Cloud Architect

Job Description

Job Description

Position location : Lansing, MI. Resource will be working a hybrid schedule.

NO REMOTE ONLY OPTION.

Will need to be onsite from day 1, two days a week (onsite days are Wednesdays and Thursdays)

• Local candidates strongly preferred, or non-local candidates who are willing to relocate at their own expense from acceptance with no delays.

CLOUD ARCHITECT

SUMMARY

This position serves as an Cloud Application Architect for the Michigan Center for Educational

Performance and Information (CEPI). 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 CEPI portfolio. This position

must ensure that the CEPI Cloud infrastructure is properly integrated with COTS packages,

Software as a Service, Web Services and other federal, state and local government

applications and services, both internal and external to the State. This position will provide

technical expertise and leadership to application development staff, promoting usability,

security, mobility, maintainability, and reusability. This position 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's 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. They analyze technical / business problems and recommends

strategies to implement technology or improve processes to enable improved business

productivity.

SKILLS

This position should know 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. The

role should also be able to collaborate with other architects and developers for framework

and tool recommendations in cloud. Here are a few highly desired technical skills for ideal

candidates.

A thorough knowledge of the various aspects of complex cloud application development environments and practices

Ability to use precedents in making decisions, capacity to communicate effectively with others, and maintain favorable public relations with clients.

Considerable knowledge of cloud application development architecture, framework, and tools, ability to gather and analyze facts, define problems, and recommend solutions.

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.

A thorough knowledge of the various aspects of the client agency. The ability to recommend technical solutions to business problems is essential.

A thorough knowledge of business requirements, network-based application orchestration, control, audit and enablement of system administration, database management and application development.

Advanced cloud application development and integration techniques.

Experience with and knowledge of .NET, HTML, XML, SQL, SOAP, REST, PowerShell, IaC, Microsoft Azure, Function Apps.

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

Understanding in relational database concepts, database concepts, telecommunication concepts, secure coding concepts, secure authorization concepts,

web services.

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).

Experience with observability and distributed tracing.

Experience designing, creating and maintaining distributed applications leveraging a microservices architecture.

Experience writing and implementing Infrastructure as Code (IaC).

Knowledge of both Microsoft Azure, web-based, and client server-based systems architecture.

Knowledge / training in object oriented analysis, design and programming experience.

Knowledge of cloud application and database development and access methods.

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.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

As the Cloud Application Architect for the Center for Educational Performance and

Information (CEPI), this position is strategically responsible for the design and interaction of

the client enterprise level application architecture, code libraries, middleware, and services

components. This Specialist leads the migration to a services-based architecture; compiles

and designs architectural models of current and proposed applications across the client

enterprise; performs design reviews across the client organization; leads the evaluation of

defines and manages the IT application design methodology; surveys external emerging

developments in application design and methodologies, and evangelizes new techniques,

technologies and standards; manages the development and maintenance of the client

application architecture environment, and consults with application designers on how to

implement enterprise architecture components and resolve issues. This position serves as

the team's chief cloud SME and will enforce best practices in cloud implementation and

deployment while complying with client policies and procedures.

DUTY BREAKDOWN

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.

o Provide application architecture expertise as it relates to the development and

integration of applications, security, middleware, services, database design,

development methodologies, and tools.

o 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 state agencies, Client's Office of Enterprise Architecture

and with multiple vendors.

o Develop strategic goals required to ensure that the overall application

architecture is in compliance with the Client's Strategic Plan and Client's

development methodology best practices.

o Consult with application designers on proper application design and use of

enterprise services.

o 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 :

o Enterprise Models that depict the entire client enterprise and its inter-

relationships internally and with the state enterprise architecture.

o Reference Models that depict recommended & approved application designs,

which can serve as a template for future projects.

o Perform architecture design reviews across the organization as a part of the

Enterprise Architecture Core Team.

o Define, implement and maintain the IT application architecture design

methodology and best practices.

o Lead the effort towards services-based development and implementation.

o 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.

o 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.

o Plan, develop and administer application design-related policies and

procedures to promote high quality, accurate and reusable application

designs.

o 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.

o Individual tasks related to the duty.

o Perform business and technical requirements analysis for client enterprise

level code libraries, middleware, services, database, and development tools.

o Oversee the design and validation of client enterprise level application

components, API's and related databases.

o Oversee and approve the development of, and changes to the application

architecture to ensure proper execution of the design.

o Provide technical support to application designers in the use of the enterprise

service environment and development methodologies.

o Provide "practical" technical solutions to the development team to solve

complex application development problems.

o Lead appropriate change control boards.

o Contribute to the development of testing plans, scenarios, and test data to

ensure compliance and fit with the overall application architecture.

o Manage application architecture components and documentation versions

using the established development and management processes and tools.

o Manage associated projects to develop client enterprise level application

architecture components and objects.

o Review the security of application components and services.

o Act as the IT Architect SME covering the scope of responsibility on client

enterprise application integration projects.

o Act as liaison to Client's Office of Enterprise Architecture, and Office of

Enterprise Security. 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.

o 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

o Perform code library, middleware, services support as required.

o Insure the installation, configuration, testing, and implementation of the

applications follow the architecture guidelines.

o Insure proper operation of the applications.

o Participate in the development and implementation of processes that improve

efficiency and enhance productivity.

o Provide leadership, consultation and expertise on special teams and projects

as assigned.

o Ensure relevant administrative functions are complete and accurate.

o Provide coding guidance, validation, and quality control of other senior and

junior developers' programming work.