Solutions Architect

Syms Strategic Group, LLC (SSG) • Grand Rapids, MI

1d • $109,623 - $126,790 • Remote

About The Position

Syms Strategic Group (SSG) is hiring a Solutions Architect for a full-time, 100% U.S.-based remote position supporting the Department of Veterans Affairs. The role focuses on developing customer solutions and proposals and designing, implementing, and governing secure, scalable, and highly available Azure cloud architectures aligned with enterprise standards, business objectives, security requirements, and government cloud best practices. The salary range is $109,623–$126,790. Candidates must be U.S. citizens and must possess or qualify for a Public Trust (MBI). Applicants from California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, or Washington will not be considered. This is a W-2 position.

The Architect uses domain expertise to understand customer requirements and lead the development of complete, competitive solutions. The role collaborates with business development, capture, proposal, technical leadership, and delivery contributors; coordinates technical staffing for proposal work; and provides expertise on technical, schedule, cost, and risk considerations. The Architect also contributes to technical concepts and standards, sets objectives, guides team members, and develops innovative solutions to complex problems.

The position requires extensive Azure architecture experience across infrastructure, networking, security, governance, data platforms, monitoring, automation, DevOps, and containers. The job posting also specifies 10+ years of software testing, quality assurance, or system validation experience. Desired experience includes hands-on EDIFECS work with EDI X.12 transactions and advanced Azure certifications. A bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Systems Engineering, Cloud Engineering, or a related technical discipline is listed as formal education.

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).
• Proven track record designing, deploying, and managing Azure infrastructure and services, including 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 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 solutions that support enterprise business 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, and cost governance.
• Proficiency in scripting and automation using Python, PowerShell, Azure CLI, and 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.
• Experience troubleshooting and optimizing performance, availability, and reliability of Azure resources and workloads.
• 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 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 and DevOps practices using Azure DevOps, GitHub Actions, Azure Pipelines, and related deployment tools.
• Experience with Docker, Kubernetes, Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS), Azure Container Apps, and Azure Container Instances.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to diagnose and resolve complex cloud infrastructure, networking, application, and cloud-related issues.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to explain 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, manage time effectively, and deliver high-quality outcomes within established timelines.
• Strong attention to detail to ensure operational excellence, system reliability and stability, security, and data integrity.
• Ability to lead technical projects and cloud transformation initiatives and collaborate across cross-functional teams.
• Strong documentation and architectural design skills, including creating and maintaining solution designs, standards, operational procedures, configurations, processes, and governance documentation.
• Commitment to continuous learning and keeping current with emerging Azure and cloud technologies, security trends, tools, and industry best practices.

Nice To Haves

• Deep hands-on EDIFECS experience with Electronic Data Interchange X.12 standards and workflows, including medical claims transactions (837, 834, 835, 277, etc.), 270/271 and 278/275 transactions, and 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) and B&P activities, and coordinate assignment of technical personnel to proposal efforts.
• 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 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 solutions are consistent with organizational objectives.
• Determine technical objectives for assignments.
• Lead cloud transformation initiatives and collaborate with infrastructure, security, development, and business teams.
• Create and maintain solution designs, standards, operational procedures, system configurations, processes, and governance documentation.
• Manage and contribute to multiple complex projects while ensuring successful delivery and adherence to architectural standards.
• Troubleshoot and optimize the performance, availability, and reliability of Azure resources and workloads.
• Mentor engineers, architects, and technical teams and foster knowledge sharing and technical growth.
• Stay current with Azure technologies, cloud-native architectures, security trends, tools, and industry best practices.

What This Job Offers

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