Cloud Architect

Northramp LLC•Washington, DC

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

Northramp is seeking a Cloud Architect to join the team supporting the client's Cloud BPA Bridge program — a mission-critical effort to consolidate, modernize, and operate the client's enterprise cloud services across IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS environments under FedRAMP High authorization. You will design, govern, and continuously mature the client’s enterprise cloud architecture across IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS environments. The role provides strategic architectural leadership in support of the client’s CI/CD DevOps model, FedRAMP High compliance, and the consolidation of cloud services under the Bridge BPA — ensuring cloud solutions are scalable, secure, highly available, and aligned with the client’s enterprise IT strategy and DHS security policies. This role is part of Northramp's integrated delivery model, where engineers and advisors work as one team to bring sound judgment, disciplined execution, and deep federal experience to high-stakes modernization programs.

Requirements

7–10 years of progressive, hands-on experience in enterprise cloud architecture design across AWS, Azure, and GCP.
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field.
Deep expertise in cloud enterprise architecture across AWS, Azure, and GCP; strong knowledge of FedRAMP High, FISMA, and DHS compliance.
Strong proficiency designing IaaS/PaaS services — virtual compute, auto-scaling, containerization (Docker, Kubernetes), serverless functions, managed databases, multi-tier storage.
Expert-level knowledge of cloud networking — VPCs, VPNs, Direct Connect/ExpressRoute, hybrid connectivity, TIC 3.0, hub-and-spoke models.
Experience with Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, CloudFormation, Ansible) and CI/CD pipeline architectures.
Strong understanding of KMS, HSMs, IAM, and multi-factor authentication standards.
Knowledge of SELC processes and federal enterprise architecture frameworks (TOGAF, DoDAF, or equivalent).
Experience with cloud security tools — Palo Alto firewalls, WAF, Splunk SIEM integration, McAfee, Tenable Nessus, ForeScout.
Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement; ability to brief senior government officials.
Familiarity with Section 508 accessibility requirements for ICT deliverables.
U.S. Citizenship and the ability to obtain and maintain a DHS suitability / Public Trust clearance.

Nice To Haves

AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional, Azure Solutions Architect Expert, or GCP Professional Cloud Architect.
TOGAF certification.
FedRAMP or cloud security certifications (CCSP, CISSP).
Relevant or DHS architecture experience.
Active Public Trust or higher clearance.

Responsibilities

Lead the design and development of cloud-based enterprise architectures supporting the client's IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS requirements, including FedRAMP High-authorized Commercial Cloud Brokers (CCBs).
Develop and enhance the client’s Cloud Architecture Repositories and technical insertion processes; align with enterprise target architectures per SOO Section 4.2.1.
Create and promote cloud architecture frameworks and reference models that reduce IT complexity through reuse of existing solutions.
Design architectures incorporating Virtual Compute Services (VCS), Scaling Automation Services (SAS), containerization (Docker, Kubernetes), serverless compute, and managed databases (relational, NoSQL, Data Warehouse).
Architect Private Virtual Cloud Networks (PVCNs), Virtual Load Balancing (VLB), Direct Connection Services (DCS), and hybrid connectivity including DHS TIC 3.0 compliance and the the client hub-and-spoke model.
Provide architectural guidance for KMS/HSMs, Identity and Access Management (IAM), Infrastructure as Code (IaC), and Content Delivery Services (CDS).
Align Enterprise Architecture with the client’s Strategic SELC processes and IT investment decision-making; conduct gap analysis of existing Disaster and Cloud architectures.
Lead cloud architecture planning for Joint Field Offices (JFOs), COOP, and disaster recovery operational scenarios.
Ensure architectural designs meet FISMA High categorization, NIST 800-53, FedRAMP JAB Full-ATO (High Impact Level), and DHS 4300A standards.
Collaborate with the client's Data Governance Council to support data architecture activities.
Evaluate emerging cloud technologies, AI/ML platforms, and development platform capabilities (Python, .Net, Java, Node JS, etc.) for adoption within the client's cloud portfolio.
Interface with Engineering teams, Program Managers, and the client for OCIO leadership to ensure architectural solutions support mission-critical IT objectives.
Support security engineering tasks including the client Enterprise Security Stack (FESS), WAF, Palo Alto VM-Series NGFWs, and the client's SOC visibility requirements.