Cloud Solutions Architect 4

Key Skills

Aartificial intelligence, AWS, Azure, Cybersecurity, Data Analytics, Databricks, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), High performance computing- HPC, Leadership Skill, Machine learning techniques, MLOps tools

Job Description

The Computing and Information Technology Directorate works to re-imagine how digital technologies can simplify the research experience, enable data-driven insights for decision makers, and accelerate PNNL’s research missions. CIT helps connect staff to systems while enabling a broader research computing ecosystem to improve productivity and provide a sense of community.

At PNNL, our work is more than a job - it's a mission: To consult. To invent. To collaborate. To design. To build. Not just to do something better, but to attempt things others never thought possible. Are you ready to lead in this new era of hybrid architectures spanning cloud, high-performance computing, and edge to solve some of the world's most challenging problems? If so, let’s talk.

Responsibilities

We’re hiring a Cloud Solutions Architect to help our customers and sponsors advance their mission. The preferred candidate is a senior solutions architect who brings deep technical experience and strategic insight for leading development teams in solutions that have complex cloud architectures, design, and development of client-facing solutions.

On top of exceptional technical capability, we are looking for someone who can communicate effectively with our sponsors to elicit, clarify, and express the problem, and influence the organization when change is required. The role will act as the C3 team representative in working with highly skilled research and engineering staff to develop and execute sophisticated solutions.

The ideal candidate enjoys working in a highly collaborative team-based environment, conceptualizing, developing, communicating, and proposing solutions that will enable target results. This position will be instrumental in defining strategies for “First of a Kind” projects that are rooted in a deep understanding of the project needs, operational landscape, and technical restrictions.

In this role, you will fill a vital capacity to help advance the technical solutions of our sponsors, while using your expert knowledge of cloud solutions in one or many technical domains. You’ll provide clarity, promote excellent communication and collaboration, and drive the implementation of compelling solutions. As a leader, you will be a catalyst for change.

You are:

• Analytical and creative - you like thinking outside the box to come up with smart solutions to new challenges, and you embrace the opportunity to live in the gray.
• Decisive - you have a sense of urgency and the ability to manage a diverse group of technical people, particularly in the face of limited time and resources.
• Strong Communicator - your speaking and writing skills are clear and effective, helping you connect well with others in rapidly evolving situations and adapt to audiences at many levels of leadership and technical skill.
• Organized and Confident - you are flexible, composed, and able to prioritize multiple projects, tasks, and deadlines simultaneously while confidently interacting with individuals across all levels of the organization.
• Independently Capable – you can lead complex assignments by yourself but are able to sense when assistance as needed to supplement your skills.
• Motivated - you invest extra energy to reach your goals.
• Solution-Oriented Team Player - you are united with teammates and follow through on commitments with a strong bias for collaboration and building consensus.

You will:

• Provide subject matter expert guidance on one or more cloud-related technical domains for the lab and our sponsors (e.g. Cybersecurity, HPC, Data Management, AI/ML, Edge, etc.)
• Provide technical solution leadership in transformational project engagements filling roles including advisor, designer, reviewer, and developer as the project requires, specifically where expertise in the cloud is a critical and possibly missing skillset for the project.
• Develop a deep understanding of the sponsor's needs and challenges that enables you to act as their voice with the development teams and shape the solutions.
• Partner with our operations team to advance our cloud offerings and capabilities to meet our sponsor's needs.
• Use project experience and opportunities to advance our cloud strategy and understanding of sponsor requirements.
• Guide application teams to optimize their solution delivery cloud best practices and enterprise standards.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• BS/BA and 7+ years of relevant work experience -OR-
• MS/MA and 5+ years of relevant work experience -OR-
• PhD with 3+ year of relevant experience

Preferred Qualifications:

• BS/BA or MS/MA degree (Computer Science, Engineering, Science, or other related technical field).
• At least 15+ years relevant experience in industry.
• At least 5+ years of technical project leadership in cloud solution design and cloud infrastructure/migration.
• Experience facilitating discussions with senior leadership regarding technical/architectural trade-offs, best practices, and risk mitigation.
• Direct hands-on experience leading the design, development, and deployment of cloud solutions at scale or current hands-on technology infrastructure, network, compute, storage, and virtualization experience.
• Deep familiarity with Cloud and Cloud-Native Principles, including hands-on experience with cloud services (Azure, AWS, GCP).
• Expert-level skill in one or more cloud-related technical fields, including:
• Cybersecurity
• Large-scale data management (Databricks, in particular)
• Artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML)
• High performance computing (HPC)
• Large-scale data analytics, machine learning operations (MLOps).
• Experience in security compliance and design for complex applications, distributed systems, APIs, and services deployed to the cloud environments including identity and access, network, vulnerability, and change management.
• Strong track record of Solution Architecture leading development teams in designing, building, and deploying solutions that leverage cloud services.
• Keen ability to think strategically about business, mission, and science challenges and apply best-fit cloud technology solutions to hard problems in these domains.
• Strong software development experience and familiarity with agile software engineering best practices.
• Expert knowledge of Cloud Security requirements, technologies & practices.
• Experience managing and migrating workloads to the Public Cloud.
• Solid understanding of cloud infrastructure components (network, compute, storage, load balancers) and how applications should best leverage each.
• Strong organizational, interpersonal, analytical, communication, and technical skills are essential. Ability to build and maintain customer relationships, be a strong team player, and work both as a member of cross-functional teams as well as independently.
• Ability to manage ambiguous or competing requirements, collaborating with project teams to align on solutions, meet deadlines and adjust to changing priorities.
• Familiarity driving cloud optimization with a focus on balancing costs with business priorities.

Hazardous Working Conditions/Environment

Not applicable.

Additional Information

This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a federal security clearance.

Requirements:

• MS. Citizenship
• Background Investigation: Applicants selected will be subject to a Federal background investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified matter in accordance 10 CFR 710, Appendix B.
• Drug Testing: All Security Clearance (L or Q) positions will be considered by the Department of Energy to be Testing Designated Positions which means that they are subject to applicant, random, and for cause drug testing. In addition, applicants must be able to demonstrate non-use of illegal drugs, including marijuana, for the 12 consecutive months preceding completion of the requisite Questionnaire for National Security Positions (QNSP).

Note: Applicants will be considered ineligible for security clearance processing by the U.S. Department of Energy until non-use of illegal drugs, including marijuana, for 12 months can be demonstrated.

“Referral Eligible”

Testing Designated Position

This position is a Testing Designated Position (TDP). The candidate selected for this position will be subject to pre-employment and random drug testing for illegal drugs, including marijuana, consistent with the Controlled Substances Act and the PNNL Workplace Substance Abuse Program.

About PNNL

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is a world-class research institution powered by a highly educated, diverse workforce committed to the values of Integrity, Creativity, Collaboration, Impact, and Courage. Every year, scores of dynamic, driven people come to PNNL to work with renowned researchers on meaningful science, innovations and outcomes for the U.S. Department of Energy and other sponsors; here is your chance to be one of them!

At PNNL, you will find an exciting research environment and excellent benefits including health insurance, flexible work schedules and telework options. PNNL is located in eastern Washington State—the dry side of Washington known for its stellar outdoor recreation and affordable cost of living. The Lab’s campus is only a 45-minute flight (or ~3-hour drive) from Seattle or Portland, and is serviced by the convenient PSC airport, connected to 8 major hubs.

Commitment to Excellence, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Equal Employment Opportunity

Our laboratory is committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment dedicated to solving critical challenges in fundamental sciences, national security, and energy resiliency. We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. In support of this commitment, we encourage people of all racial/ethnic identities, women, veterans, and individuals with disabilities to apply for employment.

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory considers all applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information (including family medical history), protected veteran status, and any other status or characteristic protected by federal, state, and/or local laws.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures and in employment. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, contact us at careers@pnnl.gov.