Cloud Architect, Team Lead

Peraton

About The Position

We are seeking a Cloud Architect Team Lead to provide technical leadership and architectural direction for a large-scale, enterprise cloud environment supporting a federal organization. This role is responsible for defining and governing cloud architecture across multiple domains, ensuring solutions are secure, scalable, compliant, and cost-effective while aligning with mission objectives and federal standards. The Cloud Architect Team Lead will oversee a team of architects and work closely with engineering, platform, security, automation, and program leadership to translate business and mission requirements into end-to-end cloud solutions. This individual will play a critical role in shaping cloud strategy, driving modernization efforts, and ensuring architectural consistency across a complex, multi-account cloud environment.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience)
12+ years of experience in IT, with at least 5 years focused on cloud architecture and design
Demonstrated experience leading cloud architecture efforts in large-scale, complex environments
Strong expertise in cloud platforms (AWS preferred), including: Networking (VPC design, routing, hybrid connectivity), Identity and Access Management (IAM), Compute, storage, and database services, Multi-account architecture and governance
Experience designing and implementing cloud-native architectures, including microservices and containerized environments (e.g., Kubernetes/EKS)
Proficiency with Infrastructure as Code (e.g., Terraform, CloudFormation) and DevOps practices (CI/CD pipelines)
Strong understanding of cloud security principles, including Zero Trust, encryption, and secure architecture design
Proven ability to design high availability, disaster recovery, and fault-tolerant systems
Experience with cloud cost optimization and FinOps principles
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to evaluate complex technical tradeoffs
Excellent communication skills, with experience presenting to technical and non-technical stakeholders
Demonstrated leadership experience managing or mentoring architects and senior technical staff
Must be a US Citizen.
Ability to obtain Public Trust.

Nice To Haves

AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional (or equivalent)
Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) or similar container certification
Experience with hybrid cloud and multi-cloud environments
Familiarity with enterprise architecture frameworks
Experience supporting large federal cloud programs or enterprise IT transformations

Responsibilities

Lead and manage the cloud architecture function, providing technical direction across all cloud initiatives
Define and maintain enterprise cloud architecture standards, patterns, and reference architectures
Design and oversee scalable, secure, and resilient cloud solutions across infrastructure, platform, and application layers
Collaborate with Cloud Engineering, Platform Engineering, Security, and Automation teams to ensure architectural alignment and successful implementation
Serve as the primary authority on cloud architecture decisions, ensuring solutions align with federal compliance requirements (e.g., NIST, FedRAMP, Zero Trust)
Evaluate and select cloud services, tools, and technologies to support mission and program objectives
Lead architecture reviews and design approvals for new and existing cloud solutions
Ensure integration and interoperability across cloud platforms, applications, and enterprise systems
Drive cloud modernization efforts, including migration strategies, application refactoring, and adoption of cloud-native technologies
Incorporate cost optimization strategies into architectural designs in coordination with FinOps teams
Establish and enforce governance processes related to architecture, including documentation, design standards, and lifecycle management
Identify and mitigate architectural risks, including performance, security, and scalability concerns
Provide mentorship and guidance to cloud architects and senior engineers
Support stakeholder engagement by presenting architectural strategies, tradeoffs, and recommendations to leadership