Job Title: Cloud Architect
Work Schedule & Location: Fully remote, no onsite requirements Open to any time zone
Monday–Friday, Core hours: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, with flexibility
Duration: 6–12 months Most likely: 6 months
Extension: Possible, based on performance and business needs

Interview Process
First round: 1-hour panel interview with the team (video)
Second round: Possible follow-up interview

Description

This is a hands-on Cloud Architect role within a units-heavy organization. The team is seeking someone with a wide breadth of technical skills, strong cloud expertise, and the ability to think strategically and creatively about platform architecture and modernization.
Required Experience & Skills
• Experience Level:
o Minimum 10+ years of experience in an Architecture-focused role
• Technical Breadth:
o Strong programming background across multiple languages
o Knowledge of Python and JavaScript. Deep knowledge of cloud technologies, with a strong emphasis on AWS (currently using this mainly)
• Cloud & Automation:
o Experience with cloud deployments
o Familiarity with configuration and infrastructure automation tools
• Architectural Thinking:
o Ability to review architecture diagrams from a product and platform perspective
o Strong at identifying opportunities to streamline processes, improve efficiency, and modernize existing systems
o Comfortable providing technical feedback and recommendations backed by architectural principles
Key Responsibilities
• Participate in and lead platform migration and modernization efforts
• Propose and implement architecture improvements that support:
o Scalability
o Cost reduction
o System performance and resiliency
• Evaluate existing designs and processes and ask:
o Can this be done better?
o Is there a more efficient or modern approach?
• Provide forward-thinking architectural guidance grounded in strong technical execution
Success Criteria (6–12 Months)
• Actively contributing to platform migration initiatives
• Driving modernization efforts across architecture and tooling
• Identifying and implementing cost-optimization strategies
• Delivering actionable architecture recommendations that result in measurable improvements
Team & Environment
• Part of a broader cloud organization with two cloud-focused teams
• This role will join Will’s team, which currently includes:
o 4 team members (mostly Architects, with 1 non-Architect)
o This hire will be the 5th team member

Job Purpose
Develops the design and function for state-of-the-art technology solutions to complex problems by providing architectural consultation and technical expertise to the Company in multiple IT fields. Leads multi-discipline teams and develops solutions to problems of unusual complexity that require a high degree of ingenuity.

Essential Job Results
Develops state-of-the-art technology solutions by analyzing IT proposals for cost and technology impact to ensure alignment with Company strategies and objectives. Provides technical review of products, design packages, procedures, and reports. Delivers reliable high performance applications and technical services.

Duties may include the following:

• Provides the highest level of technical expertise in development and support of new or enhanced business intelligence and data warehousing applications. Performs full life cycle development including, requirements gathering, analysis, design, development, documentation, implementation, testing, and debugging.
• Researches, designs, and develops product hardware and software interfaces by applying expertise in hardware engineering and software design theories. Designs, architects, installs, configures, and maintains system hardware and software infrastructure components.
• Develops and implements proactive monitoring of critical business services to ensure availability. Integrates monitoring principles into the IT systems development life cycle project work.
• Delivers system enhancements by planning and recommending innovative technologies. Works closely with management to determine longer-term technical needs and direction. Develops and implements cost effective approaches and/or automation solutions that lower operating costs.
• Ensures projects are completed according to defined success criteria by leading teams, or providing advanced technical guidance in the design, development, and implementation of large-scale system architecture projects. Assumes technical leadership and ownership of complex issues.
• Promotes the highest level of technical mastery by serving as subject matter expert in multiple IT fields. Provides management consultation regarding technical solutions and/or best practice and compliance options to solve complex technical matters.
• Protects the Company by creating long-term plans to maximize technology reliability and prevention of failure. Provides timely resolution to complex, emergent, and/or long-term architectural issues.
• Interfaces with vendors to resolve issues.
• Maintains technical currency by reviewing trade publications, researching technical documentation, and pursuing training relevant to Company operating environments. Maintains working understanding of client business functions.
• Handles business sensitive information with the highest level of confidentiality.

Experience

• Minimum 10 years related experience in functional areas, including progressively responsible experience in IT architecture design and function, system deployments, systems life cycle management, operations, infrastructure and communications.

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or related field or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Master’s degree preferred.

Skills - May require any combination of the following skills.

Cloud technologies:

• AWS: EC2, Lambda, ECS, VPCs, ALB, NLB, API Gateway, Transit Gateway, etc.
• Akamai / CloudFlare: DNS, CDN, WAF, etc.
• Linux systems architecture, administration, and troubleshooting (Ubuntu, RHEL)
• Infrastructure provisioning tools (Terraform, Packer, Docker, CloudFormation, etc.)
• Configuration management tools (Chef, Ansible, etc.)
• Programming languages (Python, Java EE, Golang, C++, etc.)
• Agile software development
• RDBMS databases & tools (Oracle, PostgreSQL, MySQL)
• NoSQL databases & tools (DocumentDB, MongoDB)
• System performance monitoring, analysis, and management (DataDog, CloudWatch, Splunk, etc.)
• Web application development & platforms (Payara, JBoss, Tomcat, etc.)
• Build tools including Maven and Ant
• Jenkins, Cobeture, PMD, FindBugs
• SOAP, XML, Web services, and UDDI
• HTTP API concepts, practical implementations, security, and troubleshooting
• Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Demonstrated ability to manage software development projects through completion.
• Effective interpersonal skills to communicate effectively with end users.
• Advanced technical mastery in area of specialty or broad multi-disciplinary knowledge.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate architectural and business-impacting issues to all levels in the organization.
• Demonstrated ability to apply problem analysis/resolution techniques and engineering design capabilities.
• Demonstrated ability to influence key stakeholders and technical personnel.

Accountability

• Provides work direction and mentoring for lower-level staff. Receives operational guidance on duties, service standards and goals. Technical expert expected to perform duties with limited directional feedback.

Leadership

• Exhibits personal characteristics and professional standards that serve as a role model for others. Provides guidance and/or serves as a technical resource to less experienced staff.
• Simplifies complex processes and organizes people and activities to get things done.

Knowledge

• Expert functional and technical know-how to meet professional standards and succeed in the job. Significant knowledge of architectural design principles, business processes, and competitive trends and developments. Seeks, acquires, and applies new knowledge and skills, including emerging industry practices.

Relationship Management

• Conveys and obtains information both internal and external to the department. Shares new concepts and approaches with others. Uses written verbal or electronic skills to communicate effectively with a variety of levels in the organization, including those less familiar with computing terminology.

Problem Solving

• Uses rigorous logic and methods to solve most technically complex problems. Uses a wide degree of creativity and latitude to analyze and resolve problems.

 
 
At SPECTRAFORCE, we are committed to maintaining a workplace that ensures fair compensation and wage transparency in adherence with all applicable state and local laws. This position’s starting pay is: $ 65.00/hr.