IO Datasphere, Inc. has been providing project management, software development and IT staff augmentation services to our clients in the Midwest and throughout the U.S. since 1996. We are an approved vendor on contract to provide software development and IT staff augmentation services for the States of Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin. We also provide these services to businesses, as well as local and county governments, in the Midwest and nationwide.

Our client is looking for a Cloud Architect. 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 the client portfolio. The Cloud Architect must ensure that the client Cloud infrastructure is properly integrated with client packages, Software as a Service, Web Services and other federal, state and local government applications and services, both internal and external. This position will provide technical expertise and leadership to application development staff, promoting usability, security, mobility, maintainability, and reusability. The Cloud Architect must be able to function with a minimum of direct supervision and requires a high degree of direct contact with department program managers and client 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. The role will also analyze technical/business problems and recommend strategies to implement technology or improve processes to enable improved business productivity.

Tasks

• 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 agencies and with multiple vendors.
• Develop strategic goals required to ensure that the overall application architecture is in compliance with the client s Strategic Plan and 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 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.
• 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 covering the scope of responsibility on client enterprise application integration projects.
• Act as liaison to all client departments/offices.
• 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.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:

• Clear and concise communication skills.
• 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.
• 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.
• Ability to use precedents in making decisions, capacity to communicate effectively with others, and maintain favorable public relations with clients.
• Ability to collaborate with other architects and developers for framework and tool recommendations in cloud.

NOTE: Local candidates strongly preferred, or non-local candidates who are willing to relocate at their own expense from acceptance with no delays. Will need to be onsite from day 1 - 2 days a week (onsite days are Wednesdays and Thursdays).

Location: Lansing, MI (Hybrid role (2 days/week on-site (Wednesdays & Thursdays)

Contract: 1 year

Skills Required:

• 5 years - Experience in the field
• 5 years - Experience with and knowledge of .NET, HTML, XML, SQL, SOAP, REST, PowerShell, IaC, Microsoft Azure, Function Apps
• 5 years - Experience writing and implementing Infrastructure as Code (IaC)
• 5 years - Experience with both Microsoft Azure, web-based, and client server-based systems architecture
• Experience / knowledge on 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
• Experience / thorough knowledge of the various aspects of complex cloud application development environments and practices
• Experience / considerable knowledge of cloud application development architecture, framework, and tools, ability to gather and analyze facts, define problems, and recommend solutions.
• Experience / thorough knowledge of the various aspects of the client agency. The ability to recommend technical solutions to business problems is essential.
• Experience / thorough knowledge of business requirements, network-based application orchestration, control, audit and enablement of system administration, database management and application development.
• Experience with advanced cloud application development and integration techniques.
• Experience / understanding in relational database concepts, database concepts, telecommunication concepts, secure coding concepts, secure authorization concepts, web services.
• Experience with observability and distributed tracing.
• Experience designing, creating and maintaining distributed applications leveraging a microservices architecture.
• Experience / knowledge with training in object-oriented analysis, design and programming experience.
• Experience / knowledge of cloud application and database development and access methods.
• Bachelor s Degree (Please include on Resume)

Skills Desired A plus to have:

• Proficiency in Microsoft VISIO, Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint).
• 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).

***Rate depends on experience

*** Local candidates preferred, not mandatory

*** Candidates authorized to work in the US are encouraged to apply. We are not sponsoring H1B candidates at this time.

*** Companies submitting candidates should only submit direct W2 employees for this position.

Please submit your resume by using the "URL" below