Cloud Solution Architect II

State of Virginia • Richmond, VA

382d • $140,000 - $160,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) is seeking a highly skilled IT professional with advanced expertise in solution development to serve as a Cloud Solution Architect 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. The Cloud Solution Architect II will engage in a broad range of tasks related to the development, deployment, and maintenance of cloud-based infrastructure and applications, as well as enabling collaboration, automation, and efficiency in the development of cloud-based systems, thereby facilitating the rapid delivery of high-quality software and services to customers. 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, this position involves training teams on leveraging the possibilities of cloud technologies to ensure successful adoption and implementation.

Requirements

• 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.
• API Development: Expertise in designing, developing, and maintaining APIs specifically tailored for cloud environments (e.g., AWS API Gateway).
• 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).
• Containerization and Orchestration: Experience with containerization technologies (e.g., Docker) and orchestration platforms (e.g., Kubernetes).
• Serverless Computing: Experience with serverless computing concepts, event-driven architecture, and serverless platforms (e.g., AWS Lambda).
• Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Automate the provisioning and management of cloud infrastructure using tools like AWS CloudFormation and Terraform.
• Scripting and Automation: Ability to write scripts and automate tasks using scripting languages (e.g., Python, Node.js).
• Monitoring and Logging: Experience in setting up alerts, dashboards, and logs for cloud infrastructure and applications.
• DevOps Practices: Strong understanding of DevOps practices, including developing and optimizing CI/CD pipelines, version control, and collaboration tools (e.g., Jenkins, AWS CodePipeline).
• End-User Training and Support: Provide support and training to end-users for improved solution literacy and tool usage in a cloud ecosystem.
• Business Process Automation: Analyze business process life cycles to identify opportunities for automation and simplification, implementing appropriate solutions.
• Collaboration and Communication: Collaborate with product and business owners to deliver robust cloud-based solutions, demonstrating excellent communication skills (both written and verbal).
• Continuous Learning and Mentoring: Stay updated with tech trends, experiment with and learn new technologies, participate in tech communities, and mentor other members of the engineering community.
• Compliance: Adhere to all policies and procedures of the Agency.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced level of expertise and 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.
• Communication and training skills, and the ability to collaborate effectively across diverse teams.
• Analytical mindset and problem-solving skills to troubleshoot issues, optimize processes, and implement automation solutions.

Responsibilities

• Collaborating with stakeholders to understand business requirements and convert them into actionable solution components aligned with DBHDS's Enterprise Solution architecture patterns, procedures, and policies.
• Designing and developing scalable, resilient cloud solution architectures and engineering solutions using cloud-native services and technologies.
• Developing front-end components and back-end services to create cohesive applications within cloud and hybrid infrastructures.
• Creating comprehensive solution documentation detailing the design, testing, and production support processes and procedures.
• Setting up and maintaining continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines to automate updates and feature deployments.
• Ensuring solution completeness through thorough testing and quality assurance processes, ensuring compliance with security policies and best practices.
• Managing configuration drift and ensuring consistency across different environments, using tools like AWS Code Build/Deploy and AWS CloudFormation.
• Applying DevOps principles to streamline the software development lifecycle (SDLC) and enhance automation.
• Deploying solutions to various environments, establish monitoring processes, and ensure ongoing operational stability and application resiliency through system stress testing and feature enhancements.
• Collaborating with cross-functional teams to understand change requirements, providing technical expertise, and ensuring solutions align with business needs.
• Identifying opportunities for innovation and process improvement to enhance solution efficiency, scalability, and reliability.
• Developing proof of concepts for new and emerging technologies aligned with agency vision, contribute to technology skill enhancement, and champion working groups and tool evangelization.
• Participating in research and development initiatives to explore new technologies and methodologies and exhibit subject matter expertise on application engineering topics.
• Investing in continuous learning and apply a programmatic approach to enterprise information management to identify, prioritize, and execute IT initiatives aligned with DBHDS strategies and business outcomes.

Benefits

• Telework opportunities available as outlined in the Commonwealth telework policy.
• Reasonable accommodations available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Industry: Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees