Lead Technical Architect

Position Overview

A-TEK is seeking a Lead Technical Architect to provide technical leadership for a major modernization initiative supporting the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the modernization of legacy applications and data platforms into a cloud native AWS environment.
• Define and maintain target-state architecture, technology standards, and modernization roadmaps.
• Architect and oversee migration from an on-premises Oracle environment to multiple PostgreSQL databases hosted in AWS.
• Design scalable microservices and API architecture utilizing GraphQL Federation and RESTful services.
• Lead application modernization efforts involving React front end applications and containerized services.
• Design and implement AWS-based solutions using services such as EKS, RDS PostgreSQL, IAM, Route 53, CloudWatch, Secrets Manager, and related platform services.
• Guide the adoption of modern DevSecOps practices including CI/CD pipelines, Infrastructure as Code, automated testing, security scanning, and deployment automation.
• Collaborate with database administrators, developers, business analysts, and Government stakeholders to align technical solutions with mission objectives.
• Conduct architecture reviews, code reviews, and technical design sessions.
• Mentor engineering staff and establish engineering best practices.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and recommend modernization approaches that improve scalability, security, maintainability, and operational efficiency.
• Support system security requirements, compliance activities, and Authority to Operate (ATO) processes.
• Contribute to strategic planning for future enhancements, analytics platforms, AI/ML capabilities, and enterprise architecture initiatives.

Required Qualifications

• Ability to obtain and maintain a Public Trust clearance.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience designing and delivering enterprise software solutions.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience architecting cloud solutions on AWS.
• Experience leading large scale application modernization initiatives.
• Experience migrating Oracle databases to PostgreSQL or other modern cloud native database platforms.
• Experience designing microservices architectures and API ecosystems.
• Experience with GraphQL and API gateway technologies.
• Experience with containerization technologies including Docker and Kubernetes.
• Experience with AWS EKS and cloud native application deployment.
• Experience with Infrastructure as Code using Terraform, CloudFormation, or equivalent tools.
• Experience implementing DevSecOps practices and CI/CD pipelines.
• Strong understanding of software architecture patterns, security principles, and cloud operations.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional.
• AWS Certified AI Practitioner or related AWS specialty certification.
• Experience supporting NIH, HHS, FDA, CDC, CMS, or other Federal civilian agencies.
• Experience supporting scientific, biomedical, research, grants management, or public health systems.
• Experience with React, TypeScript, Node.js, and modern web application frameworks.
• Experience with PostgreSQL performance tuning and database architecture.
• Experience implementing analytics, business intelligence, or data platform solutions.
• Familiarity with Federal security frameworks including NIST 800-53, FedRAMP, and FISMA.

Compensation

Salary Range: $170,000 – $180,000 annually (commensurate with experience)

Benefits

• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with employer match
• paid time off
• professional development opportunities