Cloud Architect; Proposal bid

Job Description:

The Cloud Architect Lead will serve as the senior technical lead for USDA Rural Development's modernization of its application portfolio into a FedRAMP Moderate government cloud, with primary responsibility for cloud strategy, architecture, security alignment, and technical leadership across migration and modernization activities.

Note:

This role is for a proposal. Offer will be contingent upon proposal award which is scheduled for approximately

• Lead development of the RD cloud adoption strategy and application-centric modernization roadmap, including migration waves, timelines, success metrics, and TCO/ROI analysis for target workloads.

• Design secure, scalable cloud architectures within USDA OCIO/DISC-managed landing zones, focusing on containerization, microservices, managed services, and hybrid integrations with mainframe and on-prem systems.

• Ensure alignment with USDA enterprise standards and governance, including use of OCIO-provided networking, security controls, and identity solutions (no creation of independent landing zones).

• Provide expert guidance on Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, Bicep, etc.), reusable templates, and tagging standards that comply with USDA security baselines and tagging policies.

• Lead application-level modernization planning and runbook development (re-platforming to managed database services, refactoring monoliths to microservices, container adoption, performance tuning, and sustainment procedures).

• Coordinate and oversee pilot modernization efforts to validate performance, security, and functionality in cloud-native environments, ensuring adherence to FedRAMP, FISMA, NIST 800-53, and USDA governance.

• Partner with Security and Compliance teams to perform security architecture reviews, gap assessments, and to support ATO documentation (SSP, PIA, PTA, ISA, MOU, POA&M) and RMF lifecycle activities for applications.

• Direct the design and implementation of Dev Sec Ops  CI/CD pipelines (Git Hub Enterprise/Git Hub Actions) with embedded security scanning, compliance checks, automated testing, and audit logging in line with USDA policies.

• Oversee optimization and monitoring strategies, including cost management dashboards, tagging and chargeback/showback models, and monthly optimization reporting on utilization, performance bottlenecks, and cost anomalies.

• Lead training and knowledge transfer to RD staff, including architecture documentation, operational runbooks, incident response playbooks, backup and DR procedures, and final transition and readiness workshops.

• Provide surge leadership during critical cutovers and testing windows, coordinating modernization engineers, Dev Sec Ops  engineers, compliance analysts, and Fin Ops specialists as needed.

• At least one current professional cloud certification (e.g., AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Professional, Azure Solutions Architect Expert, Google Professional Cloud Architect).

• Demonstrated experience leading large-scale cloud migration projects, including hybrid and multi-cloud architectures.

• Proven track record collaborating with enterprise IT/governance organizations on cloud landing zones, network/security controls, and identity and access management.

• Hands-on experience with cloud-native architectures (containers, Kubernetes, microservices, managed databases), Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, Bicep, ARM/Cloud Formation), and Dev Sec Ops  tool chains (Git Hub Actions, Azure Dev Ops, Jenkins, etc.).

• Strong understanding of cost optimization and Fin Ops practices in cloud environments, including budgeting, tagging strategies, and chargeback/showback models.

• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and leadership skills, with experience translating complex technical concepts into clear recommendations for business and technical audiences.

• U.S. citizenship required.

• Prior experience supporting USDA or other federal civilian agencies, particularly within environments governed by USDA OCIO/DISC or similar enterprise cloud governance models.

• Experience supporting ATO packages and working directly with ISSOs, security assessors, and AO…