Principal Architect (Federal Health)

COMMENCE; Virginia Beach (VA); Remote; USD 170,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Commence, headquartered in Virginia Beach, VA, seeks a Principal Architect to own the target-state architecture for a CMS case management program, with final authority across cloud, data, security, and application layers. You will represent the program at technical review boards and define ADRs and standards for multiple workstreams.

The role requires 12-15+ years in solution/enterprise architecture, CMS experience, and AWS/API-driven design expertise, collaborating with security, data, and

Qualifications

• 12-15+ years of experience in solution/enterprise architecture.
• Direct experience delivering on federal contracts; CMS experience strongly preferred.
• Experience designing cloud-native, API-driven solutions using AWS services and CI/CD pipelines.
• Experience with enterprise application architecture, service-oriented and microservices architectures.
• Platform fluency spanning healthcare interoperability standards (FHIR, HL7) and case-management/BPM platforms (Pega or Salesforce).
• Experience with data integration, transformation, and governance in healthcare contexts.
• Experience working within Agile development environments.
• Demonstrated ability to arbitrate technical disagreements across specialist teams and make binding decisions.

Responsibilities

• Own and approve the program’s target-state architecture across cloud, data, security, application, and integration layers
• Serve as the program’s CMS-facing technical authority
• Set and own the architecture decision record (ADR) process; approve all ADRs before implementation
• Resolve architectural conflicts between the Cloud Architect, Data Solutions Architect, Security Lead, and Salesforce Developer
• Define solution patterns, reusable components, and architectural standards enforced consistently across all workstreams
• Own the strategy for secure provider, beneficiary, and healthcare data exchange, including FHIR, HL7, Direct Messaging, RESTful APIs, and event-driven integration patterns
• Set the integration strategy between the case-management platform (Pega/Salesforce) and the data layer
• Own cloud-native architecture direction leveraging AWS services, including containerized and serverless application strategy
• Set data ingestion, transformation, quality control, metadata management, and lakehouse/medallion architecture strategy in partnership with the Data Solutions Architect
• Partner with the Security Lead to embed CMS ARS requirements, HIPAA safeguards, NIST controls, and FedRAMP requirements into every workstream
• Provide binding architectural guidance to all engineering teams; identify technical risk and mandate mitigation strategies
• Mentor senior technical staff and other architects on the program
• Own technical specifications and implementation guidance at the program level

Skills

Solution architecture

Enterprise architecture

Cloud architecture

AWS

CI/CD pipelines

ADR processes

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or related field

Tools

Pega

Salesforce

Job description

Description

At Commence, we’re the start of a new age of data-centric transformation, elevating health outcomes and powering better, more efficient process to program and patient health. We combine quality data-driven solutions that fuel answers, technology that advances performance, and clinical expertise that builds trust to create a more efficient path to quality care.

With human-centered, healthcare-relevant, and value-based solutions, we create new possibilities with data. We provide proof beyond the concept and performance beyond the scope with a focus on efficiencies that transform the lives of those we serve. With a culture driven by purpose, straightforward communication and clinical domain expertise, Commence cuts straight to better care?

Requirements

The Principal Architect owns the target-state architecture for a CMS case management program and holds final decision authority across cloud, data, security, and application layers. This is a technical leadership role and you will represent the program’s architecture at technical review boards, defend design decisions to government stakeholders, and set the standards that the Cloud Architect, Data Solutions Architect, Security Lead, and Salesforce Developer build within.

Key Responsibilities

• Own and approve the program’s target-state architecture across cloud, data, security, application, and integration layers
• Serve as the program’s CMS-facing technical authority
• Set and own the architecture decision record (ADR) process; approve all ADRs before implementation
• Resolve architectural conflicts between the Cloud Architect, Data Solutions Architect, Security Lead, and Salesforce Developer
• Define solution patterns, reusable components, and architectural standards enforced consistently across all workstreams
• Own the strategy for secure provider, beneficiary, and healthcare data exchange, including FHIR, HL7, Direct Messaging, RESTful APIs, and event-driven integration patterns
• Set the integration strategy between the case-management platform (Pega/Salesforce) and the data layer
• Own cloud-native architecture direction leveraging AWS services, including containerized and serverless application strategy
• Set data ingestion, transformation, quality control, metadata management, and lakehouse/medallion architecture strategy in partnership with the Data Solutions Architect
• Partner with the Security Lead to embed CMS ARS requirements, HIPAA safeguards, NIST controls, and FedRAMP requirements into every workstream
• Provide binding architectural guidance to all engineering teams; identify technical risk and mandate mitigation strategies
• Mentor senior technical staff and other architects on the program
• Own technical specifications and implementation guidance at the program level

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or related field
• 12-15+ years of experience in solution/enterprise architecture
• Direct experience delivering on federal contracts. CMS experience strongly preferred
• Demonstrated experience owning architecture governance (ADR processes, architecture review boards) on at least one prior program
• Experience designing cloud-native, API-driven solutions using AWS services and CI/CD pipelines
• Experience with enterprise application architecture, service-oriented and microservices architectures
• Platform fluency spanning both healthcare interoperability standards (FHIR, HL7) and case-management/BPM platforms (Pega or Salesforce)
• Experience with data integration, transformation, and governance in healthcare contexts
• Experience working within Agile development environments
• Demonstrated ability to arbitrate technical disagreements across specialist teams and make binding decisions
• Working knowledge of CMS quality-improvement program structures and review cycles, applicable beyond the primary case-management platform

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting CMS modernization initiatives specifically
• Familiarity with CMMI Level 2/3 process discipline
• Prior experience presenting architecture to a federal client's technical review board
• Experience with provider directory and healthcare exchange systems
• Experience with cloud migration and modernization programs
• AWS Certified Solutions Architect

Commence' headquarters are in Virginia Beach, VA, however we are open to remote candidates in the following states: AZ, AR, CO, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, MI, MS, MO, MT, NC, NE, NV, NY, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, DC, WI, WA, and WV

Work Environment/Physical Demands

The work environment and physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This is a remote position. Candidates must be able to sit, read, work on a computer, and watch a computer screen for extended periods of time. Occasionally required to stand, walk, use hands and fingers, kneel or crouch.

Commence is an equal employment opportunity employer. All personnel processes are merit-based and applied without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, age, disability, national or ethnic origin, military and veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Commence is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants, including individuals with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in the application process due to a disability, please contact Human Resources at [phone] or [e-mail].