Chief Enterprise Architect

Hakkōda, an IBM Company; Herndon (VA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

International Business Machines Corporation seeks a Lead Architect to design and implement a cutting-edge, cloud-native infrastructure for the Army Edge Computing Capability (AECC). You will own DevSecOps automation, IaC pipelines, and Kubernetes cluster lifecycle, aligning with DoD security controls and industry best practices.

You will collaborate with government engineers and host customers, shaping the future of the Army's application ecosystem with automated, scalable enclaves and robust

Qualifications

• Senior-level IaC experience with automated network configuration and provisioning.
• Experienced with Terraform, Ansible, Vault, and GitLab.
• Deep knowledge of containerization (Docker) and Kubernetes orchestration.

Responsibilities

• Develop and own the DevSecOps and automation framework for all AECC environments.
• Architect and maintain IaC pipelines for automated provisioning and deployment.
• Lead automation improvements and tool evaluations to enhance capabilities.
• Automate installation, configuration, and lifecycle management of Kubernetes clusters with complex CNI/CSI.
• Troubleshoot Kubernetes, containerized apps, and automation frameworks; perform root cause analysis.
• Harden platform components per DoD cybersecurity controls and industry best practices.
• Collaborate with government engineers and customers to provide secure app enclaves.
• Create system diagrams, network topologies, and SOPs; promote automation best practices.

Skills

IaC environments

Terraform

Ansible

Vault

GitLab

Docker

Kubernetes

Tools

Red Hat OpenShift

ArgoCD

FluxCD

Job description

This role is for the Army Edge Computing Capability (AECC) program, a mission-critical initiative to build and manage a globally distributed, Kubernetes-based hosting environment for the U.S. Army's next-generation enterprise and tactical applications. As a Lead Architect, you will spearhead the design and implementation of a cutting-edge, cloud-native infrastructure. You will leverage a modern DevSecOps and Infrastructure as Code (IaC) framework to deliver a secure, automated, and resilient platform. This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of the Army's application ecosystem as part of a forward-thinking managed service provider (MSP).

Position Duties

• Develop and own the DevSecOps and automation framework supporting all AECC environments.
• Architect and maintain robust Infrastructure as Code (IaC) pipelines for automated provisioning, configuration management, and deployment.
• Drive continuous improvement by evaluating and recommending new tools, processes, and service offerings to enhance automation capabilities.
• Lead the automated installation, configuration, and lifecycle management of Kubernetes clusters, including complex CNI and CSI integrations.
• Serve as the subject matter expert for troubleshooting and performing root cause analysis on issues within Kubernetes, containerized applications, and automation frameworks.
• Harden all platform components according to DoD cybersecurity controls and industry best practices.
• Collaborate directly with government engineers and host customers to provide secure, automated application enclaves.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive system architecture diagrams, network topologies, and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Champion automation concepts and benefits across the organization, mentoring others and documenting best practices.

Required Skills

• Senior-level expertise in Infrastructure as Code (IaC) environments, including automated network configuration, server deployment, and software provisioning.
• Extensive hands-on experience with tools like Terraform, Ansible, Vault, and GitLab.
• Deep knowledge of containerization (Docker) and container orchestration (Kubernetes).

Required Certifications

• Required: DoD 8570.01-M IAT Level II certification (e.g., Security+).
• Required within 6 months of hire: An approved computing environment certification (e.g., Kubernetes, DevOps, or automation-related industry certification).

Clearance Required

• Must hold a DoD Secret security clearance.

Desired Skills

• Proven experience automating Kubernetes cluster deployments.
• Strong background in writing modular and reusable Ansible Playbooks (Roles).
• Working knowledge of DoD Security Technical Implementation Guides (STIGs) and/or industry hardening best practices.
• Exceptional troubleshooting skills across complex, distributed systems.
• Experience instantiating, running, and upgrading clusters in a fully disconnected environment.

Core Technology Stack

• Orchestration: Kubernetes, Red Hat OpenShift
• IaC & Config Management: Terraform, Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform
• GitOps: ArgoCD or FluxCD
• Secrets Management: Hashicorp Vault United States Infrastructure & Technology Professional Herndon, US (0147) International Business Machines Corporation