Senior IT & Cloud Solutions Architect / Manager

About the role

This position is responsible for the strategic planning, architecture, implementation, security, and management of NWD's information technology, cloud, cybersecurity, and emerging technology environment. The position partners with executive leadership and cross-functional teams to align technology solutions with business objectives, growth, and operational requirements. The position will lead the development of secure, scalable cloud solutions while identifying opportunities to leverage Artificial Intelligence, automation, and emerging technologies to improve business performance and productivity.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement IT strategies, technology roadmaps, and architecture standards aligned with NWD's business objectives, growth plans, and operational requirements.
• Develop and maintain NWD's overall IT, infrastructure, cloud, application, data, and security architecture while evaluating emerging technologies for business value, scalability, security, and cost.
• Lead technology modernization, integration, migration, and implementation initiatives, including identification of opportunities to improve business processes through technology, automation, and AI.
• Partner with executive leadership and cross-functional teams to identify technology opportunities, risks, requirements, and priorities.
• Lead the development of secure, scalable, and highly available cloud solutions, with an emphasis on AWS and AWS GovCloud.
• Architect cloud infrastructure, networking, identity and access management, compute, storage, monitoring, security, backup, and disaster recovery solutions, including secure integration with on-premises environments.
• Establish cloud governance, security, cost-management, and operational standards and utilize automation and Infrastructure as Code where appropriate.
• Lead cloud migration, modernization, and optimization initiatives.
• Develop and execute NWD's strategy for the responsible adoption of Artificial Intelligence, Generative AI, Machine Learning, and automation.
• Identify and implement opportunities to leverage AI to improve productivity, business processes, engineering support, knowledge management, and decision-making.
• Evaluate and implement AI platforms, tools, vendors, and emerging technologies based on business value, security, compliance, scalability, and cost.
• Design secure enterprise AI solutions and establish appropriate AI governance, data management, privacy, and acceptable-use practices to protect proprietary information, CUI, ITAR-controlled information, customer information, and other sensitive data.
• Lead AI proof-of-concept initiatives through implementation and production deployment while maintaining awareness of emerging technologies and opportunities.
• Manage and maintain servers, networks, cloud infrastructure, endpoints, and other IT systems to ensure performance, availability, reliability, and security.
• Provide technical leadership and direction to IT personnel, including IT System Administrator(s), and establish IT standards, procedures, and operational best practices.
• Address technical issues and provide appropriate end-user support while minimizing disruption to business operations.
• Maintain accurate documentation of IT systems, architecture, configurations, procedures, and operational processes.
• Serve as, or provide support to, NWD's Facility Security Officer (FSO) and oversee applicable industrial security requirements in accordance with the National Industrial Security Program (NISP) and government requirements.
• Support the Facility Security Officer (FSO) in serving as a primary point of contact for applicable government security representatives and support DCSA requirements, inspections, and assessments.
• Manage personnel security requirements, including security clearances, required reporting, security briefings, debriefings, and ongoing security responsibilities.
• Establish and maintain policies, procedures, records, training, and controls related to personnel, facility, information, and classified security requirements.
• Coordinate with IT, Engineering, Operations, and leadership to ensure industrial security requirements are incorporated into technology, facilities, business processes, customer engagements, and security incident response.
• Implement and maintain cybersecurity protocols and technical controls to protect NWD's data, systems, networks, and users from cyber threats and unauthorized access.
• Lead efforts to achieve and maintain CMMC Level 2 and implement security controls aligned with NIST SP 800-171.
• Ensure IT systems and processes address ITAR, DFARS, FedRAMP, CUI, and other applicable government and defense-industry requirements.
• Establish and maintain appropriate identity and access management, encryption, network segmentation, logging, monitoring, vulnerability management, endpoint security, and other cybersecurity controls.
• Support cybersecurity assessments, audits, compliance activities, corrective actions, and maintenance of required policies, procedures, technical documentation, and evidence.
• Evaluate, select, and manage third-party vendors, managed service providers, cloud providers, software providers, and other technology partners.
• Select and procure hardware, software, cloud services, AI solutions, and other technology resources based on business, security, compliance, scalability, and cost requirements.
• Manage vendor relationships, service-level expectations, software licensing, renewals, and technology lifecycle planning.
• Supervise, mentor, and provide technical direction to IT professionals, including IT System Administrator(s).
• Establish goals, priorities, and performance expectations while fostering a culture of continuous improvement, security awareness, accountability, and customer service.
• Represent NWD professionally with employees, customers, vendors, government representatives, and external partners.
• Develop and manage the IT department budget, ensuring cost-effectiveness and appropriate resource allocation.
• Develop technology investment recommendations and monitor IT spending, cloud costs, licensing, vendor expenses, and technology investments.
• Implement backup, disaster recovery, and business continuity solutions to protect critical systems and data.
• Establish recovery objectives and regularly test and evaluate recovery processes to ensure business continuity.
• Lead and manage IT projects, including system upgrades, cloud migrations, infrastructure improvements, cybersecurity initiatives, AI implementations, and new technology deployments.
• Establish project objectives, timelines, resources, and deliverables and coordinate with internal teams, vendors, and external partners to successfully complete projects.
• Provide training and guidance to employees on IT systems, cybersecurity practices, cloud technologies, and approved AI tools.
• Promote security awareness and responsible technology use throughout the organization.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Engineering, or related field of study.
• 7+ years of progressive experience in IT, cloud architecture, infrastructure, cybersecurity, solutions architecture, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience designing, implementing, and managing enterprise cloud solutions, including AWS and AWS GovCloud, with strong knowledge of IT infrastructure, networking, cloud architecture, and cybersecurity.
• Demonstrated experience with Artificial Intelligence, Generative AI, Machine Learning, automation, or enterprise AI solutions, including the ability to evaluate emerging technologies and translate them into practical business solutions.
• Experience designing and managing secure technology environments within regulated or highly secure organizations, with practical knowledge of CMMC Level 2, NIST SP 800-171, ITAR, DFARS, FedRAMP, and CUI requirements.
• Experience implementing cybersecurity controls and practices including identity and access management, encryption, network security, monitoring, logging, vulnerability management, and disaster recovery.
• Strong business process analysis, problem-solving, project management, and vendor management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex technical concepts and risks to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with executive leadership and cross-functional teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional, AWS Security Specialty, or equivalent certification.
• CISSP, CISM, CCSP, or equivalent cybersecurity certification.
• Experience supporting or preparing for a CMMC assessment or cybersecurity audit.
• Experience with Infrastructure as Code, DevSecOps, and AWS security services.
• Experience implementing enterprise AI, LLM, RAG, or Generative AI solutions.
• Experience serving as or supporting a Facility Security Officer (FSO) and working within the National Industrial Security Program (NISP).
• Experience working directly with Department of Defense customers, defense contractors, CUI, and/or ITAR-controlled information.