IT Engineer - Level V

ad333ea2-8bdb-4f34-a4b4-928a2644de1c•Silver Spring, MD

2h•$120,000 - $150,000•Remote

About The Position

AttainX is seeking an experienced Cloud & Systems Architect to support NOAA’s National Weather Service (NWS). The position supports enterprise architecture and modernization through systems planning, data-flow modeling, security planning, performance and capacity management, risk assessment, testing, and integration. The architect collaborates with Government stakeholders, developers, programmers, and engineers to improve mission-critical on-premises and cloud systems. The role supports NWS systems engineering and portfolio modernization activities. It includes documenting current and target architectures, evaluating technologies and integration approaches, analyzing system performance and capacity, managing technical and security risks, developing engineering documentation, and supporting testing, security authorization, deployment readiness, and knowledge transfer. The role requires compliance with NOAA background investigation, badging, system access, nondisclosure, and information-protection requirements, as well as applicable Department of Commerce and NOAA/NWS policies. Work is normally performed at NOAA’s National Weather Service Headquarters during operational hours, Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays. The posting also identifies the position as remote, with occasional travel to Silver Spring, Maryland; authorized remote work must comply with Department of Commerce remote-access requirements.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts engineering degree, or equivalent, in a related area.
At least 10 years of overall experience in the field or a related area.
Eight years of direct experience in software engineering, systems optimization, or specialized technical programming.
Hands-on experience with Structurizr or another architecture-as-code tool, such as the C4 model, PlantUML, or Mermaid.
Familiarity with Jira, GitHub, and/or Confluence.
Experience developing and maintaining enterprise architecture models, including current-state (As-Is) and future-state (To-Be) architectures, using ArchiMate and Microsoft Visio in alignment with TOGAF.
Experience developing and maintaining comprehensive enterprise architecture models using the C4 model, including system context, container, component, and dynamic views, with tools such as Structurizr, Mermaid, PlantUML, Draw.io, or other architecture modeling solutions.
Experience implementing architecture-as-code practices integrated with development workflows, version control, and release processes to keep architecture diagrams and documentation accurate and current.
Experience using Infrastructure-as-Code, cloud infrastructure discovery, and automation tools to analyze existing AWS/Azure environments and generate architectural diagrams showing components, dependencies, integrations, and data flows.
Hands-on development of enterprise-wide As-Is architecture baselines and To-Be architectural roadmaps, integrating infrastructure documentation with development activities and modernization initiatives across a 6–12 month planning horizon.
Ability to establish repeatable processes, standards, documentation practices, and knowledge-transfer procedures for long-term ownership, maintenance, and continuous improvement of enterprise architecture artifacts.
Current AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional certification, or an equivalent professional-level cloud solutions architect credential, maintained as valid during employment.
Working knowledge of federal information security frameworks and secure systems engineering practices, including NIST SP 800-53 and FIPS 200.
Ability to collaborate with developers, programmers, engineers, and project stakeholders and explain technical findings to technical and nontechnical audiences.
Excellent analytical, problem-solving, written communication, and organizational skills; ability to deliver accurate documentation and meet project milestones.
Ability to meet NOAA background investigation, badging, system access, nondisclosure, and information-protection requirements.
Must be a U.S. citizen.

Nice To Haves

Additional relevant experience is welcome.

Responsibilities

Define and execute systems engineering processes for assigned NWS portfolios, coordinating requirements and technical activities with developers, programmers, and Government stakeholders.
Document and maintain current system architectures, configurations, dependencies, service workflows, data flows, and network connectivity; incorporate approved changes within required project timelines.
Develop target architecture views and evaluate emerging technologies, cloud approaches, integration options, compatibility, and performance trade-offs.
Perform systems planning, performance analysis, capacity planning, lifecycle benchmarking, and optimization to support reliable, scalable mission operations.
Evaluate project architectures and data and communication standards; identify integration gaps, bottlenecks, and architectural inconsistencies.
Identify and document technical, security, and implementation risks; support the Technical Risk Registry, mitigation recommendations, and recurring status reporting.
Develop engineering process documentation, design guidelines, system models, data-flow diagrams, technical white papers, and architecture assessments using required NWS templates.
Prepare and execute systems and software test plans, integration assessments, validation activities, and deployment-readiness reviews; document results and support independent verification and validation.
Integrate security requirements into the systems lifecycle and support vulnerability assessments, remediation recommendations, and secure system authorization activities under applicable DOC and NOAA/NWS policies.
Coordinate technical findings, integration needs, schedules, and corrective actions with the engineering team; provide accurate deliverables and progress updates.
Support accessibility requirements for applicable information and communication technology and protect proprietary information, Controlled Unclassified Information, and Personally Identifiable Information.
Support knowledge transfer and continuity by maintaining current technical documentation and communicating system dependencies and pending tasks.
Perform other related duties as assigned.