Solutions Database Architect
Agency/Client: U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS)
Program: Sampling Program Enhancement / GENESIS Modernization
Location: Remote — supporting USDA NASS, Washington, DC
Duration: 24-month engagement
Pay Rate:$94.44/hour
Openings: 1
Minimum Experience: 10 years
Previous USDA/NASS Experience: Strong plus
Position Overview
SMX Services & Consulting is seeking an experienced Solutions Database Architect to provide architecture leadership for USDA NASS's GENESIS modernization and associated data/AI capabilities.
This role will help define a scalable technical architecture capable of supporting enterprise data, AI/ML, Lakehouse integration, sampling applications, APIs, security controls, and future modernization initiatives.
The architect will work closely with NASS technical stakeholders, application developers, data scientists, engineers, and domain specialists to translate business and technical requirements into a secure, scalable architecture.
Key Responsibilities
The Solutions Database Architect will:
- Design the overall architecture supporting the AI platform and pilot.
- Provide architectural direction for the GENESIS modernization environment.
- Develop scalable technical solutions from business requirements.
- Support integration with the NASS Lakehouse architecture.
- Support integration with NICE and enterprise environments identified by NASS.
- Define architecture standards.
- Define security and compliance requirements.
- Establish scalability and integration patterns.
- Lead architecture reviews.
- Produce detailed architecture documentation.
- Design enterprise integration approaches.
- Support API and microservices architecture.
- Establish appropriate data-pipeline and orchestration patterns.
- Support secure cloud networking and identity architecture.
- Define encryption, RBAC, and audit-logging approaches.
- Support data lineage and reproducibility.
- Ensure architectural alignment with FAIR principles.
- Support modernization roadmap decisions.
- Work with development teams to ensure implementations conform to the approved architecture.
- Participate in technical strategy and technology-selection activities.
- Help evaluate Python, R, SAS, and hybrid architectural options.
- Support testing, deployment, security, and operational-readiness planning.
- Communicate architectural decisions to technical and nontechnical stakeholders.
The SOW's first major deliverable is a Technology Strategy & Architecture Determination, making architecture leadership particularly important early in the engagement.
Required Experience
Candidates must have:
- Minimum 10 years of experience in IT architecture roles.
- At least 3 years focused on cloud-based solutions.
- Experience designing enterprise-scale architectures.
- Experience with AI/ML platforms and/or data-intensive applications.
- Familiarity with federal compliance frameworks.
- Data-governance experience.
- Ability to translate business requirements into scalable technical solutions.
- Ability to lead architecture reviews.
- Strong technical documentation capabilities.
- Strong stakeholder communication skills.
Core Technical Skills
Candidates should demonstrate experience with:
- Microsoft Azure, preferred
- Cloud architecture
- Cloud networking
- Cloud security
- Identity and access management
- Lakehouse architecture
- Databricks and/or Snowflake
- Enterprise databases
- Enterprise-system integration
- API architecture
- Microservices
- Docker/containerization
- Data pipelines
- Data orchestration
- Encryption
- RBAC
- Audit logging
- Data governance
- FAIR principles
- Security and compliance controls
Preferred Background
Particularly valuable experience includes:
- USDA/NASS
- Federal cloud modernization
- Federal data platforms
- AI/ML architecture
- Statistical systems
- Azure Lakehouse implementations
- Databricks
- Snowflake
- Enterprise modernization
- Highly sensitive PII environments
- Section 508/federal technology environments
Security & Eligibility
Candidates must be U.S. Citizens or Lawful Permanent Residents and capable of completing required USDA background investigation, fingerprinting, PIV credentialing, confidentiality certification, and annual security training.
The SOW establishes NACI as the minimum investigation while allowing USDA to establish a higher investigation or clearance requirement based upon position sensitivity.
Common Project Information for All Candidates
This is a two-year USDA NASS engagement supporting the Sampling Program Enhancement initiative. The SOW establishes a Base Year from September 30, 2026, through September 29, 2027, and an Option Year from September 30, 2027, through September 29, 2028. No travel is required. USDA will provide laptop computers, required software, and approved network/data access as necessary.