Cloud Solutions Architect SME

Job Description

Job Description

About Us:

VT-ARC, a technical services and applied research company, has built an organizational culture marked by four primary values: Teamwork, Integrity, Excellence, and Service. Integral to our success is our staff’s enthusiasm for solving tough problems by working together in teams to get the job done. We foster a culture where every employee’s contribution is valued and performed with integrity while maintaining a fun work environment. VT-ARC strives for excellence in all that is done for our clients, and such achievement is recognized through service/merit awards. Moreover, we promote a sense of community larger than VT-ARC alone, where staff and institutional resources can be applied in service to our country.

We are proud to be the recipient of the Best Workplace in Defense Award by Emergent Magazine, an honor that recognizes companies with positive cultures that not only impact their people but also make a meaningful difference in the community.

About You:

You are a strategic Cloud Network Architecture expert with extensive experience designing secure, scalable, and resilient solutions across AWS, Azure, and GCP. You excel in complex environments, combining deep technical expertise with the ability to drive innovation, modernize enterprise architectures, and support mission-critical operations.

Position Overview:

As the Cloud Network Architecture SME , you will serve as a principal technical advisor supporting a new Space Systems Command program. You will lead the design, integration, and optimization of multi-cloud and hybrid-cloud architectures, providing expert guidance on emerging technologies, enterprise architecture strategies, and secure solutions that enhance performance, interoperability, and mission success across classified and unclassified environments.

This position is contingent upon contract award, with performance anticipated to begin on or about September 15th, 2026.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Serve as a senior technical advisor to Government leadership on enterprise cloud and network architecture initiatives.
• Design and develop highly complex multi-cloud, hybrid-cloud, and on-premises network architectures.
• Support the development of resilient enterprise architectures that ensure continuity of operations across multiple Cloud Service Providers (CSPs).
• Analyze current and future network requirements and recommend scalable architectures that support mission needs.
• Lead architecture assessments, engineering reviews, and technology evaluations to identify opportunities for modernization and optimization.
• Design and implement secure connectivity solutions utilizing:
  • Virtual Private Clouds (VPCs)
  • Virtual networks and subnets
  • IP addressing schemes
  • Routing protocols and routing tables
  • Firewalls
  • VPN technologies
  • Access Control Lists (ACLs)
  • Network segmentation strategies
• Develop secure hybrid access capabilities integrating cloud and on-premises environments.
• Advise on cloud security architecture, zero-trust principles, identity management, and network protection strategies.
• Support the integration of classified, mission, and enterprise systems across multiple security domains.
• Collaborate with engineering, cybersecurity, data science, and operations teams to ensure architectural alignment across programs.
• Develop technical documentation, architecture diagrams, implementation plans, standards, and engineering recommendations.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to engineering teams and stakeholders.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and industry best practices and recommend adoption strategies.
• Present technical findings and architectural recommendations to senior government and contractor leadership.

Required Qualifications:

• Minimum of 12 years of progressively responsible experience in network engineering, cloud architecture, enterprise architecture, or related technical disciplines.
• Demonstrated experience designing and implementing enterprise network architectures across:
  • Amazon Web Services (AWS)
  • Microsoft Azure
  • Google Cloud Platform (GCP)Extensive experience with:
• Extensive Expertise with:
  • Cloud networking
  • Multi-cloud architectures
  • Hybrid-cloud environments
  • Enterprise network design
  • Routing and switching concepts
  • Network security architectures
• Experience designing secure architectures utilizing:
  • VPCs
  • VPNs
  • Firewalls
  • Access control mechanisms
  • Network segmentation
• Experience supporting highly available and resilient enterprise environments.
• Strong understanding of network protocols, cloud services, and enterprise integration methodologies.
• Ability to communicate effectively with senior executives, engineers, architects, and operational stakeholders.
• Active TS/SCI security clearance

Desired Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, Cybersecurity, or a related discipline.
• Experience supporting the Department of Defense (DoD), Intelligence Community (IC), or other national security organizations.
• Knowledge of federal government classified networks and systems.
• Experience with cloud migration, modernization, and enterprise transformation initiatives.
• Experience supporting Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) initiatives.
• Familiarity with NIST, DoD, NSA, and Intelligence Community security frameworks.
• AWS, Azure, GCP, CISSP, CCSP, CCIE, or comparable professional certifications.
• Experience developing architecture artifacts supporting enterprise architecture frameworks (DoDAF, FEAF, TOGAF, etc.).

Primary Work Location: Work is expected to be fully onsite in Colorado Springs, CO. The selected candidate must be able to support in-person program, customer, and technical coordination activities as required.

Special Work Conditions: Travel will be required, up to 10%.

Security:

• Must be a U.S. Citizen.
• Active Top Secret/SCI clearance is required.

Competitive Salary: VT-ARC offers a competitive salary and benefits package designed to attract and retain senior technical talent supporting mission-critical programs.

Salary Range: $200,000 - $230,000 annually

Virginia Tech Applied Research Corporation: VT-ARC is a 501(c)(3), non-profit R&D organization affiliated with Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech or VT). Our mission is to provide superior analytic and technology solutions across multiple domains by leveraging Virginia Tech’s multidisciplinary research and innovation ecosystem. With unique access to the broad and rich research enterprise found at Virginia Tech, VT-ARC forms multi-disciplinary teams to apply innovative solutions to the real-world problems that strain our social, political, industrial, and economic foundations.

To learn more about VT-ARC’s Benefits, Perks, Culture & more visit our Careers page:

Virginia Tech Applied Research Corporation is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by law. As a federal contractor, we are committed to providing equal employment opportunity and affirmative action for qualified individuals with disabilities under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. If you need a reasonable accommodation to complete the application or interview process, please contact Human Resources at View email address on ziprecruiter.com

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