Lead Enterprise Architect - CMS Medicare Mainframe Modernization

Sky Solutions; Virginia; Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Sky Solutions is seeking a seasoned Lead Enterprise Architect to steer the technical architecture for a mission-critical CMS program. The role focuses on legacy mainframe modernization, COBOL/CICS/VSAM, and guiding engineering teams to maintain stability while enabling long-term modernization.

The ideal candidate will bring 10+ years in mainframe architecture and strong collaboration with CMS stakeholders to translate business needs into technical solutions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in CS/IT/Engineering or equivalent experience.
• 10+ years in mainframe development, architecture, or modernization.
• Proven leadership on large-scale, mission-critical applications.
• Strong COBOL, CICS and VSAM experience.
• Experience defining technical direction and governance.
• Ability to communicate complex concepts to executives.

Responsibilities

• Define and maintain modernization roadmap for Medicare applications.
• Provide architecture leadership for legacy mainframe systems.
• Evaluate architectures and recommend modernization strategies.
• Guide teams using COBOL, CICS, VSAM, and related tech.
• Establish design standards, integration patterns, and governance.
• Collaborate with CMS stakeholders to translate requirements.
• Mentor technical leads and ensure production stability.

Skills

COBOL

CICS

VSAM

Mainframe Architecture

Technical Leadership

Executive Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/IT/Engineering

Tools

JCL

DB2

ALC

Job description

Location: Tysons Corner, VA (Hybrid)

Employment Type: Full-Time

Position Overview

Sky Solutions is seeking a seasoned Lead Enterprise Architect to provide technical architecture leadership for a mission-critical federal healthcare program supporting the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

The ideal candidate will bring extensive experience with legacy mainframe applications, Medicare claims processing systems, and large-scale application modernization. This individual will guide architecture strategy, evaluate modernization approaches, establish technical standards, and work closely with program leadership and engineering teams to maintain system stability while enabling long-term modernization.

Candidates with substantial experience supporting Medicare shared systems, including FISS, MCS, or VMS, will be considered.

• Key ResponsibilitiesDefine and maintain the technical architecture and modernization roadmap for mission-critical Medicare applications.
• Provide architecture leadership for legacy mainframe applications, ensuring alignment with business requirements, system dependencies, security requirements, and operational needs.
• Evaluate existing application architecture, identify technical risks and dependencies, and recommend modernization strategies that minimize disruption to ongoing claims processing.
• Guide technical teams working with COBOL, CICS, VSAM, Assembler Language (ALC), and other applicable mainframe technologies.
• Establish architecture principles, design standards, integration patterns, and technical governance practices across development and maintenance teams.
• Evaluate modernization options, including application refactoring, re-engineering, service enablement, API integration, and platform migration, where appropriate.
• Oversee architecture decisions involving application interfaces, data flows, batch processing, transaction processing, performance, scalability, and system reliability.
• Collaborate with program management, CMS stakeholders, engineering leads, security teams, and operations personnel to translate business and contractual requirements into technical solutions.
• Ensure architecture decisions support data integrity, security, auditability, business continuity, and reliable processing of Medicare claims.
• Assess technical debt, architecture risks, and emerging technology opportunities; develop recommendations and phased implementation plans.
• Review solution designs, technical documentation, architecture assessments, and modernization proposals to ensure quality and consistency.
• Mentor technical leads and architects, promote engineering best practices, and support continuous improvement across the program.
• Required QualificationsBachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related field; equivalent relevant experience may be considered.
• 10+ years of experience in mainframe application development, architecture, engineering leadership, or legacy systems modernization.
• Demonstrated technical leadership on large-scale, mission-critical applications with complex business logic and system dependencies.
• Strong experience with COBOL and relevant IBM mainframe technologies, such as CICS and VSAM.
• Experience evaluating legacy application architectures, defining technical direction, and leading complex technical changes.
• Strong understanding of mainframe transaction processing, batch processing, application integration, data management, and production reliability.
• Experience developing architecture roadmaps, documenting technical decisions, assessing risks, and governing implementation across multiple engineering teams.
• Ability to communicate complex technical concepts and architecture trade-offs to executive stakeholders, program managers, and engineering teams.
• Preferred QualificationsExperience with Medicare shared systems, including FISS, MCS, or VMS, or comparable Medicare claims-processing platforms.
• Experience with Assembler Language (ALC), JCL, DB2, VSAM, CICS, and related mainframe technologies.
• Experience with Medicare Fee-for-Service claims processing, beneficiary eligibility, benefit validation, claims adjudication, or Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) workflows.
• Demonstrated leadership in modernizing legacy mainframe applications while maintaining production stability and operational continuity.
• Experience with application decomposition, service-oriented architecture, APIs, distributed systems, and cloud or hybrid modernization approaches where applicable.
• Familiarity with federal healthcare security and compliance requirements, including applicable CMS security controls, FISMA, and NIST frameworks.
• Experience supporting federal government programs and collaborating with government technical stakeholders.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is a senior technical leader who understands both the technology and business complexity of Medicare shared systems. They can assess legacy architecture, lead modernization decisions, manage technical dependencies, and guide engineering teams without losing sight of the reliability and integrity required for Medicare claims processing.

Candidates with FISS, MCS, VMS, or comparable Medicare claims-processing experience may be suitable if they also demonstrate strong mainframe architecture and modernization leadership.