Cloud Solution Architect

IBM; Reston (VA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

IBM Consulting in Reston, VA seeks a Senior Red Hat Architect to guide hybrid cloud platform work for federal missions, emphasizing OpenShift, Ansible, and STIG-compliant deployments.

You will lead multi‑million engagements, shape accelerators, and collaborate with account teams to accelerate platform solutions for DoD, civilian, and IC clients.

Qualifications

• Ten or more years of enterprise platform engineering or architecture experience in production environments.
• Hands‑on expertise deploying and hardening Kubernetes‑native platforms to federal security standards (DISA STIG, FedRAMP, IL5/IL6).
• Demonstrated experience designing hybrid cloud infrastructure for federal DoD, civilian, or IC environments.
• Client‑facing experience leading technical solutioning on engagements valued at $3M+.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the client-facing technical authority on platform pursuits and shape opportunities.
• Design and deliver secure hybrid cloud platforms using Red Hat OpenShift, Ansible, Terraform, and Vault.
• Build core accelerators such as STIG-hardened OpenShift architectures and automation pipelines to shorten delivery timelines.
• Lead platform demonstrations and POCs to establish technical differentiation in pursuits.

Skills

Client-facing leadership

Enterprise platform engineering

Security/compliance expertise

Federal government domain experience

Tools

OpenShift

Ansible

Terraform

Vault

HashiCorp Vault

Job description

Introduction

A career in IBM Consulting is built on long-term client relationships and close collaboration worldwide. You’ll work with leading companies across industries, helping them shape their hybrid cloud and AI journeys. With support from our strategic partners, robust IBM technology, and Red Hat, you’ll have the tools to drive meaningful change and accelerate client impact. At IBM Consulting, curiosity fuels success. You’ll be encouraged to challenge the norm, explore new ideas, and create innovative solutions that deliver real results. Our culture of growth and empathy focuses on your long-term career development while valuing your unique skills and experiences.

Your role and responsibilities

As the Senior Red Hat Architect within the IBM Technology and Red Hat Practice, you are the hybrid cloud platform technical lead for federal mission systems. You bring deep expertise in OpenShift, Ansible Automation Platform, and the broader Red Hat stack, and you apply it to stand up FedRAMP-authorized hybrid cloud at IL5 and IL6 with full Security Technical Implementation Guide (STIG) compliance. You operate at federal classification depth, from unclassified through air-gapped and Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF) environments, and you translate complex platform requirements into deployable, mission-ready solutions.

You are both a builder and a closer. You own the technical credibility that wins platform engagements and the delivery rigor that executes them. Your primary responsibilities include the following. Serve as the client-facing technical authority on platform pursuits, partnering with Account Leaders to shape opportunities and convert them into signed engagements of $3M and above. Design and deliver secure hybrid cloud platforms, drawing on Red Hat OpenShift, Ansible, HashiCorp Terraform, and HashiCorp Vault to integrate world‑class solutions at federal classification depth. Build and own the practice's core accelerators, including STIG-hardened OpenShift reference architectures, the VMware migration factory, and continuous Authority to Operate (cATO) automation pipelines, compressing delivery timelines by 40 to 60 percent against blank-whiteboard alternatives. Lead platform demonstrations and proofs of concept that establish technical differentiation in competitive pursuits. Collaborate with peer practices, IBM Technology, and Red Hat field teams to deliver integrated joint pursuits that expand deal size and advance the platform‑layer strategy.

Required technical and professional expertise

• Ten or more years of enterprise platform engineering or architecture experience, with demonstrated depth in Red Hat OpenShift and Ansible Automation Platform in production environments.

• Hands‑on expertise deploying and hardening Kubernetes‑native platforms to federal security standards, including DISA STIG, FedRAMP, and IL5 or IL6 requirements.

• Demonstrated experience designing and delivering hybrid cloud infrastructure for federal clients across DoD, civilian, or intelligence community environments.

• Client‑facing experience leading technical solutioning on engagements valued at $3M and above, including solution design, estimation, and pursuit support.

Preferred technical and professional experience

• Active Secret clearance or higher.

• Red Hat Certified Architect (RHCA) or equivalent advanced Red Hat certifications in OpenShift and Ansible.

• Experience with air‑gapped, SCIF, or tactical edge deployments, including Iron Bank operator catalogs and MicroShift.

• Familiarity with the IBM platform stack, including Instana, Turbonomic, and HashiCorp products, in federal operations contexts.

• Working knowledge of continuous Authority to Operate (cATO) pipelines and DevSecOps practices in classified or regulated environments.

IBM is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal‑opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, caste, genetics, pregnancy, disability, neurodivergence, age, veteran status, or other characteristics. IBM is also committed to compliance with all fair employment practices regarding citizenship and immigration status.