Solutions Architect

Syms Strategic Group, LLC (SSG) • Annapolis, MD

10d • $109,623 - $126,790 • Remote

About The Position

Syms Strategic Group (SSG) is seeking a Solutions Architect Principal for a full-time, 100% U.S.-based remote position supporting the Department of Veterans Affairs. The role leads the development of complete, competitive technical solutions and proposals that satisfy customer requirements for technical performance, schedule, cost, and risk. It collaborates with business development, capture, proposal, technical leadership, and technical contributors, and coordinates personnel supporting proposal efforts. The position also works closely with the Enterprise Architect on secure, scalable, highly available Azure cloud architectures aligned with enterprise standards, business objectives, security requirements, and government cloud practices. The role develops technical concepts and standards, sets objectives, guides team members, and solves complex problems using ingenuity and innovation.

The ideal candidate has extensive experience designing, deploying, governing, securing, monitoring, and optimizing Azure infrastructure and services, including enterprise-scale and high-availability environments. The position calls for expertise in Azure networking, identity and security, governance, cost management, automation, observability, data platforms, databases, disaster recovery, DevOps, and containers. Strong communication, documentation, leadership, mentoring, project management, and problem-solving abilities are required. A bachelor's degree in a related technical discipline, 10 or more years of professional experience, U.S. citizenship, and the ability to obtain or qualify for a Public Trust (MBI) are specified. This is a W-2 position; applicants from California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, or Washington will not be considered. Candidates may be subject to government security and background investigations.

Requirements

• Proven track record designing, deploying, and managing Azure infrastructure and services.
• Experience with large-scale, highly available, scalable cloud architectures.
• Extensive experience with Azure Virtual Machines, Azure Storage, Azure SQL Database, Azure Virtual Network, Azure Functions, Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD), ARM templates, Azure Monitor, and Azure DNS.
• Experience implementing Azure security services and best practices, including Microsoft Entra ID, Azure DDoS Protection, Azure Firewall, Microsoft Defender for Cloud, and Web Application Firewall.
• Strong understanding of Azure networking, including VNet peering, ExpressRoute, VPN Gateway, Private Link, and hybrid connectivity architectures.
• Ability to design, deploy, and manage secure, scalable, highly available Azure cloud solutions for enterprise business requirements.
• Experience establishing and governing multi-subscription Azure environments using Azure Management Groups, Azure Policy, and Azure Landing Zones.
• Knowledge of cloud financial management, Azure Cost Management, budgeting, resource optimization, and cost governance.
• Proficiency in scripting and automation using Python, PowerShell, Azure CLI, or other automation frameworks; scripting language examples also include Bash and NodeJS.
• Expertise with monitoring, logging, and observability solutions such as Azure Monitor, Log Analytics, Application Insights, Microsoft Sentinel, and third-party platforms.
• Experience troubleshooting and optimizing performance, availability, and reliability of Azure resources and workloads.
• Strong understanding of Azure security architecture, governance, compliance, and regulatory frameworks, including HIPAA, GDPR, PCI DSS, and industry-specific standards.
• Experience implementing encryption, key management, identity management, and privileged access controls using Azure Key Vault and Microsoft Entra ID.
• Knowledge of Azure SQL Database, Azure Cosmos DB, Azure Synapse Analytics, and Azure Data Lake Storage.
• Experience with database performance optimization, high-availability configurations, backup and recovery planning, and disaster recovery strategies.
• Familiarity with CI/CD methodologies and DevOps practices using Azure DevOps, GitHub Actions, Azure Pipelines, and related deployment tools.
• Experience with Docker, Kubernetes, Azure Kubernetes Service, Azure Container Apps, and Azure Container Instances.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including diagnosing and resolving complex cloud infrastructure, networking, application, and cloud-related issues.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and ability to explain complex technical concepts to business and non-technical stakeholders.
• Ability to prioritize competing initiatives, manage multiple workstreams, meet deadlines, and deliver high-quality outcomes.
• Strong attention to detail to support operational excellence, system reliability and stability, security, and data integrity.
• Ability to mentor technical teams and lead projects while collaborating across functions.
• Experience leading cloud transformation initiatives and working across infrastructure, security, development, and business organizations.
• Strong architectural design and documentation skills, including maintaining solution designs, standards, configurations, operational procedures, processes, and governance documentation.
• 10 or more years of professional experience in software testing, quality assurance, or system validation, as stated in the posting.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Systems Engineering, Cloud Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• U.S. citizenship is required for this opportunity.
• Must possess or qualify for a Public Trust (MBI).
• Must be able to meet applicable government security investigation and clearance eligibility requirements.

Nice To Haves

• Deep hands-on EDIFECS experience with Electronic Data Interchange X.12 transaction standards and key X12 workflows.
• Experience with X.12 medical claims transactions, including 837, 834, 835, and 277.
• Experience with 270/271 and 278/275 transactions.
• Experience with 999 transactions.
• Advanced Azure certifications, including Microsoft Certified DevOps Engineer Expert, Azure Administrator Associate, and Azure Security Engineer Associate.

Responsibilities

• Develop a comprehensive understanding of customer requirements using domain expertise.
• Lead development of complete solutions that meet requirements and result in price-competitive proposals.
• Collaborate with business development, capture, proposal, and other team members to optimize proposed solutions.
• Identify technical staffing needs for Pre-Bid and Proposal (B&P) activities and coordinate assignment of technical personnel.
• Coordinate with technical leadership and contributors on solution development, proposal writing, and estimating.
• Provide subject matter expertise to meet customer technical, schedule, and cost requirements within applicable risk parameters.
• Work with the Enterprise Architect to design, implement, and govern secure, scalable, highly available Azure cloud architectures aligned with enterprise standards, business objectives, security requirements, and government cloud best practices.
• Contribute to the development of new concepts, techniques, and standards.
• Establish goals to meet assigned objectives and provide guidance to team members in accordance with established policies.
• Develop innovative solutions to complex problems and ensure they are consistent with organizational objectives.
• Determine the technical objectives of assignments.
• Design, deploy, manage, secure, monitor, troubleshoot, and optimize Azure infrastructure, services, and workloads.
• Establish and govern multi-subscription Azure environments using management groups, policies, and landing zones.
• Apply cloud financial management practices, including budgeting, resource optimization, and cost governance.
• Implement identity management, encryption, key management, privileged access controls, security, governance, and compliance practices.
• Design and maintain data platform and database solutions, including performance optimization, high availability, backup, recovery, and disaster recovery.
• Use scripting, automation, CI/CD, DevOps, containerization, and orchestration technologies as appropriate.
• Create and maintain solution designs, architectural standards, operational procedures, and governance documentation.
• Lead cloud transformation initiatives and collaborate across infrastructure, security, development, and business organizations.
• Mentor engineers, architects, and technical teams and foster knowledge sharing and technical growth.
• Manage multiple complex projects and workstreams while meeting timelines and architectural standards.
• Communicate technical concepts as clear, business-focused recommendations to stakeholders and executives.
• Stay current with emerging Azure technologies, cloud-native architectures, security trends, and industry best practices.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Principal