Senior Cloud Infrastructure Architect – IT Modernization & Data Center Transformation

<>Senior Cloud Infrastructure Architect – IT Modernization & Data Center Transformation Client: State of Texas
Experience: 16–20+ Years
Location: Austin, Texas
Work Arrangement: Hybrid – 3 Days Remote / 2 Days Onsite
Interview: Face-to-Face (F2F) – Austin, Texas
Engagement: State of Texas IT / Cloud Infrastructure Modernization

Position Overview

The State of Texas is seeking a highly experienced Senior Cloud Infrastructure Architect to lead cloud architecture, IT modernization, and Data Center Operations (DCO) transformation initiatives.

The Cloud Infrastructure Architect will be responsible for planning, engineering, designing, and architecting enterprise cloud infrastructure and applications across AWS, Microsoft Azure, and/or Google Cloud Platform. The role will focus on large-scale IT modernization, cloud transformation, data center initiatives, cloud infrastructure, DevOps, Kubernetes, automation, security, data platforms, and hybrid-cloud environments.

The successful candidate will work closely with DCO Service Delivery Management, APEX teams, CTO, HHS Enterprise Architects, portfolio managers, application development teams, business stakeholders, and other technology partners.

This is a senior-level architecture position requiring strong technical leadership, independent judgment, strategic thinking, and the ability to lead complex cross-agency technology initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the architecture and design of IT modernization and Data Center Transformation initiatives.
• Develop enterprise cloud infrastructure architectures for large-scale technology initiatives.
• Plan and engineer cloud computing infrastructure, applications, and hybrid environments.
• Provide architectural direction across IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS cloud delivery models.
• Evaluate existing technology environments and identify opportunities for modernization and transformation.
• Design scalable, secure, highly available, and resilient cloud infrastructure solutions.
• Work with AWS, Microsoft Azure, and/or Google Cloud Platform cloud services.
• Develop cloud-based network architectures and infrastructure designs.
• Lead strategic initiatives, technical workgroups, and cross-functional project teams.
• Collaborate with enterprise architects, CTO leadership, application development teams, portfolio managers, business stakeholders, and infrastructure teams.
• Support application modernization using containers, microservices, Kubernetes, and serverless infrastructure.
• Architect, deploy, scale, and maintain Kubernetes clusters.
• Support cloud APIs, infrastructure integrations, and cloud platform services.
• Implement cloud automation and Infrastructure as Code (IaC) using:
  • Terraform
  • Ansible
  • AWS CloudFormation
  • Azure Resource Manager (ARM) Templates
  • Kubernetes Helm
• Develop and maintain automation using Bash, KornShell, PowerShell, Cloud CLI, and scripting tools.
• Establish and maintain CI/CD and DevOps practices.
• Design and implement cloud monitoring, logging, auditing, and operational solutions.
• Work with tools such as Sysdig Secure (CNAPP), Dynatrace, AWS CloudWatch, Azure Monitor, Google Cloud Platform Cloud Operations, OCI Monitoring, and other cloud-native monitoring platforms.
• Ensure cloud solutions comply with enterprise security, governance, compliance, and data management standards.
• Create technical architecture documents, diagrams, models, mappings, implementation plans, and project documentation.
• Lead development of cloud architecture best practices, standards, and procedures.
• Analyze technology limitations, capabilities, defects, and business requirements to develop innovative solutions.
• Manage multiple concurrent projects, priorities, assignments, and deadlines.
• Provide technical leadership and direction to team members.
• Work independently under minimal direction while exercising significant technical judgment.
• Apply Agile/Scrum methodologies and participate in Scrum ceremonies.
• Ensure quality and timely delivery of architecture and technical deliverables.

Required Technical Skills

Cloud Architecture

• Enterprise Cloud Architecture
• Cloud Infrastructure Architecture
• Hybrid Cloud
• AWS
• Microsoft Azure
• Google Cloud Platform
• IaaS / PaaS / SaaS
• Cloud Modernization
• Data Center Transformation
• Cloud Migration
• Cloud Network Architecture

DevOps & Automation

• DevOps
• CI/CD
• Infrastructure as Code (IaC)
• Terraform
• Ansible
• AWS CloudFormation
• Azure Resource Manager (ARM)
• Kubernetes Helm
• Cloud CLI
• Bash
• KornShell
• PowerShell

Containers & Kubernetes

• Docker
• Containerization
• Microservices
• Kubernetes Architecture
• Kubernetes Deployment
• Kubernetes Scaling
• Kubernetes Cluster Administration
• Serverless Infrastructure
• Cloud APIs
• Cloud Integrations

Cloud Monitoring & Operations

• Sysdig Secure / CNAPP
• Dynatrace
• AWS CloudWatch
• Azure Monitor
• Google Cloud Platform Cloud Operations
• OCI Monitoring
• Cloud Logging
• Cloud Auditing
• Performance Monitoring
• Infrastructure Operations

Data & Analytics

• Cloud Database Services
• SQL / Oracle
• NoSQL
• Data Lakes
• Cloud ETL / ELT
• Data Pipelines
• Big Data Frameworks
• Structured and Unstructured Data
• Data Governance
• Data Security
• Data Compliance

Configuration & Architecture Tools

• YAML
• JSON
• Ruby
• HCL
• Microsoft Visio
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• MS Project

Data, AI & Cloud Services

• Knowledge of cloud-based database services and data platforms.
• Understanding of data lake architecture and cloud ETL/ELT best practices.
• Experience with data pipelines and big data frameworks.
• Understanding of structured and unstructured data architectures.
• Knowledge of AI services available from major cloud providers.
• Understanding of cloud AI service configuration and integration requirements.

Required Qualifications

• 16–20+ years of overall IT experience.
• Extensive experience architecting, engineering, or developing enterprise IT solutions.
• Strong experience with cloud and hybrid-cloud environments.
• Extensive understanding of AWS, Azure, and/or Google Cloud Platform cloud services.
• Strong understanding of IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS.
• Strong knowledge of cloud infrastructure and network design principles.
• Experience with IT modernization and infrastructure transformation.
• Experience with cloud DevOps and CI/CD.
• Strong hands-on experience with Kubernetes, Docker, containers, and microservices.
• Strong Infrastructure as Code experience with Terraform and/or Ansible.
• Experience with cloud automation and configuration management.
• Experience with cloud monitoring, logging, auditing, and operational tools.
• Strong knowledge of cloud security, data governance, and compliance.
• Strong technical writing and architecture diagramming skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Experience leading technical teams, workgroups, or enterprise initiatives.
• Ability to manage multiple cross-agency projects and overlapping deadlines.
• Strong communication and stakeholder-management skills.
• Experience working independently with minimal direction and exercising sound technical judgment.
• Knowledge of Agile/Scrum methodology and Scrum ceremonies.

Preferred Experience

• Experience supporting Texas Health and Human Services (HHS) environments.
• Experience with Data Center Operations (DCO) initiatives.
• Previous State of Texas / Texas State Government experience.
• Experience with public-sector or government enterprise technology environments.
• Experience with large-scale cloud modernization and data center transformation programs.
• Experience working with enterprise architecture teams and CTO organizations.
• Experience with cloud data platforms, data lakes, ETL/ELT, and AI services.

Candidate Requirements

LOCAL / HYBRID REQUIREMENT

• Candidate should be available to work in Austin, Texas.
• Hybrid schedule: 3 Days Remote / 2 Days Onsite in Austin.
• Face-to-Face interview in Austin is mandatory.
• Must be able to attend onsite meetings as required.
• 16–20+ years of experience required.
• Strong enterprise cloud architecture experience is required.