Application Architect

Job Summary


We are seeking a Subject Matter Expert (SME)-level Lead Application Architect to design and define the overall structure and framework of applications within the U.S. Census Bureau's Decennial Transformation and Application Modernization (DTAM) effort. This role provides technical and management leadership on major application architecture assignments, establishing standards, patterns, and types that prioritize interoperability, reliability, scalability, security, and other DevSecOps dimensions. The Lead Application Architect develops secure multi-cloud application architectures and ensures alignment with Decennial business and operations plans and governance. Decision-making and domain knowledge may have a critical impact on overall program implementation. May supervise others.


Responsibilities

• Establish, document, and maintain application architecture standards, patterns, and types prioritizing interoperability, reliability, availability, performance, scalability, extensibility, and security
• Develop and maintain tools, processes, documentation, and templates required to manage the Application Architecture
• Develop, document, and maintain secure multi-cloud application architectures using microservices, infrastructure as code, serverless computing, and containerization
• Perform business and solution architecture activities to model requirements in alignment with Decennial architecture goals
• Create and maintain application architecture artifacts and brief governance boards as requested by the Government
• Perform reviews and assessments of current and proposed application architecture and provide recommendations that meet business needs
• Develop, document, and maintain Concepts of Operations based on business requirements by application
• Develop, document, implement, and maintain API standards and best practices, including API management, discovery, security, and governance
• Implement application lifecycle management practices aligned with Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) and API security requirements
• Develop and maintain application architectures consistent with Decennial FinOps procedures, including automated cost monitoring and optimization
• Participate in Engineering Working Group (EWG) reviews and other governance boards, providing technical recommendations

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or a related field
• 15+ years of experience providing technical and management leadership on major application architecture assignments (SME level)

Required Skills

• Expert experience defining application architecture standards, patterns, and reference architectures
• Demonstrated ability to design secure multi-cloud application architectures (microservices, IaC, serverless, containerization)
• Strong background in API management - design, security, discovery, and governance
• Experience aligning application lifecycle management with Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA)
• Experience developing Concepts of Operations and briefing architecture governance boards

Desired Skills

• Experience with application FinOps cost optimization and automated monitoring
• Familiarity with DevSecOps CI/CD and cloud-native best practices
• Experience with large-scale federal modernization or System of Systems (SoS) programs
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including executive briefing to senior Government stakeholders