecture and future-state technology planning
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