Azure Architect

Job Summary

The Railroad Retirement Board is hiring a GS-13 Azure Architect.

NOTE: The selected candidate may work at our HQ in Chicago, or in any of our district office locations. Please see the job announcement on USAJOBS.GOV for the list of locations. In addition, the salary range indicated in the job announcement will be adjusted to include locality payment once a candidate is selected.

As an Azure Architect, you will:

• Be responsible for the design, development, implementation, and optimization of cloud-based solutions within Microsoft Azure.
• Serve as the organization's senior Azure Architect and recognized subject matter expert (SME) for cloud systems engineering, providing authoritative guidance on the design, development, implementation, and governance of Microsoft Azure solutions.
• Advise senior leadership on cloud strategy, investment planning, and long-term modernization initiatives, influencing the agency's overall IT direction.
• Design and engineer enterprise-level cloud architectures that are secure, scalable, highly available, and resilient, ensuring alignment with mission requirements and seamless integration with on-premises systems in hybrid environments.
• Lead evaluations of existing and proposed IT systems, applications, and services to determine optimal hosting environments, conducting detailed analyses of architectural feasibility, system performance, cybersecurity requirements, and total cost of ownership.
• Perform comprehensive cost-benefit and lifecycle cost analyses comparing Azure-based solutions with traditional on-premises infrastructure, providing data-driven recommendations to leadership to support strategic and investment decisions.

One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service.

• Experience designing, engineering, and implementing Azure cloud architectures for enterprise environments, including secure, scalable, and highly available solutions.
• Experience leading cloud migration and modernization efforts, including assessments, planning, and execution of transitioning systems to Microsoft Azure.
• Experience ensuring compliance with federal cybersecurity frameworks such as NIST and FISMA in cloud and hybrid environments.

• Must be a U.S. Citizen
• Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered for Selective Service
• Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation
• May be required to successfully complete a probationary period
• Complete the initial online assessment and USAHire Assessment, if required
• All candidates are expected to reside within 50 miles of the closest field office location listed in this job announcement.