Engagement Architect - Cloud Architecture (FedRAMP)

Coalfire; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 89,000 - 149,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work model

Certification & training reimbursement

Paid parental leave

Digital mental health & wellbeing

Job summary

Coalfire in Washington, DC area seeks an Engagement Architect to own cloud architecture for FedRAMP engagements. You will lead architectures, implement controls, and automate evidence pipelines for smooth transition to managed operations.

You will coordinate engineering teams, drive gated builds, and serve as the main technical contact with clients and assessors, ensuring scope and risks are managed effectively.

Qualifications

• BS or above in an information Technology field or equivalent experience.
• 8+ years in cloud engineering/architecture with 3+ years leading external client delivery.
• Experience leading FedRAMP builds or equivalent regulated cloud work.
• Hands-on across IaC, IAM, logging/monitoring, and cloud networking on one major cloud platform.
• Strong client-facing communication for engineers, sponsors, or assessors.
• Good judgment on scope, risk and escalation; excellent organizational and problem-solving skills.
• Clear documentation skills including diagrams and written descriptions.
• Ability to work independently or in a team with professional demeanor.

Responsibilities

• Own client engagements end-to-end from contract through build, control implementation and handoff.
• Instantiate reference architecture for the contracted level and cloud platform.
• Lead security control implementation and automation that evidences certification.
• Coordinate engineering teams deploying identity, monitoring, change management, and more.
• Drive build through quality gates with measurable transition to operations.
• Serve as the client’s technical counterpart; run sessions, manage milestones and risks.

Skills

Cloud architecture

FedRAMP

Client delivery leadership

Infrastructure as Code

IAM & access management

Monitoring & logging

Education

BS or higher in IT/related field

Tools

AWS

Azure

GCP

IaC (Terraform)

Job description

Engagement Architect - Cloud Architecture (FedRAMP)

About Coalfire

Coalfire is on a mission to make the world a safer place by solving our clients hardest cybersecurity challenges. We work at the cutting edge of technology to advise, assess, automate, and ultimately help companies navigate the ever-changing cybersecurity landscape. We are headquartered in Chicago, Illinois with offices across the U.S. and U.K., and we support clients around the world.

But thats not who we are thats just what we do.

We are thought leaders, consultants, and cybersecurity experts, but above all else, we are a team of passionate problem-solvers who are hungry to learn, grow, and make a difference.

Why Join Us

Coalfire builds and operates FedRAMP-compliant cloud environments for software companies entering the federal market. Were looking for an Engagement Architect to serve as the technical owner of a client engagement taking a signed contract and carrying it through architecture build, security control implementation, and a verified transition into managed operations. Youll own active engagements: deep enough to be accountable for every technical outcome, focused enough to do it well. If youre driven by a desire to innovate, excel at operational excellence, and thrive in a collaborative environment, come be part of a team committed to making the world a safer place.

What You'll Do

• Own client engagements end-to-end: from contract signature through environment build, control implementation, automated evidence pipelines, and handoff to managed operations.
• Instantiate Coalfires reference architecture for the contracted certification level and cloud platform, adapting it to the clients application and boundary.
• Lead implementation of security controls and the automation that continuously validates themthe evidence a modern FedRAMP certification runs on.
• Coordinate Coalfires engineering teams as they deploy their capabilities (identity, monitoring, change management, and more) into your engagement.
• Drive the build through defined quality gates, with a clean, measurable transition to operationsevery in-scope control implemented, validated, and stable.
• Serve as the clients primary technical counterpart: run technical working sessions, manage milestones and risks, and keep scope honest.
• Document architecture decisions and feed lessons from each build back into Coalfires standards.

WORK ENVIRONMENT/TRAVEL REQUIRED

Travel: Approximately 1025%, driven by client needs

U.S. citizenship is desired, as this position supports U.S. federal compliance programs.

What You'll Bring

BS or above in a related Information Technology field or equivalent combination of education and experience

8+ years in cloud engineering or architecture, including 3+ years leading technical delivery for external clients

Experience leading FedRAMP builds or authorizationsor equivalent depth in another regulated cloud regime (DoD impact levels, StateRAMP, PCI, HIPAA)

Hands-on skill across infrastructure-as-code, identity and access management, logging and monitoring, and cloud networking on at least one major cloud platform (AWS, Azure, or GCP)

Strong client-facing communicationable to explain an architecture decision to an engineer, a project sponsor, or an assessor

Sound judgment about scope, risk, and when to escalation

Excellent organizational and problem-solving skills

Effective documentation skills, including technical diagrams and written descriptions

Ability to work independently and as part of a team with a professional attitude and demeanor

Critical thinking, and the ability to balance security requirements with mission needs

REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS

Professional-level certification in AWS, Azure, or GCP

Bonus Points

Familiarity with FedRAMP 20x, Key Security Indicators (KSIs), and machine-readable compliance artifacts (OSCAL or JSON)

Experience with productized or fixed-price delivery models

Relevant certifications such as cloud platform professional/security certifications or CISSP

Familiarity with configuration baseline standards such as CIS Benchmarks & DISA STIG

Familiarity with frameworks such as FedRAMP, FISMA, HIPAA, HITRUST, or PCI

$89,000 - $149,000 a year

The salary range listed is a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role based on national salary averages. The actual salary offer to the successful candidate will be based on job-related education, geographic location, training, licensure and certifications and other factors. You may also be eligible to participate in annual incentive, commission, and/or recognition programs.

Why You’ll Want to Join Us

At Coalfire, youll find the support you need to thrive personally and professionally. In many cases, we provide a flexible work model that empowers you to choose when and where youll work most effectively whether youre at home or an office.

Regardless of location, youll experience a company that prioritizes connection and wellbeing and be part of a team where people care about each other and our communities. Youll have opportunities to join employee resource groups, participate in in-person and virtual events, and more. And youll enjoy competitive perks and benefits to support you and your family, like paid parental leave, flexible time off, certification and training reimbursement, digital mental health and wellbeing support membership, and comprehensive insurance options.

At Coalfire, equal opportunity and pay equity is integral to the way we do business. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. Coalfire is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, contact our Human Resources team at [e-mail].

Equal employment opportunity, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.

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