Position Overview
The Cloud Manager will lead the execution of modernization initiatives supporting the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) systems. This role is responsible for standing up and managing an Agile modernization team that delivers cloud-native, AWS-based solutions, replacing legacy SAS-based systems with Python and modern data architectures.
This is a technical delivery leadership role, not a traditional administrative PM position. The Technical PM must be capable of leading the execution of cloud-native architecture, DevSecOps integration, and cross-disciplinary Agile teams from initial discovery through production deployment.
Key Responsibilities
1. Modernization Program Initiation & Discovery
Lead initial technical discovery efforts across legacy SAS systems.Partner with Cloud Architect and Technical SMEs to define target-state cloud-native architecture.Translate system-level modernization goals into actionable epics and initial product backlog.Identify migration sequencing strategy (refactor vs lift-and-shift).Establish MVP/Proof-of-Concept scope for initial modernization slice.Coordinate early governance artifacts (architecture reviews, EWG alignment).2. Agile Team Stand-Up & Delivery Execution
Establish and manage Agile Scrum or Kanban delivery framework.Build and maintain backlog aligned to modernization roadmap.Facilitate sprint planning, backlog refinement, and retrospectives.Ensure alignment between Product Owner (Federal) and technical team.Drive sprint-level execution across:Cloud ArchitectureCloud EngineeringData EngineeringApplication Development (Python)Testing (manual & automated)DevSecOps3. AWS Cloud Modernization Leadership
Lead migration of on-prem SAS systems to AWS cloud-native architecture.Coordinate deployment of applications leveraging AWS services such as:LambdaFargateGlueAurora/PostgresS3BatchCloudWatchSecrets ManagerEnsure Infrastructure-as-Code and CI/CD practices are implemented.Oversee containerization and serverless deployment strategies.Coordinate environment provisioning within EDL constraints.The Technical PM must be able to understand and challenge architectural decisions in AWS environments.
4. DevSecOps & Automated Testing Integration
Ensure CI/CD pipelines are implemented and integrated with automated testing.Oversee regression validation between legacy SAS outputs and Python outputs.Integrate security scanning and vulnerability remediation into sprint cycles.Coordinate automated test framework implementation.Ensure quality gates are embedded in delivery lifecycle.5. Governance & Compliance Alignment
Coordinate architecture documentation for:Enterprise Working Group (EWG)Architecture Review BoardInterface Control Documents (ICDs)Support Authority to Operate (ATO) readiness activities.Maintain alignment with Zero Trust, IUS, and Census security policies.Ensure traceability between requirements, backlog items, and delivered capabilities.6. Cross-System Integration & Dependency Management
Manage integration touchpoints across:MojoDICEEDLTabulationProcessing systemsDownstream dissemination systemsIdentify and mitigate cross-workstream risks.Plan modernization sequencing to avoid production disruption.Align delivery milestones with ACS operational cycles.7. Migration Sequencing & Risk Management
Develop phased migration roadmap across multiple systems.Identify candidate systems for initial modernization.Prioritize low-risk, high-learning MVP slices.Manage parallel validation strategies where needed.Monitor risks associated with questionnaire changes and output comparability.Requirements
Technical Leadership
Minimum 8–10 years of experience leading technical modernization programs.Demonstrated experience deploying applications to AWS cloud environments.Experience leading serverless architecture implementations.Experience managing Infrastructure-as-Code and CI/CD pipelines.Experience in standing up Agile teams from inception.Experience building backlog and epics from discovery and architecture inputs.Experience managing cross-functional technical teams, including:Cloud ArchitectsCloud EngineersData EngineersApplication DevelopersTest EngineersDevSecOps EngineersModernization & Migration Experience
Experience leading legacy-to-cloud modernization initiatives.Experience planning refactoring vs lift-and-shift strategies.Experience managing phased migration in high-governance federal environments.Experience coordinating statistical or data-intensive system modernization (preferred).Governance & Federal Environment
Experience supporting architecture review boards.Experience working in FISMA/FedRAMP environments.Familiarity with ATO processes.Experience operating in politically sensitive, high-visibility programs.Ability to coordinate across multiple federal stakeholders and contractors.Preferred Qualifications
Experience with SAS to Python modernization.Experience with large-scale data processing systems.Experience in U.S. Census or statistical agencies.Experience working with Enterprise Data Lakes (EDL).Familiarity with GitLab or similar DevSecOps platforms.Core Competencies
Technical credibility with engineers and architects.Ability to translate architecture into backlog.Strong risk identification and mitigation skills.Strong stakeholder communication skills.Ability to operate in ambiguity and define structure.Bias toward action while respecting governance controls.Benefits
401(k) with matching and 100% VestedHealth Insurance - 3 plans to select fromDental insuranceVision InsuranceHealth savings accountLife insuranceShort Term DisabilityLong Term DisabilityAD&DPaid time offProfessional development assistanceTrainingTuition reimbursementFlexible scheduleFlexible spending accountReferral programPaid Legal Planand more....Ignite IT is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, Veteran status, sexual orientation, or other protected characteristic. In accordance with EO 13665 Final Rule, Ignite IT will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant.
Applicants selected may be required to possess and maintain a government clearance
US CITIZENSHIP REQUIRED
Read LessWe are seeking a highly skilled Cloud Engineer Subject Matter Expert (SME) to join our team. The Senior Cloud Engineer (Cloud Engineer SME) is the senior technical implementation lead responsible for designing, building, and operationalizing secure, scalable AWS-based environments supporting modernization of complex, interdependent systems.
This role requires deep AWS engineering expertise and advanced Python development skills, as well as active participation in discovery, legacy system analysis, and phased migration planning. The Cloud Engineer SME will work closely with the Systems Architect and Technical Program Manager to assess existing environments, design migration-ready architectures, and implement cloud-native solutions aligned to modernization sequencing and governance requirements.
This is not a pure infrastructure role — the Cloud Engineer SME must be capable of analyzing legacy systems, evaluating migration paths, and translating architectural strategy into deployable cloud solutions.
Key Responsibilities:
1. Discovery, Legacy Analysis & Migration Planning
Participate in structured discovery efforts across legacy systems.Analyze existing application architectures, infrastructure dependencies, batch schedules, data flows, and integration points.Contribute to formal system inventory documentation.Identify cloud readiness gaps and modernization constraints.Support classification of systems using the 7 Rs migration framework.Provide technical input into phased migration roadmaps and sequencing plans.Assess operational risk, integration complexity, and environment dependencies during modernization planning.Document current-state (As-Is) technical architecture and assist in defining target-state (To-Be) environment patterns.2. Cloud Infrastructure & Environment Engineering
Design and implement AWS cloud environments aligned to enterprise provisioning constraints.Develop and maintain Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) using Terraform or CloudFormation.Establish repeatable environment patterns for development, testing, staging, and production.Implement secure network architecture (VPC segmentation, IAM least privilege, encryption).Design for high availability, resiliency, and disaster recovery.Align environment provisioning with migration waves and modernization sequencing.3. Python Engineering for Cloud-Native Applications (Required)
Develop and maintain Python-based cloud components including:Serverless functionsOrchestration utilitiesData validation and transformation scriptsAutomation toolingWrite production-quality Python code with testability, logging, secure coding practices, and modular design.Review and support Python refactoring patterns during legacy modernization.Ensure Python runtime environments are reproducible and aligned with CI/CD standards.4. Cloud-Native Application Enablement
Implement scalable AWS compute solutions (Lambda, ECS/EKS/Fargate, Glue, Aurora/PostgreSQL, S3, Batch).Evaluate serverless vs containerized approaches based on workload characteristics.Support refactoring efforts by providing optimized cloud runtime patterns.Improve performance, scalability, and observability for data-intensive workloads.5. DevSecOps & CI/CD Implementation
Design and implement CI/CD pipelines integrating:Automated buildsUnit and integration testsRegression validationSecurity scanningEmbed quality and compliance gates into pipelines.Automate environment provisioning and deployments.Ensure version-controlled infrastructure and reproducible deployments.6. Observability & Operational Readiness
Implement monitoring, logging, and alerting standards.Establish performance baselines and capacity thresholds.Support load testing and scalability validation.Document operational runbooks for sustained support.7. Cross-Team Integration Support
Support integration across multiple interdependent systems.Assist in identifying and mitigating interface risks.Collaborate with data engineering teams on schema stability and data lifecycle controls.Ensure consistency in cloud patterns across teams.8. Governance & Compliance Alignment
Contribute to architecture and environment documentation required for governance reviews.Support ATO readiness and audit artifact collection.Align cloud implementation with security and compliance requirements.Maintain traceable, auditable deployment documentation.Core Competencies
Ability to translate discovery findings into technical modernization solutions.Strong cloud engineering depth combined with legacy system analysis capability.Migration sequencing awareness and risk identification.Automation-first engineering mindset.Strong documentation and communication skills.Ability to operate effectively within structured modernization programsRequirements
Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field.8+ years of professional experience in cloud engineering.Advanced Python expertise for cloud-native applications and automation.Demonstrated experience performing legacy system analysis and cloud readiness assessments.Experience contributing to migration plans using structured frameworks (including 7 Rs).Strong AWS expertise across compute, networking, storage, database, identity, and monitoring services.Experience implementing Infrastructure-as-Code.Experience implementing CI/CD pipelines and automated testing.Strong troubleshooting, performance optimization, and systems integration skills.Preferred Qualifications
Experience supporting data-intensive or statistical processing systems.Experience supporting SAS-to-Python modernization efforts.AWS Certified Solutions Architect certification.Experience in regulated or governance-heavy environments.Experience working within enterprise data lake ecosystems.Benefits
401(k)401(k) matchingDental insuranceFlexible spending accountHealth insuranceLife insurancePaid time offProfessional development assistanceReferral programTuition reimbursementVision insurance Read Less