Sr Platform Architect

• Job Title: Senior Platform Architect (MES/MMIS Focus)

• Location: Remote

• Agency: Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS)

• Project Name: Illinois Medicaid Program Advanced Cloud Technology (IMPACT) System Migration Support Services

Position Summary

The Senior Platform Architect will serve as a key technical and strategic leader responsible for designing, documenting, and optimizing enterprise-scale platform architectures that enable digital transformation, operational efficiency, and business agility.

This role requires deep domain expertise in Medicaid Enterprise System (MES) Modules and a proven track record of modernizing legacy Medicaid Management Information Systems (MMIS). Beyond technical proficiency, the ideal candidate must demonstrate a strong culture fit through collaborative leadership, transparent communication, and the ability to bridge complex technical landscapes with business objectives within a public-sector environment. This position also requires the ability to build trust and support across teams of varying technical backgrounds, from frontline business users to executive stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

Architectural Design & Strategy

• Cloud & Platform Governance: Define and govern end-to-end MES platform architectures (Azure, Dynamics, M365) aligned with HFS strategy and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) compliance.

• MMIS Modernization: Lead the transformation of legacy MMIS components into modular, cloud-native services while ensuring data integrity and continuity.

Process Optimization & Technical Leadership

• Business Process Modeling: Analyze, document, and optimize core Medicaid business processes using BPMN or UML modeling standards.

• SDLC Oversight: Provide technical oversight across the system development lifecycle (SDLC), driving modernization through critical thinking, collaboration, problem-solving, and CI/CD best practices.

Governance, Security & Stakeholder Management

• Compliance Assurance: Ensure strict adherence to HIPAA, NIST, and other regulatory frameworks in all solution designs.

• Strategic Advisory: Serve as a trusted advisor to executive leadership, successfully translating technical roadmaps into clear business value and mission impact.

Required Skills & Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Education: Bachelor s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related STEM field from an accredited university (AACSB, ABET, CSAB, etc.).

• Enterprise Architecture: 10+ years of experience in enterprise architecture and system integration.

• Medicaid Domain Expertise: 3+ years of hands-on expertise with MES Modules and legacy MMIS modernization, working directly for or on behalf of a State Medicaid agency.

Technical & Process Skills

• Process Re-engineering: Proficiency in business process re-engineering using tools like Visio, Lucidchart, or ARIS.

• Ecosystem Knowledge: Deep technical knowledge of Cloud ecosystems (Azure/Dynamics/M365) combined with legacy Mainframe platforms and technologies (IBM z/OS, COBOL, and Telon).

• Regulatory Knowledge: Strong understanding of HIPAA, CMS MES Module Outcomes, certification requirements, and public-sector data security standards.

Leadership & Soft Skills

• Communication: Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence cross-functional teams and executive stakeholders.

• Emotional Intelligence: Strong EQ with the ability to navigate ambiguity, manage conflict constructively, and maintain team cohesion under deadline pressure.

• Diversity & Inclusion: Demonstrated commitment to equity and inclusion in team environments, ensuring equitable participation and access to information across all project workstreams.

Preferred Skills & Qualifications

• Advanced Degree: Master s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related STEM field from an accredited university.

• Professional Certifications: TOGAF, Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) Architect, Azure Solutions Architect Expert, AWS Certified Solutions Architect, or Oracle Cloud Architect.

• Public Sector Programs: Experience in public-sector modernization programs, especially within highly regulatory and compliance-driven environments.

• Enterprise Platforms: Familiarity with enterprise ERP/CRM ecosystems (Dynamics 365, Oracle Fusion, Salesforce).

• Emerging Technologies: Expertise in AI/ML (including GitHub Copilot Enterprise or similar), data analytics, or process mining for optimization initiatives.