Cloud Architect

DirectClient: Texas Health and Human Services Commission(HHSC)
Solicitation Number: 529601580
Title: Cloud Solution Architect
Location: 701 W 51st Street, Austin, TX 78751
Duration: Until 8/31/2026 with possible extension
Last date for submission: January 11, 2026 (2.00 PM-CST)

Important Note: Position will be 3 days REMOTE with 2 days (Mon & Wed) required to be ONSITE. Texas local candidates only.

DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES:
The cloud architect is responsible for the cloud computing initiatives within an organization and for directing the architectural aspects of a cloud brokering team across all aspects of IT and the business. Responsible for the planning and engineering of an organization's cloud computing infrastructure and applications. Implements and designs hardware and software. Familiar with standard concepts, practices, and procedures of cloud technology, including Software as Service (SaaS), Platform as Service (PaaS), or Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS).

The cloud solution architect will be responsible for:
Design, develop and maintain cloud application architecture that aligns with business goals and technical requirements.
Design scalable, secure, and resilient cloud infrastructure that ensure best practices in cloud architecture.
Assess the current infrastructure and identify components suitable for cloud migration. Develop a comprehensive migration strategy, including timelines and resource allocation.
Implement and validate the migration, ensuring data integrity and system functionality.
Ensure cloud architecture complies with industry standards and regulatory requirements.
Implement security measures to protect data and applications in the cloud.
Monitor cloud system performance and identify areas for improvement.
Implement solutions to enhance performance, scalability, and reliability.
Collaborate with stakeholders to understand business needs and translate them into technical solutions.
Provide guidance and support to other IT team members on cloud technologies and best practices.
Stay updated with the latest cloud technologies and industry trends.
Identify opportunities for innovation and improvement in cloud architecture and services.
Guide technical and business decision-makers on AI/Machine Learning/Deep Learning and generative AI projects, helping to map Azure, Google and AWS services.
Analyze the services to extract technical and business insights that drive reference architectures, runbooks, and training content.

CANDIDATE SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS
Minimum Requirements:
Years Required/Preferred Experience
10 Required experience architecting enterprise application solutions across on-premises and cloud infrastructure
8 Required architecting solutions in one or more of the cloud platforms: Google Cloud Platform, and AWS.
8 Required developing cloud native application architectures across leading cloud platforms.
8 Required architecting solutions that utilize fit-for-purpose service models such as IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS
8 Required experience in all phases of Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence and Deep Learning solutions using AWS or google technologies.
8 Preferred Strong understanding of virtual networks, VPNs, DNS, load balancers, and firewalls.
8 Preferred Understanding of cloud security frameworks, encryption, identity and access management (IAM), and compliance standards like GDPR, HIPAA, etc.
8 Preferred Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines, containerization (Docker, Kubernetes), and infrastructure as code (IaC) tools like Terraform or CloudFormation.
8 Preferred Proficiency in languages such as Python, Java, C#, and scripting languages for automation.
8 Preferred Knowledge of API design, development, and management, including RESTful and SOAP APIs.
8 Preferred Knowledge of microservices, serverless architectures, and cloud-native application development.
8 Preferred Ability to analyze and optimize cloud costs while maintaining performance and reliability.
8 Preferred Excellent verbal and written communication skills to articulate cloud strategies and solutions to stakeholders.
8 Preferred Ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams, including developers, administrators, and business leaders.
8 Preferred Skills in monitoring and analyzing system performance to ensure optimal cloud operations.
6 Preferred Experience with AWS technologies like Bedrock, SageMaker, Redshift, EC2, Data Pipeline, Kinesis and EMR
6 Preferred Experience with AI services like Transcribe etc or Google technologies like Vertex AI platform, Agent Builder, and other toolset
1 Preferred Cloud Certification eg AWS Certified Solutions Architect, Azure Solutions Architect Expert or Google Professional Cloud Architect