Cloud Architect – Managed IT Services (5119)

SMX•Columbia, SC

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

We are seeking an experienced Cloud Architect to join our State and Local Platforms and Data Managed Services team. In this key role, you will design, implement, and manage cloud solutions across a diverse portfolio of client environments. You will be responsible for architecting secure, scalable, and resilient cloud infrastructures, while ensuring ongoing optimization, compliance, and client satisfaction. This is not a single-client or in-house environment: you will juggle multiple projects and maintenance responsibilities for various organizations under strict SLAs. This is a hybrid position that may require periodic travel to customer facilities. Candidate must be within commuting distance of Columbia, SC.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Information Technology, or related field; or equivalent work experience.
5+ years hands-on experience designing, implementing, and supporting cloud infrastructure in a managed services, MSP, or consulting environment.
Deep expertise with at least one cloud platform (AWS, Azure, or GCP); multi-cloud or hybrid experience highly preferred.
Proficient in IaC tools such as Terraform, ARM, CloudFormation, or Ansible.
Strong understanding of networking, identity and access management, security best practices, and monitoring in the cloud.
Experience with automation, CI/CD pipelines, and containerization (Kubernetes, Docker, etc.).
Demonstrated xperience with ITIL, service management frameworks, and MSP-specific toolsets (ServiceNow, etc.).
Excellent interpersonal, client communication, and project management skills.
Able to work efficiently in a fast-paced, multi-client, SLA-driven environment.

Nice To Haves

Strategic thinker with the ability to align technical solutions with business goals.
Industry certifications (e.g., AWS Solutions Architect, Azure Solutions Architect Expert, Google Professional Cloud Architect, CISSP, etc.) are a strong plus.
Familiarity with Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA), TIC 3.0, and security controls
Exposure to AI/ML tooling within AWS or Azure (e.g., Bedrock, SageMaker, Comprehend, Lex, Azure OpenAI)
Ability to mentor and guide technical teams.

Responsibilities

Design, deploy, and optimize cloud architectures (AWS, Azure, GCP, and/or hybrid environments) for multiple clients in line with industry best practices and compliance standards.
Collaborate with client stakeholders and internal service delivery teams to translate business requirements into scalable, cost-effective, repeatable cloud solutions.
Serve as a subject matter expert on cloud technologies, infrastructure automation, and cloud-native application design for multiple client accounts.
Lead client onboarding and cloud migration projects, ensuring minimal disruption and adherence to security and compliance requirements.
Monitor and proactively manage cloud environments, leveraging monitoring tools to identify and remediate issues under contractual SLAs.
Partner with our Network Operations Center (NOC) and Service Desk to respond to incidents, troubleshoot cloud-related issues, and manage escalations.
Develop and maintain standardized Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) templates, deployment pipelines, and automation scripts for repetitive client needs.
Stay updated on the latest cloud service offerings, cost-saving opportunities, and security best practices; advise clients on strategic improvements and modernization.
Maintain accurate and detailed documentation for client environments, architecture diagrams, and standard operating procedures.
Assist with pre-sales activities including technical scoping, effort estimation, and proposal development for potential clients.
Implement and manage multi-tenant cloud environments ensuring secure resource separation, cost tracking, and compliance for each client.
Contribute to continuous improvement of our managed services processes and cloud management frameworks.