Systems Architect IV – Cloud Engineer
Job ID: JL5061781114
Job Category: Information Technology
Job Location: Linthicum Heights, MD
Pay Range: $150000.00 - $174000.00/YEAR
Job Type: Permanent
Systems Architect IV – Cloud Engineer
Location: Linthicum Heights, Maryland (On-Site)
Security Clearance: Active Secret (TS/SCI preferred)
Employment Type: Full-Time, Direct Hire
Salary Range: $150,000 – $174,000 (commensurate with experience)
Security Clearance: Active Secret (TS/SCI preferred)
Employment Type: Full-Time, Direct Hire
Salary Range: $150,000 – $174,000 (commensurate with experience)
Overview
Abel Personnel is hiring on behalf of our client for a Systems Architect IV – Cloud Engineer to support secure cloud modernization efforts for a federal cyber mission in Linthicum Heights, Maryland.
This senior-level role focuses on the design, implementation, and migration of sensitive workloads to Azure Government, ensuring security, scalability, and compliance across all cloud environments. The successful candidate will guide cloud strategy, develop infrastructure-as-code, support DevSecOps pipelines, and advise engineering teams on best practices within a highly secure DoD environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Design, architect, and implement secure, scalable, and highly available cloud solutions using Azure Government services (PaaS, IaaS).
- Lead cloud migration activities, ensuring alignment with cybersecurity, compliance, and enterprise standards.
- Manage and enhance cloud management platforms, driving efficiency, resiliency, and cost optimization.
- Develop Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) using Terraform, ARM templates, and CI/CD automation pipelines.
- Provide cloud architecture guidance and technical leadership across engineering, security, and operations teams.
- Support deployments using containerization and orchestration technologies such as Docker, Kubernetes, and Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS).
- Conduct technical reviews to validate architectural compliance and operational readiness.
- Maintain architecture documentation and remain current with emerging cloud technologies, tools, and practices.
Required Qualifications
- Active Secret clearance (TS/SCI preferred).
- Bachelor’s degree with 12+ years of experience, or Master’s degree with 10+ years, or PhD with 7+ years.
- A degree from an ABET or NCAE accredited program in IT, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Information Systems, Data Science, or Software Engineering is highly preferred.
- An additional 4 years of experience may be substituted for a degree.
- At least 3 years of hands-on experience with Azure Government.
- Proven experience designing and deploying highly available, flexible, and scalable cloud architectures.
- Expertise with:
- Kubernetes, Docker, AKS
- Terraform, ARM templates
- DevOps tools such as GitLab, JIRA, Jenkins
- Strong understanding of:
- Networking and network security
- Cloud service models (SaaS, IaaS, PaaS)
- Public, private, and hybrid cloud deployments
- Cybersecurity, threat modeling, risk management
- Excellent communication skills and ability to provide technical leadership.
- Active IAT Level II or IAT Level III certification (Security+ or higher).
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with Department of the Air Force (DAF) CloudWorks.
- Familiarity with NIST 800-53, FedRAMP, and federal cybersecurity standards.
- Experience with data visualization tools such as Power BI.
- Understanding of AI/ML concepts in a cloud context.
- Preferred certifications include:
- Cloud Security: CCSP, Cloud+, GCLD, GCSA
- Azure: Azure Solutions Architect Expert, Azure Administrator Associate
- AWS: SysOps Administrator, Solutions Architect (Associate/Professional)
- Project Management: PMP, PMI-ACP, CSM
Why Apply
This role provides an opportunity to shape the cloud strategy for a major federal cyber mission, working with cutting-edge cloud technologies in a secure environment. You will collaborate with experts across cybersecurity, engineering, and architecture disciplines, contributing directly to the modernization and resilience of mission-critical systems.