Client requires the services of 2 Cloud Solutions Architect 3, hereafter referred to as Candidate(s), who meets the general qualifications of Cloud Solutions Architect 3, Applications/Software Development and the specifications outlined in this document for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.

All work products resulting from the project shall be considered "works made for hire" and are the property of the client and may include pre-selection requirements that potential Vendors (and their Candidates) submit to and satisfy criminal background checks as authorized by Texas law. Client will pay no fees for interviews or discussions, which occur during the process of selecting a Candidate(s).

The cloud architect is responsible for the cloud computing initiatives within an organization and for directing the architectural aspects of a cloud brokering team across all aspects of IT and the business. Responsible for the planning and engineering of an organization's cloud computing infrastructure and applications. Implements and designs hardware and software. Familiar with standard concepts, practices, and procedures of cloud technology, including Software as Service (SaaS), Platform as Service (PaaS), or Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS).

The cloud solution architect will be responsible for:

Design, develop and maintain cloud application architecture that aligns with business goals and technical requirements.

Design scalable, secure, and resilient cloud infrastructure that ensure best practices in cloud architecture.

Assess the current infrastructure and identify components suitable for cloud migration. Develop a comprehensive migration strategy, including timelines and resource allocation.

Implement and validate the migration, ensuring data integrity and system functionality.

Ensure cloud architecture complies with industry standards and regulatory requirements.

Implement security measures to protect data and applications in the cloud.

Monitor cloud system performance and identify areas for improvement.

Implement solutions to enhance performance, scalability, and reliability.

Collaborate with stakeholders to understand business needs and translate them into technical solutions.

Provide guidance and support to other IT team members on cloud technologies and best practices.

Stay updated with the latest cloud technologies and industry trends.

Identify opportunities for innovation and improvement in cloud architecture and services.

Guide technical and business decision-makers on AI/Machine Learning/Deep Learning and generative AI projects, helping to map Azure, Google and AWS services.

Analyze the services to extract technical and business insights that drive reference architectures, runbooks, and training content.

II. CANDIDATE SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Requirements: Candidates that do not meet or exceed the minimum stated requirements (skills/experience) will be displayed to customers but may not be chosen for this opportunity.
Years	Required/Preferred	Experience
10	Required	experience architecting enterprise application solutions across on-premises and cloud infrastructure
8	Required	architecting solutions in one or more of the cloud platforms: GCP, and AWS.
8	Required	developing cloud native application architectures across leading cloud platforms.
8	Required	architecting solutions that utilize fit-for-purpose service models such as IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS
8	Required	experience in all phases of Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence and Deep Learning solutions using AWS or google technologies.
8	Preferred	Strong understanding of virtual networks, VPNs, DNS, load balancers, and firewalls.
8	Preferred	Understanding of cloud security frameworks, encryption, identity and access management (IAM), and compliance standards like GDPR, HIPAA, etc.
8	Preferred	Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines, containerization (Docker, Kubernetes), and infrastructure as code (IaC) tools like Terraform or CloudFormation.
8	Preferred	Proficiency in languages such as Python, Java, C#, and scripting languages for automation.
8	Preferred	Knowledge of API design, development, and management, including RESTful and SOAP APIs.
8	Preferred	Knowledge of microservices, serverless architectures, and cloud-native application development.
8	Preferred	Ability to analyze and optimize cloud costs while maintaining performance and reliability.
8	Preferred	Excellent verbal and written communication skills to articulate cloud strategies and solutions to stakeholders.
8	Preferred	Ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams, including developers, administrators, and business leaders.
8	Preferred	Skills in monitoring and analyzing system performance to ensure optimal cloud operations.
6	Preferred	Experience with AWS technologies like Bedrock, SageMaker, Redshift, EC2, Data Pipeline, Kinesis and EMR
6	Preferred	Experience with AI services like Transcribe etc or Google technologies like Vertex AI platform, Agent Builder, and other toolset
1	Preferred	Cloud Certification eg AWS Certified Solutions Architect, Azure Solutions Architect Expert or Google Professional Cloud Architect