Senior Cloud Architect/Systems Administrator

Torch Technologies, Inc.•Huntsville, AL

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Torch Technologies Inc., is seeking a Senior Cloud Architect/Systems Administrator to support our Air & Missile Defense Business Unit. This role involves leading the end-to-end design and implementation of secure, scalable hybrid cloud architectures across AWS, Azure, and on-premises environments. The position requires implementing and maintaining architecture-as-code and infrastructure-as-code patterns, architecting, building, and operating CI/CD pipelines with integrated security checks (DevSecOps), and designing/managing container platforms. A key aspect of this role is driving security-by-design, leading the Authority to Operate (ATO) process, and integrating vulnerability management tools. The architect will define cloud security baselines, partner with AI/ML teams on infrastructure, establish monitoring and logging patterns, mentor engineers, and evaluate emerging technologies.

Requirements

US Citizenship.
Bachelor's or Master's Degree or related experience in the field.
9+ years of overall IT/engineering experience, with at least 9+ years focused on cloud engineering and architecture.
Proven experience designing and operating production workloads in both AWS and Azure, including core services (compute, storage, networking, IAM).
Strong expertise with “as‑code” practices: infrastructure as code and architecture as code using tools such as Terraform, CloudFormation, ARM/Bicep, or similar.
Hands‑on experience building and maintaining CI/CD pipelines (GitHub Actions, Azure DevOps, GitLab CI, Jenkins or similar), including automated testing and security checks.
Deep proficiency with GitHub (or similar Git platforms) for branching strategies, pull requests, and workflow automation.
Practical experience with containerization using Docker and one or more container orchestration platforms (e.g., Kubernetes, ECS, AKS, EKS).
Demonstrated experience working within security frameworks such as SOC 2, NIST (e.g., NIST 800‑53), and RMF, and implementing technical controls mapped to these standards.
Direct involvement in achieving and maintaining an Authority to Operate (ATO) for cloud systems, including documentation, control implementation, and continuous monitoring.
Experience integrating and using ACAS or equivalent vulnerability management platforms for scanning, reporting, and remediation workflows.
Strong background in hybrid cloud architectures, including connectivity, identity, and security across on‑prem and cloud environments.
Proficiency with at least one scripting or programming language (e.g., Python, PowerShell, Bash) for automation and tooling.
Excellent communication skills with the ability to translate complex technical concepts to both technical and non‑technical stakeholders.

Nice To Haves

Experience designing secure platforms for AI/ML workloads (model training, inference, MLOps) in AWS and/or Azure.
Hands‑on experience with DevSecOps tooling: SAST/DAST, container image scanning, software composition analysis, and secrets management.
Familiarity with zero‑trust principles and implementing identity‑centric security controls in cloud environments.
Background working in regulated or audited environments (e.g., federal, defense, healthcare, financial services) with frequent security or compliance assessments.
Relevant certifications such as AWS Solutions Architect Professional, Azure Solutions Architect Expert, CISSP, CCSP, or similar.

Responsibilities

Lead the end‑to‑end design and implementation of secure, scalable hybrid cloud architectures across AWS, Azure, and on‑premises environments.
Implement and maintain “architecture as code” and infrastructure‑as‑code patterns (e.g., CloudFormation, ARM/Bicep, Terraform) to standardize, automate, and version cloud solutions.
Architect, build, and operate CI/CD pipelines for application and infrastructure delivery, integrating security and compliance checks (DevSecOps).
Design and manage container platforms using Docker and orchestration technologies (e.g., Kubernetes) to support microservices and legacy application modernization.
Drive security-by-design across cloud workloads, embedding controls that align to SOC 2, NIST, and Risk Management Framework (RMF) requirements.
Lead and coordinate the full Authority to Operate (ATO) process, including control selection, implementation evidence, continuous monitoring, and engagement with authorizing officials.
Integrate and operationalize ACAS and other vulnerability management tools to support continuous scanning, remediation, and reporting across hybrid environments.
Define and implement cloud security baselines, guardrails, and configuration standards (identity, network, encryption, logging, backup) for AWS and Azure.
Partner with AI/ML teams to design secure, compliant infrastructure for AI workloads, including data pipelines, model deployment, and runtime monitoring.
Establish monitoring, logging, and observability patterns to ensure reliability, performance, and incident response readiness across cloud services.
Mentor engineers, perform design and code reviews, and champion best practices in automation, testing, and documentation.
Evaluate emerging cloud, AI, and security technologies and make recommendations for pilots and adoption.