Systems Architect

Systems Architect

 

About the Role 

The Systems Architect leads the design, operation, and modernization of a hybrid enterprise IT environment, with responsibility for both the current on-premises data center and its ongoing migration to a cloud architecture. The on-premises environment includes Cisco network switching, enterprise data storage, and virtualized servers. This role will drive the phased migration of these workloads to the cloud while maintaining a stable, secure, and well-documented hybrid environment for the foreseeable future. 

The Systems Architect designs target-state architectures, plans and executes migration workstreams, and ensures on-prem and cloud components operate cohesively throughout the transition — balancing modernization with the reliability of existing infrastructure. 

 

Location: Washington, D.C. (Hybrid — 2 days onsite) 

Clearance: Must possess active Top Secret clearance

Status: Exempt 

 

Responsibilities 

• Design, document, and maintain hybrid architectures spanning on-premises infrastructure (Cisco switching, storage, virtualized servers) and cloud environments. 

• Analyze user and business requirements and translate them into scalable technical designs for both current operations and future-state cloud architecture. 

• Lead migration planning and execution, including workload assessment, sequencing, cloud landing zone design, and data center rationalization. 

• Administer and optimize on-premises network and storage infrastructure, ensuring performance, availability, and security during the migration period. 

• Architect cloud networking and connectivity (VPCs, routing, VPN, transit gateways) to support hybrid operations. 

• Develop governance, security standards, and operational processes spanning both environments, including monitoring, patching, and configuration management. 

• Support integration between infrastructure monitoring tools and ServiceNow to drive automated ticket/task generation for operational issues. 

• Evaluate and recommend improvements for cost optimization, performance, and operational efficiency across on-prem and cloud. 

• Prepare and maintain technical documentation, including architecture diagrams, migration plans, and system designs. 

• Collaborate with stakeholders, engineers, and leadership to resolve technical issues and maintain architectural integrity throughout the migration. 

Qualifications 

• 8+ years of experience in systems architecture, infrastructure engineering, virtualization, or cloud computing. 

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Science, or related discipline. 

• Experience with Cisco switching and enterprise network administration. 

• Familiarity with enterprise virtualization platforms (e.g., VMware) and storage systems. 

• Hands-on experience architecting and deploying solutions on AWS/Azure/GCP, including migrating on-prem workloads to the cloud. 

• Experience with infrastructure as code and automation (Terraform, CloudFormation, Ansible). 

• Strong understanding of cloud networking, VPCs, routing, load balancers, and hybrid connectivity. 

• Experience with system maintenance, patching, monitoring, and advanced troubleshooting across hybrid environments. 

• Familiarity with ServiceNow or similar ITSM platforms is a plus, particularly around monitoring integration and automated ticketing (not a core requirement). 

• Possess demonstrable experience in at least 3 of the following areas: 

• • Cloud architecture, migration, and governance 

• • Cisco networking and network security 

• • Enterprise storage administration and storage migration to cloud 

• • Infrastructure as Code and automation 

• • Vulnerability management and security operations 

• • IT service management / monitoring integration (e.g., ServiceNow) 

• • Server virtualization (e.g., VMware) 

Certifications 

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