Cloud Architect
Credence
McLean, VA
At Credence, we support our clients’ mission-critical needs, powered by technology. We provide cutting-edge solutions, including AI/ML, enterprise modernization, and advanced intelligence capabilities, to the largest defense and health federal organizations. Through partnership and trust, we increase mission success for warfighters and secure our nation for a better future.
We are privately held, are repeatedly recognized as a top place to work, and have been on the Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies list for the last 12 years. We practice servant leadership and believe that by focusing on the success of our clients, team members, and partners, we all achieve greater success.
Credence has an immediate need for a Cloud Architect to support our contract with the DLA Enterprise Sourcing, Medical and Contingency (ESMC) portfolio, providing secure cloud hosting, modernization, and sustainment for mission‑critical applications within AWS GovCloud and AWS Secret Regions. In this role, the Cloud Architect will manage IL4/IL5‑compliant cloud environments; support the migration and optimization of major DLA systems, which collectively serve more than 250,000 government users; implement Infrastructure‑as‑Code and automation to streamline deployments; ensure compliance with DoD security requirements; and deliver ongoing operational support that enhances DLA’s logistics, procurement, and contingency mission readiness.
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Design and own end‑to‑end cloud architectures, balancing security, performance, cost, and operational efficiency.
- Collaborate with Cloud Engineers, Solutions Architects, and Cybersecurity professionals to migrate, manage, and modernize workloads in cloud environments supporting DoD customers.
- Provide technical leadership to troubleshoot complex issues and guide teams in implementing durable, scalable solutions.
- Lead the development of automation and Infrastructure as Code (IaC) solutions to reduce manual effort and improve reliability.
- Evaluate and recommend cloud services, tools, and architectural patterns aligned with enterprise and DoD standards.
- Ensure solutions align with security and compliance requirements, including STIGs and applicable NIST controls.
- Document architectures, processes, and procedures to support operational handoff, audits, and continuous improvement.
- Stay current on emerging cloud technologies and identify opportunities to improve efficiency, security, and cost posture.
Requirements
- Eligibility to obtain and maintain a DoD Public Trust or higher clearance.
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or a related technical field (or equivalent experience).
- CompTIA Security+ certification (required; must be obtained within 60 days if not already held).
- AWS Associate or Professional certification (required; must be obtained within 90 days if not already held).
- Demonstrated experience providing technical leadership, including task direction and mentorship for cloud engineering teams.
- Strong experience designing and implementing Infrastructure as Code in AWS (Terraform preferred; CloudFormation acceptable).
- Expertise with core cloud concepts, including: Compute (EC2/VMs); Networking (VPCs, routing, security groups); Service‑based databases; Infrastructure as Code and automation.
- Proficiency with Python.
- Experience building CI/CD pipelines and orchestration workflows using tools such as Jenkins, GitLab, Ansible, or AWS Systems Manager.
- Experience with containerized workloads in the cloud (EKS, ECS, Fargate).
- Working knowledge of common protocols (DNS, HTTP/S, SMTP, SFTP, SCP).
- Familiarity with identity and access management, including Active Directory and/or LDAP‑based solutions.
- Experience automating tasks in cloud and/or on‑premises environments.
- Ability to operate effectively in an agile, fast‑paced environment with shifting priorities and deadlines.
Nice to Have
- Experience scripting with Shell, PowerShell, or JavaScript.
- AWS Specialty or Professional‑level certifications.
- Experience migrating legacy or on‑premises workloads to the cloud.
- Experience designing or operating systems in compliance with DoD STIGs and NIST security controls.
- Experience evaluating or integrating LLM‑based solutions for automation, analytics, or productivity.
- Exposure to multi‑cloud or hybrid environments (AWS, Azure, GCP, OCI, private clouds).