Lead Cloud Application Architect
WFA Digital Insight
As the demand for cloud-based architectures grows, companies like ICF are seeking seasoned professionals to lead their technical vision. With cloud architects in high demand, having expertise in Excel and experience in guiding enterprise system designs can give candidates a competitive edge. The current remote job market has seen significant growth in digital transformation, with cloud computing being a key driver. ICF stands out with its focus on supporting Federal agencies, particularly land management and environmental mission organizations. Before applying, candidates should be aware of the Public Trust clearance requirements and the need to reside in the United States.
Job Description
About the Role
The Lead Cloud Application Architect position at ICF is a pivotal role in defining and guiding the end-to-end architecture for mission-critical systems. This involves working closely with Federal land management agencies, such as USFS, USDA, DOI, and BLM, to ensure that solutions are scalable, secure, and aligned with modern cloud-based architectures and Federal security requirements. The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of enterprise system design and the ability to establish technical standards and guide development teams.Day-to-day, the Lead Cloud Application Architect will provide technical leadership across engineering teams, ensuring that solutions meet the highest standards of scalability, security, and maintainability. This role requires excellent communication and leadership skills, as the architect will be working with multiple stakeholders to ensure that system designs meet nonfunctional requirements, including performance, availability, scalability, and reliability.
What You Will Do
- Define and maintain the overall solution architecture, technical standards, and reference architectures supporting mission-critical systems.
- Lead architectural design decisions across multiple development teams to ensure scalable, secure, and maintainable system solutions.
- Establish integration patterns, API strategies, and interoperability approaches that support enterprise data exchange and mission workflows.
- Ensure system designs meet nonfunctional requirements, including performance, availability, scalability, and reliability.
- Guide engineering teams in implementing cloud-native architectures, primarily Azure, with AWS familiarity being a plus.
- Align architecture and system designs with Federal security and compliance requirements, including ATO processes and associated controls.
- Conduct architecture reviews, technical governance activities, and design evaluations to ensure alignment with enterprise standards.
- Identify modernization opportunities and lead initiatives to reduce technical debt while improving system maintainability and performance.
- Mentor engineers and technical leads, promoting architecture best practices and continuous technical improvement across teams.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure that system designs meet the needs of all stakeholders.
- Develop and maintain technical documentation to support system maintenance and future development.
What We Are Looking For
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field.
- At least 12 years of experience in software engineering, systems engineering, or solution architecture roles.
- A minimum of 5 years of experience serving as a lead architect or senior technical architect guiding enterprise system architecture decisions.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a Public Trust clearance.
- Strong understanding of cloud computing platforms, particularly Azure.
- Experience with API design, microservices architecture, and enterprise integration patterns.
- Familiarity with Federal security requirements and compliance frameworks, such as ATO processes.
- Excellent leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.
- Strong analytical and technical skills, with the ability to understand complex system architectures.
Nice to Have
- Master’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
- Architecture or cloud certifications, such as Azure Solutions Architect, AWS Solutions Architect, or TOGAF.
- Experience designing solutions within cloud environments, particularly Azure.
- Familiarity with geospatial systems, environmental data platforms, or mission-support applications used in land management or wildfire operations.
- Experience leading modernization initiatives involving legacy system transformation to cloud-native architectures.
Benefits and Perks
- Competitive salary and benefits package.
- Opportunity to work with a leading company in the field of digital transformation.
- Collaborative and dynamic work environment.
- Professional development opportunities, including training and certifications.
- Flexible working hours, with the option to start earlier or work later depending on your time zone.
- Access to the latest technologies and tools.
- Recognition and reward for outstanding performance.
- Comprehensive health insurance and retirement plan.
How to Stand Out
- Make sure your resume highlights your experience with cloud computing platforms, especially Azure, and your understanding of Federal security requirements.
- Showcase your leadership skills by providing examples of times when you guided technical teams or made significant architectural decisions.
- Familiarize yourself with the company’s specific needs, such as supporting Federal land management agencies, to demonstrate your interest and relevance for the role.
- Prepare to discuss your approach to ensuring scalability, security, and maintainability in system designs.
- Consider obtaining relevant certifications, such as Azure Solutions Architect, to strengthen your application.
- Be ready to provide examples of how you have identified and addressed technical debt in previous roles.
- Demonstrate your ability to communicate complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
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