Cloud Architect

CEPI Cloud Architect



Summary



This position serves as an Cloud Application Architect for the

Center for Educational Performance and Information (CEPI). This position

will serve as the technical expert on orchestrating the placement and

interaction of application components, to meet the agency business

requirements, while also satisfying the often-conflicting requirements

of sustainability, cost control, standardization, security, compliance,

and strategic alignment primarily for the IT system modernization

initiatives supporting CEPI portfolio. This position must ensure that

the CEPI Cloud infrastructure is properly integrated with COTS packages,

Software as a Service, Web Services and other federal, state and local

government applications and services, both internal and external to the

State. This position will provide technical expertise and leadership to

application development staff, promoting usability, security, mobility,

maintainability, and reusability. This position must be able to function

with a minimum of direct supervision and requires a high degree of

direct contact with department program managers and DTMB project and

technology oversight groups. This position works as a part of a team of

architects/designers with additional support staff.



The Cloud Application Architect is expected to lead the development and

application of the technical architecture. They analyze

technical/business problems and recommends strategies to implement

technology or improve processes to enable improved business

productivity.



Skills



This position should know how to use the most suitable cloud

architecture frameworks and tools for agency system, and how to adapt

them to specific project context and needs. The role should also be able

to collaborate with other architects and developers for framework and

tool recommendations in cloud. Here are a few highly desired technical

skills for ideal candidates.



- A thorough knowledge of the various aspects of complex cloud

application development environments and practices



- Ability to use precedents in making decisions, capacity to

communicate effectively with others, and maintain favorable public

relations with clients.



- Considerable knowledge of cloud application development

architecture, framework, and tools, ability to gather and analyze

facts, define problems, and recommend solutions.



- Ability to conduct interviews and establish and maintain effective

relationships with system users, ability to communicate technical

terminology at a level appropriate to the audience.



- A thorough knowledge of the various aspects of the client agency.

The ability to recommend technical solutions to business problems is

essential.



- A thorough knowledge of business requirements, network-based

application orchestration, control, audit and enablement of system

administration, database management and application development.



- Advanced cloud application development and integration techniques.



- Experience with and knowledge of .NET, HTML, XML, SQL, SOAP, REST,

PowerShell, IaC, Microsoft Azure, Function Apps.



- Proficient in Microsoft VISIO, Microsoft Office (Word, Excel,

Access, PowerPoint).



- Understanding in relational database concepts, database concepts,

telecommunication concepts, secure coding concepts, secure

authorization concepts, web services.



- Experience in analysis, design, programming, testing, implementing

and supporting web-based applications in Microsoft/Windows platform.

(ASP.NET, framework 4.8 or higher, .Net 6 or higher).



- Experience with observability and distributed tracing.



- Experience designing, creating and maintaining distributed

applications leveraging a microservices architecture.



- Experience writing and implementing Infrastructure as Code (IaC).



- Knowledge of both Microsoft Azure, web-based, and client

server-based systems architecture.



- Knowledge/training in object oriented analysis, design and

programming experience.



- Knowledge of cloud application and database development and access

methods.



- Ability to prepare detailed written instructions and documentation.



- Ability to effectively make oral and written reports and

presentations and prepare clear and concise documentation.



- Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with

clients and matrix support teams.



- Ability to resolve complex problems in a timely manner and seeks

optimum solutions.



- Effective at creating highly complex assignments in a high stress

work environment.



- Ability to troubleshoot application issues under pressure.



- Ability to own work items and issues from start to finish with

minimal supervision.



Essential Duties



As the Cloud Application Architect for the Center for Educational

Performance and Information (CEPI), this position is strategically

responsible for the design and interaction of the client enterprise

level application architecture, code libraries, middleware, and services

components. This Specialist leads the migration to a services-based

architecture; compiles and designs architectural models of current and

proposed applications across the client enterprise; performs design

reviews across the client organization; leads the evaluation of vendor

software targeted for possible integration into the applications or

environment; defines and manages the IT application design methodology;

surveys external emerging developments in application design and

methodologies, and evangelizes new techniques, technologies and

standards; manages the development and maintenance of the client

application architecture environment, and consults with application

designers on how to implement enterprise architecture components and

resolve issues. This position serves as the team's chief cloud SME and

will enforce best practices in cloud implementation and deployment while

complying with DTMB policies and procedures.



Duty Breakdown



- Develop and manage the enterprise level architecture for all IT

systems and projects within the scope of responsibility. Plan,

develop and administer architectural practice related policies and

procedures.



- Provide application architecture expertise as it relates to the

development and integration of applications, security,

middleware, services, database design, development

methodologies, and tools.



- Lead and coordinate with other technical resources in the

overall application design, implementation and integration of

applications with other existing applications/technologies/data

sources on multiple platforms within the agency, across multiple

state agencies, DTMB Office of Enterprise Architecture and with

multiple vendors.



- Develop strategic goals required to ensure that the overall

application architecture is in compliance with the DTMB

Strategic Plan and DTMB development methodology best practices.



- Consult with application designers on proper application design

and use of enterprise services.



- Compile or design application architectural models across the

client enterprise for use internally and in conjunction with

third party technology partners. The models are of two types:



- Enterprise Models that depict the entire client enterprise and

its inter-relationships internally and with the state enterprise

architecture.



- Reference Models that depict recommended & approved application

designs, which can serve as a template for future projects.



- Perform architecture design reviews across the organization as a

part of the Enterprise Architecture Core Team.



- Define, implement and maintain the IT application architecture

design methodology and best practices.



- Lead the effort towards services-based development and

implementation.



- Survey external emerging development methodologies, and

evangelize new technologies, standards and methodologies that

will have a positive impact on the quality of applications and

services.



- Ensure the implementation of security standards in application

architectures, designs, and coding practices. Be familiar with,

provide research, documentation and input (when applicable) to

Enterprise Security policies and standards.



- Plan, develop and administer application design-related policies

and procedures to promote high quality, accurate and reusable

application designs.



- Provide technical leadership, guidance and direction to

Application Architects, Database Administrators,

Programmer/Analyst(s) supporting application design, database

architecture and design and overall application and service

architecture functions in client agencies.



- Develop and maintain application level architecture components and

design repositories (i.e. code libraries, middleware, services,

database, and development tools). Manage projects related to

application component design and development practice.



- Individual tasks related to the duty.



- Perform business and technical requirements analysis for client

enterprise level code libraries, middleware, services, database,

and development tools.



- Oversee the design and validation of client enterprise level

application components, API's and related databases.



- Oversee and approve the development of, and changes to the

application architecture to ensure proper execution of the

design.



- Provide technical support to application designers in the use of

the enterprise service environment and development

methodologies.



- Provide "practical" technical solutions to the development team

to solve complex application development problems.



- Lead appropriate change control boards.



- Contribute to the development of testing plans, scenarios, and

test data to ensure compliance and fit with the overall

application architecture.



- Manage application architecture components and documentation

versions using the established development and management

processes and tools.



- Manage associated projects to develop client enterprise level

application architecture components and objects.



- Review the security of application components and services.



- Act as the IT Architect SME covering the scope of responsibility

on client enterprise application integration projects.



- Act as liaison to DTMB Office of Enterprise Architecture, and

Office of Enterprise Security. Direct the use of EA Solution

Patterns and Reference Models with existing and proposed

solutions within the area of responsibility. Assist in creating

EA Solution Assessments.



- Participate with the EA Core Team in the exchange of

architectural best practices, the development and review of EA

Roadmaps, the review of EA Solution Assessments from across the

enterprise.



- Perform additional duties as assigned



- Perform code library, middleware, services support as required.



- Insure the installation, configuration, testing, and

implementation of the applications follow the architecture

guidelines.



- Insure proper operation of the applications.



- Participate in the development and implementation of processes

that improve efficiency and enhance productivity.



- Provide leadership, consultation and expertise on special teams

and projects as assigned.



- Ensure relevant administrative functions are complete and

accurate.



- Provide coding guidance, validation, and quality control of

other senior and junior developers' programming work.