Solutions Architect

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

1d • $109,623 - $126,790 • Remote

About The Position

Syms Strategic Group (SSG) is seeking an experienced Solutions Architect for a full-time, 100% U.S.-based remote role supporting the Department of Veterans Affairs. The position focuses on developing competitive, customer-aligned technical solutions and designing, implementing, and governing secure, scalable, highly available Azure cloud architectures. The role requires alignment with enterprise technology standards, business objectives, security requirements, and government cloud best practices. The salary range is $109,623–$126,790. U.S. citizenship is required, and the candidate must possess or qualify for a Public Trust (MBI). Candidates residing in California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, or Washington will not be considered. This is a W-2 position. Applicants selected will be subject to a government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information and be able to obtain a government-granted security clearance; additional background checks may include criminal history, employment and education verification, drug testing, and creditworthiness.

The Solutions Architect leverages domain expertise to understand customer requirements and leads the creation of complete solutions that satisfy technical, schedule, cost, and risk requirements. The role works with business development, capture, proposal, technical leadership, and technical contributors to develop solutions, write proposals, estimate work, and coordinate technical staffing for Pre-Bid and Proposal activities. The architect also contributes to new concepts, techniques, and standards; establishes goals to meet assigned objectives; guides team members; and solves complex problems through ingenuity and innovation.

The technical focus is Azure architecture and operations, including core cloud services, networking, security, governance, cost management, data platforms, observability, automation, DevOps, and containerization. The role also involves troubleshooting and optimizing Azure workloads, leading cloud transformation initiatives, documenting designs and standards, mentoring technical teams, and collaborating across infrastructure, security, development, and business organizations. Desired experience includes hands-on EDIFECS work with X12 EDI transactions and advanced Azure certifications.

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.
• Experience with 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 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 supporting 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, and cost governance.
• Proficiency in scripting and automation using Python, PowerShell, Azure CLI, or other automation frameworks; scripting experience may also include Bash or 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 Azure resource and workload performance, availability, and reliability.
• 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 services, including Azure SQL Database, Azure Cosmos DB, Azure Synapse Analytics, and Azure Data Lake Storage.
• Experience with database performance optimization, high availability, backup and recovery planning, and disaster recovery.
• 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 to diagnose and resolve complex cloud infrastructure, networking, application, and other cloud-related issues.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to explain technical concepts and translate them into business-focused recommendations for stakeholders and executives.
• Ability to prioritize competing initiatives, manage multiple workstreams and projects, and deliver high-quality outcomes on time.
• Strong attention to detail to support operational excellence, system stability and reliability, security, and data integrity.
• Ability to mentor technical teams and lead technical projects while fostering knowledge sharing and growth.
• Experience leading cloud transformation initiatives and collaborating with cross-functional teams.
• Strong architectural design and documentation skills.
• Commitment to continuous learning and staying current with Azure and cloud technologies, tools, security trends, and industry practices.
• Applicants must provide resume-supported answers to mandatory screening questions; inconsistencies will result in applications not being considered.
• Candidates must be based in the United States; applicants from California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, or Washington will not be considered.
• Recruiters and third parties will not be considered; candidates will be asked to provide a LinkedIn profile link.

Nice To Haves

• Deep hands-on EDIFECS experience with Electronic Data Interchange X12 transaction standards and workflows, including medical claims transactions 837, 834, 835, and 277; 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, price-competitive solutions that meet customer requirements.
• 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 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 practices.
• Contribute to new concepts, techniques, and standards; establish goals to meet assigned objectives and guide team members in accordance with established policies.
• Develop solutions to complex problems and ensure solutions are consistent with organizational objectives; determine technical objectives for assignments.
• Design, deploy, manage, troubleshoot, and optimize Azure infrastructure, services, workloads, performance, availability, and reliability.
• Establish and govern multi-subscription Azure environments using management groups, policies, and landing zones.
• Implement Azure security, encryption, key management, identity management, and privileged access controls.
• Manage cloud cost practices, including budgeting, resource optimization, and cost governance.
• Use monitoring, logging, and observability solutions to support cloud operations.
• Apply database performance optimization, high-availability configuration, backup and recovery planning, and disaster recovery strategies.
• Use automation, CI/CD, DevOps, containerization, and orchestration technologies as appropriate.
• Lead cloud transformation initiatives and collaborate across infrastructure, security, development, and business teams.
• Mentor engineers, architects, and technical teams, fostering knowledge sharing and technical growth.
• Create and maintain solution designs, architectural standards, operational procedures, governance documentation, system configurations, processes, and procedures.
• Manage and contribute to multiple complex projects while meeting deadlines and adhering to architectural standards.
• 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