Solutions Architect

Syms Strategic Group, LLC (SSG) • Blacksburg, VA

1d • $109,623 - $126,790 • Remote

About The Position

Syms Strategic Group (SSG) is hiring a Solutions Architect for a full-time, fully remote position supporting the Department of Veterans Affairs. The role develops customer-focused technical solutions and proposals, and works closely 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. The position requires U.S. citizenship and the ability to obtain or qualify for a Public Trust (MBI). The stated salary range is $109,623–$126,790. Applicants from California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, or Washington will not be considered. This is a W-2 position.

The Solutions Architect applies Azure expertise across infrastructure, networking, security, data platforms, cloud governance, automation, monitoring, DevOps, and containers. The role also leads technical solution development for competitive proposals, coordinates technical contributors and staffing, provides subject matter expertise, mentors technical teams, and contributes to architectural standards and documentation. The posting states a requirement of 10+ years of software testing, quality assurance, or system validation experience. A bachelor’s degree in computer science, systems engineering, cloud engineering, or a related technical discipline is required. Deep hands-on EDIFECS and healthcare EDI X.12 experience, along with specified Azure certifications, are desired.

Requirements

• 10+ years of software testing, quality assurance, or system validation experience.
• 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); selected applicants are subject to a government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information and obtain a government-granted security clearance.
• Proven track record designing, deploying, and managing Azure infrastructure and services, including large-scale, highly available, scalable cloud architecture.
• 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 requirements.
• Experience 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, cost governance, and cloud cost optimization strategies.
• Proficiency in automation and scripting using Python, PowerShell, Azure CLI, or other automation frameworks; the posting also lists Bash and NodeJS.
• Expertise with monitoring, logging, and observability tools such as Azure Monitor, Log Analytics, Application Insights, Microsoft Sentinel, and third-party platforms.
• 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 data platform services, including 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 for diagnosing and resolving complex cloud infrastructure, networking, application, and cloud-related issues.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to explain complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders and translate them into business-focused recommendations for stakeholders and executives.
• Ability to prioritize competing initiatives, manage multiple workstreams and projects, manage time effectively, and meet deadlines while delivering high-quality outcomes.
• Strong attention to detail to ensure operational excellence, system stability and reliability, security, and data integrity.
• Ability to lead technical projects and collaborate with cross-functional teams.
• Strong documentation and architectural design skills, including creating and maintaining solution designs, standards, system configurations, operational procedures, processes, and governance documentation.
• Commitment to continuous learning and staying current with emerging Azure and cloud technologies, tools, security trends, and industry practices.

Nice To Haves

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

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) and B&P activities, and coordinate technical personnel assignments to proposal efforts.
• Coordinate with team-member 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 new concepts, techniques, and standards; establish goals to meet objectives; and guide team members in accordance with established policies.
• Develop solutions to complex problems using ingenuity and innovation, ensuring consistency with organizational objectives.
• Determine technical objectives of assignments.
• Troubleshoot and optimize the performance, availability, and reliability of Azure resources and workloads.
• Lead cloud transformation initiatives and collaborate across infrastructure, security, development, and business organizations.
• Mentor engineers, architects, and technical teams while fostering knowledge sharing and technical growth.
• Create and maintain solution designs, standards, operational procedures, system configurations, processes, and governance documentation.
• Manage and contribute to multiple complex projects, prioritize competing workstreams, and deliver outcomes within established timelines.
• Stay current with emerging Azure technologies, cloud-native architectures, security trends, tools, and industry best practices.

What This Job Offers

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