Cloud Architect consultant position at Jackson, MS
Adam A
Positions Description
The Cloud Specialist contractor supports the design, implementation, and operation of the agency’s public cloud environment under the direction of the Public Cloud Specialist Team Lead. This role is responsible for deploying and maintaining cloud infrastructure, assisting with cloud migrations, supporting integration with on-premises systems, and implementing automation and infrastructure-as-code solutions. The contractor works closely with infrastructure, development, and security teams to ensure cloud services are secure, scalable, and aligned with agency standards and regulatory requirements such as NIST and IRS 1075. Responsibilities include monitoring system performance, troubleshooting issues, applying security configurations, and maintaining documentation. The role requires experience with public cloud platforms such as AWS or Azure, knowledge of networking and security fundamentals, and familiarity with scripting or automation tools, with preferred experience in hybrid environments, compliance frameworks, and enterprise cloud deployments.
Required Skills
Minimum of 5-6 years of experience working with public cloud platforms such as AWS or Azure including deployment and support of cloud services. Knowledge of core cloud components including compute storage networking and identity and access management. Experience with scripting or automation using tools such as PowerShell Python or Bash. Understanding of basic networking concepts including DNS routing and firewalls. Familiarity with security fundamentals including access control and data protection. Ability to troubleshoot and support cloud-based systems in an enterprise environment.
Preferred Skills
Experience with infrastructure-as-code tools such as Terraform ARM or CloudFormation. Familiarity with hybrid environments integrating on-premises systems with cloud services. Knowledge of regulatory and compliance frameworks such as NIST or IRS Publication 1075. Experience with cloud monitoring logging and performance tools. Experience with backup and disaster recovery solutions in cloud environments. Exposure to DevOps practices including CI/CD pipelines. Strong documentation and communication skills.
Technical Skills
Operating Systems & Cloud Platforms
- Cloud Platform OS Management (AWS/Azure VM Environments) – 5–7 years, Required
Provisioning, configuration, and maintenance of cloud-based virtual machines. - Windows Server – 5–7 years, Required
Management of Windows-based workloads and Active Directory integration. - Linux (RHEL/CentOS/Ubuntu) – 5–7 years, Required
Administration, troubleshooting, and support of cloud-hosted systems.
Programming & Scripting
- PowerShell – 3–5 years, Required
Automation scripting and system administration tasks. - Python or Bash Scripting – 3–5 years, Required
Automation, troubleshooting, and task execution.
Infrastructure as Code (IaC)
- Terraform / ARM / CloudFormation – 3–5 years, Required
Basic deployment and management of cloud infrastructure.
Hardware & Virtualization
- Virtual Infrastructure (VMware/Hypervisor) – 3–5 years, Required
Understanding of virtualized environments and cloud/on-premises integration. - Server Hardware Fundamentals – 3–5 years, Required
Basic knowledge of server components, storage, and performance concepts. - Storage Systems (SAN/NAS/Backup Appliances) – 3–5 years, Required
Familiarity with storage concepts and backup platforms (e.g., Cohesity).
Database Systems
- SQL Server / Relational Databases – 3–5 years, Preferred
Basic database support, backup, and connectivity troubleshooting. - Cloud Database Services (Azure SQL / AWS RDS) – 3–5 years, Required
Understanding of managed database services in cloud environments. - Database Backup and Recovery Concepts – 3–5 years, Preferred
Knowledge of backup strategies, recovery, and data protection.
Frameworks & Methodologies
- Infrastructure as Code (Terraform / ARM / CloudFormation) – 3–5 years, Preferred
Basic deployment and automation of cloud infrastructure. - Cloud Architecture & Deployment Best Practices – 3–5 years, Required
Understanding of scalable, secure, and reliable cloud design principles. - IT Service Management (Change / Incident / Problem Management) – 3–5 years, Required
Familiarity with structured IT operations and service delivery processes.
QA & Testing
- Deployment Validation & Post-Implementation Testing – 3–5 years, Required
Verify cloud resources and configurations after deployment.