IT033 Principal Systems Engineer - Cloud Architect

ADNET Systems•Greenbelt, MD

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

ADNET is seeking a Principal Systems Engineer - Cloud Architect to join our dynamic team building next-generation cloud computing infrastructure for scientific research. This is a technical leadership position without direct reports, working collaboratively within a 25-person team that includes dedicated security, FinOps, operations, and engineering leads. The successful candidate will lead the architectural design, implementation, and governance of NASA’s next-generation Science Cloud ( https://science.data.nasa.gov/science-cloud ) infrastructure, ensuring reliable, scalable, and secure access commercial cloud resources for science. This role focuses on leveraging commercial cloud services (AWS, Azure, GCP, etc.) while adhering to NASA policies and data standards. NASA's Science Cloud Infrastructure Project is a cloud computing platform that enables NASA science teams to access, analyze, and share research data more effectively. This work directly supports NASA's mission to make scientific discoveries accessible to researchers and the public under the Computational and Information Sciences and Technology Office (CISTO) at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) in Greenbelt, MD. CISTO provides high-end information technology systems and services for science, including assessment and evaluation of new information technologies, hardware, and software and manages one of two NASA High Performance Computer systems.

Requirements

BS degree and 9+ years’ experience or a MS degree and 7+ years’ experience in relevant work areas.
Cloud Experience: Expert-level in at least one major commercial cloud provider (e.g., AWS Certified Solution Architect Professional or Azure Solutions Architect Expert).
Current and Emerging Cloud Technologies: Expert knowledge and practical experience with current enterprise cloud services (e.g., IaaS, PaaS) and emerging cloud-native technologies that could be cost-effectively applied to scientific computing.
Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Advanced proficiency in Terraform or equivalent IaC tools for consistent, repeatable deployment across multiple accounts/regions and clouds.
Cloud Security: Proven knowledge of FISMA, NIST 800-53, and NASA’s security and data handling protocols.
Requirements Analysis & Stakeholder Management: Demonstrated ability to elicit, analyze, and translate evolving mission requirements from diverse stakeholders (scientists, mission planners, external partners) into actionable architectural designs.
Architecture Documentation: Proficiency with architecture diagramming tools (e.g., Lucidchart, Draw.io, Visio) and experience creating comprehensive Architecture Requirements Documents (ARDs), design specifications, and technical standards documentation.
Cross-Functional Team Leadership: Proven track record collaborating with and guiding specialized technical leads (security, FinOps, operations, engineering) to achieve unified architectural objectives without direct supervisory authority.
Communication: Ability to translate scientific or engineering requirements into effective cloud-based solutions. Ability to translate complex technical architectures into clear reports and presentations for NASA scientists and engineering teams. Excellent communication skills for engaging with customers, technical teams, and management.
US Citizenship required.
Ability to obtain and maintain a Tier 1 or Tier 2 Investigation through NASA.

Nice To Haves

Background supporting scientific computing or research environments.
Experience with multi-cloud architectures.
Familiarity with federal security frameworks (FISMA, NIST, etc.) and cloud security compliance requirements.
Experience in NASA’s High-End Computing (HEC) environment.

Responsibilities

Architectural Design and Documentation: Design multi-cloud architectures based on evolving science requirements; create architecture diagrams, Architecture Requirements Documents, and technical standards in coordination with Security, FinOps, Operations, and Engineering leads.
Strategic Planning: Define cloud migration strategies and guide implementation teams in transitioning systems and datasets (small to large) from on-premises to commercial cloud.
Technical Leadership: Guide cross-functional teams in implementing designs while ensuring alignment with NASA policies, FISMA requirements, and data standards.
Governance & Standards: Establish architectural patterns, security frameworks, and cost optimization strategies in collaboration with specialized team leads.
Tenant Advisory: Consult with tenant organizations to recommend optimal architectures leveraging SCIP's cloud environments and capabilities.