The role
Description
Software Architect SME – Cloud, Data & Analytical Platforms
Summary
The Software Architect Subject Matter Expert serves as the technical authority for the design, modernization, and integration of mission-critical, cloud-native systems supporting the Decennial Census testing ecosystem. This role is responsible for defining enterprise and solution architectures across the full software development lifecycle, ensuring systems are secure, scalable, resilient, and aligned with federal standards and business objectives. The Architect SME partners closely with government stakeholders, engineering teams, and contractors to translate complex functional and non-functional requirements into implementable architectures. The position emphasizes microservices-based design, API-centric integration, cloud-native data platforms, large-scale computation services, DevSecOps enablement, and analytical platform integration. The Architect SME guides engineering execution while maintaining architectural integrity across front-end, back-end, data, and computational components.
Salary $175-218K
- This role requires a Public Trust - must be US Citizen for eligibility
- This role is HYBRID with on-site requirement in Suitland, MD and Remote
Responsibilities
- Serve as the technical authority for application and system architecture across the full SDLC, including requirements analysis, architecture definition, detailed design, development guidance, testing strategy, deployment models, integration patterns, and operational support
- Define end-to-end cloud-native architectures supporting front-end applications, APIs, databases, queueing services, computation engines, and analytical platforms aligned with Decennial Census testing requirements
- Lead architecture activities within an Agile SAFe environment, supporting sprint planning, backlog grooming, technical refinement, and cross-team architectural alignment
- Architect front-end ecosystems using React or comparable JavaScript frameworks to support job configuration management, system monitoring, administrative access control, and embedded analytical visualization
- Define API-first, microservices-based architectures that manage communication between user interfaces, data stores, queueing systems, storage services, and computational workloads
- Establish enterprise API standards covering RESTful design, versioning, security, documentation, observability, and lifecycle governance, integrating Swagger/OpenAPI and cloud-native logging platforms such as AWS CloudWatch
- Architect secure, scalable back-end platforms using Java, Spring Boot, JAX-RS, Jersey, and Python-based services where appropriate
- Lead database architecture strategy across Oracle RAC, PostgreSQL, MariaDB, Aurora, and cloud-native storage platforms, supporting multi-terabyte workloads, high availability, disaster recovery, data integrity, and performance optimization
- Define patterns for raw and processed data management using cloud-native object storage such as Amazon S3 and integration strategies between transactional systems and analytical platforms
- Architect queueing and orchestration services that deliver job configurations from APIs to scalable computation environments
- Lead the architectural design of computation engines that convert legacy SAS-based models into Python-based services running on scalable cloud platforms such as EMR, ECS, Kubernetes, or serverless compute
- Define cloud-native analytics architectures leveraging platforms such as Amazon QuickSight, SageMaker, Cube.js, OpenSearch, and Elasticsearch, enabling embedded reporting, data quality validation, and stakeholder access
- Establish microservices design principles emphasizing loose coupling, API-centric integration, stateless and stateful service separation, containerization, elastic scaling, and policy-driven resource management
- Define containerization and orchestration standards using Docker, Kubernetes, ECS, and cloud-native deployment services to ensure portability, resilience, and security compliance
- Lead security architecture activities including authentication, authorization, encryption, secrets management, network segmentation, and alignment with federal security and compliance frameworks
- Architect CI/CD and DevSecOps ecosystems integrating GitHub, Bitbucket, Jenkins, GitLab CI/CD, Terraform, CloudFormation, automated testing frameworks, and security scanning tools
- Establish reference architectures, reusable design patterns, and technical standards to guide multiple development teams
- Produce and maintain architecture artifacts including system context diagrams, logical and physical architectures, data flows, interface specifications, threat models, and operational architecture documentation
- Conduct architecture reviews, design walkthroughs, and technical risk assessments to ensure solutions meet quality, security, and performance requirements
- Collaborate with Census Bureau technical leadership, subject matter experts, and partner organizations to analyze enterprise requirements and align solution architectures to program objectives
- Guide and mentor senior and mid-level engineers, providing architectural oversight, design coaching, and technical governance
- Support application modernization initiatives, legacy transformation efforts, and cloud adoption strategies
- Define observability and operational architecture standards covering monitoring, logging, alerting, performance management, incident response, and continuous improvement
- Provide technical leadership for production systems, supporting root cause analysis, architectural remediation, scalability planning, and resilience improvements
- Contribute to long-term technical roadmaps incorporating automation, advanced analytics, and AI/ML enablement
Qualifications
- 10+ years of experience in software engineering, systems architecture, or enterprise application design, with demonstrated ownership of complex, large-scale platforms
- Proven experience architecting cloud-native, microservices-based enterprise systems
- Expert-level knowledge of RESTful API architecture, integration patterns, and API security best practices
- Advanced proficiency in Java with strong working knowledge of Python, JavaScript, and TypeScript
- Extensive experience designing enterprise data architectures using Oracle RAC, PostgreSQL, MariaDB, Aurora, and cloud-native storage services
- Demonstrated expertise in AWS cloud architecture including EC2, ECS, EMR, S3, RDS, Aurora, Lambda, Step Functions, EventBridge, and CloudWatch
- Strong background in containerization and orchestration using Docker and Kubernetes
- Extensive experience implementing CI/CD and DevSecOps pipelines using GitHub, Bitbucket, Jenkins, GitLab CI/CD, Terraform, and CloudFormation
- Proven experience establishing architectural standards, design governance, and technical best practices
- Strong experience producing and presenting architecture documentation and technical briefings to executive and stakeholder audiences
- Bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering, or a related field preferred
- Experience with OpenSearch, Elasticsearch, and cloud-based analytical platforms preferred
- Experience designing data analytics, business intelligence, and AI/ML-enabled systems preferred
- This role requires a Public Trust - must be US Citizen for eligibility
- This role is HYBRID with on-site requirement in Suitland, MD and Remote
ActioNet is a CMMI-DEV Level 4, CMMI-SVC Level 4, ISO 20000, ISO 27001, ISO 9001, HDI-certified, woman-owned IT Solutions Provider with strong qualifications and expertise in Agile Software Engineering, Cloud Solutions, Cyber Security and IT Managed Services. With 26+ years of stellar past performance, ActioNet is the premier Trusted Innogrator!
Core Capabilities:
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Advanced and Managed IT Services
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Agile Software Development
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DevSecOps
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Cybersecurity
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Health IT
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C4ISR & SIGINT
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Data Center Engineering & Operations
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Engineering & Installation
Why ActioNet?
At ActioNet, our Passion for Quality is at the heart of everything we do:
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Commitment to Employees: We are committed to making ActioNet a great place to work and continue to invest in our ActioNeters.
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Commitment to Customers: We are committed to our customers by driving and sustaining Service Delivery Excellence.
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Commitment to Community: We are committed to giving back to our community, helping others, and making the world a better place for our next generation.
ActioNet is proud to be named a Top Workplace for the twelfth year in a row (2014 - 2025). We have a 98% customer retention rate. We are passionate about the inspirational missions of our customers, and we entrust our employees and teams to deliver exceptional performance to enable the safety, security, health, and well-being of our nation.
What's in It For You?
As an ActioNeter, you get to be part of an exceptional team and a corporate culture that nurtures mutual success for our customers, employees, and communities. We give you the tools to be successful; all you need to do is bring your best ideas, your energy, and a desire to develop your skills, experience, and career. Are you ready to make a difference?
ActioNet is an equal-opportunity employer and values inclusion at our company. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.
Full-Time Employees are eligible to participate in our ActioNet’s Benefits Program:
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Medical Insurance
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Vision Insurance
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Dental Insurance
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Life and AD&D Insurance
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401(k) Savings Plan
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Education and Professional Training
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Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
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Employee Referral and Merit Recognition Programs
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Employee Assistance and Identity Theft Protection
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Paid Holidays: 11 per year
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Paid Time Off (PTO)
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Disability Insurance
ActioNet is an equal opportunity employer and value inclusion at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.
********Direct Applicants, only. No Agencies, No third-party recruiters, please********