Overview
We are looking for a Senior Solutions Architect to join Microsoft Federal. The Microsoft Federal organization was established to address the unique mission, legal, and regulatory requirements of the United States Government (USG). Microsoft Federal is committed to delivering secure, scalable, and mission-aligned cloud solutions across classified and unclassified environments.
As a Solution Architect, you will provide technical leadership across multi-hybrid cloud environments with a strong focus on DevSecOps, Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS), secure networking, and automation. You will work closely with government and internal stakeholders to design, deploy, integrate, and validate mission-critical capabilities while ensuring security, compliance, and operational excellence.
Gathers and propagates customer/partner insights from a broad range of stakeholders. Works with customer/partner stakeholders and business sponsor to socialize both the business solution and the project approach to determine if changes are needed to the business solution. Defines and documents the architecture to communicate the value proposition of the business solution along with the project approach. Collaborates with the Project Manager to jointly drive project/technical governance of the design, build, and deployment into use of proof of concepts and pilots. Works with the business sponsor and customer/partner stakeholders to gather and ratify requirements and constraints. Collaborates with others to understand the business solution/problem. Identifies scenarios that could slow or impede pre-sales/delivery. Works in close collaboration with others to identify, categorize, and communicate business and technical risks. Generates new and/or improvements to existing intellectual property (IP). Develops a network of relationships to build influence in addressing problems/blockers. Uses evidence-based arguments that articulate complex concepts in a simple manner to respectfully challenge Microsoft and partners when a decision will not produce optimal results. Understands competitor solutions and identifies how customer business value can be driven through Microsoft's offerings. Acts a mentor to colleagues to educate them.
Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. As employees we come together with a growth mindset, innovate to empower others, and collaborate to realize our shared goals. Each day we build on our values of respect, integrity, and accountability to create a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive at work and beyond.
Responsibilities
Architecture Design and Deployment
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Collaborates with the Account Team and/or Bid Team to understand the business solution/problem. Drives agreement, based on the customers priorities, requirements/constraints, approach, principles, concepts, and expectations. Builds and documents a realistically costed Solution Approach with traceability of requirements, constraints, decisions, and tradeoffs that balances risk, technical credibility, and technical innovation to meet customer need, predominantly based on existing solution offerings and/or reference architecture. Creates clarity around responsibility and accountability for the cybersecurity of the solution. Follows SFI principles. Jointly leads the implementation in close partnership with the Project Manager, working with IDCL. Exercises oversight and governance and establishes quality practices and standards to realize the business solution. Uses a cohesive build methodology with an agreed release schedule and timeline so the solution can be transitioned to live operations. Ensures communication of and adherence to the pre-sales value proposition. Works with the Project Manager to highlight where assumptions have proven false. Uses change requests to modify the solution/project approach when needed. As needed, collaborates with Subject Matter Experts to receive specialized advice that can help define the solution and project approach and increase the time to value for the customer.
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Leverages a structured SFI approach to architecture projects using existing methodologies (e.g., Waterfall, Agile, Iterative) that make use of existing reference architecture and established architectural styles and design patterns. Builds and maintains an architecture description document, an architecture decisions log, and a requirements/constraints traceability matrix to ensure the rationale for the business solution's Architecture is known and understood.
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Collaborates with the Project Manager to jointly drive project/technical governance of the design, build, and deployment into use of proof of concepts (POCs) and pilots. Works with customers to understand and demonstrate business value (e.g., release of revenue, cost savings) that the business solution realizes.
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Works in close collaboration with the Project Manager and Account Team to identify, categorize, and communicate business and technical risks (including security). Defines risk mitigation activities that are foundational to the project plan. Defines risk contingency plans for invocation should the risk occur. When appropriate, oversees a broad portfolio of accounts. Manages and ensures the all-up delivery of consulting engagements, as necessary. Maintains the risk log.
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Defines and documents the SFI architecture through an architecture description document, an architecture decisions log, and a requirements/risk/constraints traceability matrix to communicate the value proposition of the business solution along with the project approach. Leads cost-based and technology-based discussions to explain the architecture in terms of its build, deployment, and ongoing operational use to determine customer appetite for the business solution. Uses a business-value approach that values return on investment (ROI) and customer costs-savings over technical ease of execution.
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Identifies scenarios that could slow or impede pre-sales/delivery. Orchestrates the broader Microsoft team to address and record technical blockers and works with account/project team to resolve non-technical issues. Reports significant problems to Microsoft management and escalates when needed. Includes Security practitioners in early stages to cover customers CISO and CRO concerns as well as security and data privacy regulation. Plans a way forward in complex and ambiguous situations with an innovative approach and durable design. Delegates and uses specialist skills of others to drive technical alignment across internal/external teams. Coordinates disparate approaches into a single plan of action.
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Works with the business sponsor and customer/partner stakeholders (e.g., Business users, Enterprise Architects, Security Team, Operations Team) to gather and ratify requirements and constraints. Manages and resolves ambiguity in the requirements and constraints (including legislative and regulatory) and documents assumptions and implications where it cannot be resolved. Maintains the requirements/constraints traceability matrix to prove that solution components have a rationale/justification for inclusion in the Architecture of the business solution. Drives development and execution of Test Plans by SMEs to prove that each requirement/constraint has been implemented as expected by the customer, and includes security features and controls in test plans. Where there are defects or risks, works in close collaboration with the Project Manager and Customer to redress, mitigate or accept and document the status of the test results.
Practice Development
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Understands competitor solutions and identifies how customer business value can be driven through Microsoft's offerings. Steers the customer/partner conversations to the benefits of the solution rather than the features and functionalities. Understands how Microsoft supports similar customers through automation/AI.
Thought Leadership
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Shares ideas, insight, and strategic, technical input with technical teams, internal communities across the field, and the larger virtual team across Microsoft using a thorough knowledge of specific Microsoft products and their context in the competitive landscape.
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Participates in external architect community events (e.g., conferences, seminars, technical meetups, Webcasts, blogs, hackathons) and shares learnings with internal team. Acts a mentor to less experienced colleagues to educate them on technical and non-technical concepts.
Trusted Advisor
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Uses evidence-based arguments that articulate complex concepts in a simple manner to respectfully challenge Microsoft and customers/partners when a decision or course of action will not produce optimal results. Serves as the "technical conscience" to challenge the status quo and unrealistic expectations. Proactively resolves conflicts and seeks resolution to balance the overall outcome. Drives consensus where possible and leads decisions to resolve conflict when needed.
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Develops a network of internal/external relationships to build influence in addressing problems/ blockers and facilitating additional views on the matter of interest. Stays up to date on Microsofts technologies, products, and services in order to communicate Microsoft's mission, strategy, and capabilities.
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Understands competitor solutions and identifies how customer business value can be driven through Microsoft's offerings. Steers the customer/partner conversations to the benefits of the solution rather than the features and functionalities.
Understanding Customer/Partner Technical Environment
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Uses evidence-based approach to function as customer advocate and shares insights with Product Engineering teams and the business with a view to improving Microsoft technologies, products, services, and offerings such that they can better meet customer/partner needs.
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Works with customer/partner stakeholders (e.g., Enterprise Architects, Security Team, Development Team, Operations Team) and business sponsor to socialize both the business solution and the project approach to determine if changes are needed to the business solution. Where the cost of change is accepted by the customer, shares this feedback with the project team and the broader account team to make the necessary adjustments using mechanisms such as updating the solution approach and projected costs in presales and change requests in delivery. Engages in risk discussions bringing in Security SMEs to create clarity around who is responsible for cyber security around proposed solutioning.
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Gathers and propagates customer/partner insights from a broad range of stakeholders as well as the main business sponsor that will help shape and form both the definition and ongoing execution of the project. Learns to Identify and evaluate industry trends (customer industry verticals, information technology [IT] industry). Recognizes and considers Microsoft's frameworks (e.g., Secure Architecture Framework) and customer risk appetites.
Additional Job Responsibilities
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Develop and implement promotion patterns for configuration and deployment changes, including deployment plans and schedules.
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Create, operate, and sustain development, test, and integration environments to reduce mission risk and deployment errors.
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Establish delivery timelines, completion metrics, and technical execution plans for managed services and automation.
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Validate capability deployments and integrations through testing, demonstrations, and documented results including connectivity, ATO status, and workload validation.
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Design mission enclave architectures including virtual networking, network security groups, and peering automation to integrate with base services.
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Develop and maintain architecture artifacts and operational documentation such as diagrams and performance dashboards.
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Utilize solution accelerators and automation to streamline deployment and sustainment of mission enclaves.
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Integrate program solutions with existing IT modernization and change management processes.
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Assist with secure architecture, implementation, and use of Azure platform services when requested.
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Expand and refine DevSecOps capabilities to enhance security posture, operational maturity, and developer experience.
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Design and implement additional environments based on program schedules and resource availability.
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Review hybrid architectures across all sites, including transport, identity, security services, access patterns, and edge infrastructure placement.
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Provide subject-matter expertise supporting ICAM services and Azure-based data platforms.
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Participate in security reviews with Security Control Assessors (SCA), remediate findings, and resubmit artifacts for approval.
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Define use cases and success criteria for independent, integrated, functional, performance, and security testing.
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Deliver architecture artifacts enabling non-program user access to program-accredited networks.
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Maintain and update ATO artifacts and appendices supporting split-access and enclave isolation requirements.
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Develop system architecture documentation suitable for Authorizing Official (AO) review.
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Provide comprehensive hybrid architecture documentation.
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Maintain requirements and design documentation in shared repositories such as Confluence.
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Deliver architecture diagrams clearly illustrating enclave isolation and boundary enforcement.
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Produce and maintain feature-level technical documentation.
Required Qualifications
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Master's Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or related field AND 4+ years experience in technology solutions, practice development, architecture, consulting, and/or technology domain (e.g., Security) OR Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or related field AND 6+ years experience in technology solutions, practice development, architecture, consulting, and/or technology domain (e.g., Security) OR equivalent experience.
Other Requirements
Security Clearance Requirements: Candidates must be able to meet Microsoft, customer and/or government security screening requirements are required for this role. These requirements include, but are not limited to the following specialized security screenings:
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The successful candidate must have an active U.S. Government TOP SECRET/SCI Security Clearance.
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Ability to meet Microsoft, customer and/or government security screening requirements are required for this role.
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Failure to maintain or obtain the appropriate clearance and/or customer screening requirements may result in employment action up to and including termination.
Clearance Verification
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This position requires successful verification of the stated security clearance to meet federal government customer requirements. You will be asked to provide clearance verification information prior to an offer of employment.
Microsoft Cloud Background Check
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This position will be required to pass the Microsoft Cloud background check upon hire/transfer and every two years thereafter.
Citizenship & Citizenship Verification
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This position requires verification of U.S. citizenship due to citizenship-based legal restrictions.
Specifically, this position supports United States federal, state, and/or local United States government agency customer and is subject to certain citizenship-based restrictions where required or permitted by applicable law.
To meet this legal requirement, citizenship will be verified via a valid passport, or other approved documents, or verified US government Clearance
Preferred/Additional Qualifications
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Master's Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or related field AND 6+ years experience in technology solutions, practice development, architecture, consulting, and/or technology domain (e.g., Security) OR Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or related field AND 8+ years experience in technology solutions, practice development, architecture, consulting, and/or technology domain (e.g., Security) OR equivalent experience.
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4+ years technical sales experience.
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4+ years project management experience.
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Technical or Professional Certification in Domain (e.g., Security).
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10+ years of experience in solution architecture, cloud architecture, or systems engineering.
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Proven experience designing and operating multi-hybrid environments across cloud and on‑premises platforms.
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Strong background in DevSecOps practices including CI/CD pipelines, infrastructure as code, and automated security controls.
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Hands-on experience with Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) and containerized workloads.
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Expertise in Azure networking concepts including virtual networks, peering, NSGs, private connectivity, and hybrid networking.
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Experience supporting federal security requirements, including ATO processes and artifact development.
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Ability to produce architecture artifacts suitable for Authorizing Official (AO) and executive review.
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Strong communication skills with the ability to collaborate across government, contractor, and engineering teams.
Solution Architecture IC4 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $101,800 - $193,800 per year. There is a different range applicable to specific work locations, within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, and the base pay range for this role in those locations is USD $126,100 - $207,600 per year.
Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here:
https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-corporate-pay
This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.
Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance with religious accommodations and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process.
