Data Architect

Description:

Founded in 2007, Initiate Government Solutions (IGS) a Woman Owned Small Business. We are a fully remote IT services provider that delivers innovative Enterprise IT and Health Services solutions across the federal sector. Our focus is on data analytics, health informatics, cloud migration, and the modernization of federal information systems.

IGS uses ISO 9001:2015, 20000-1:2018, 27001:2013, 28001:2007, CMMI/SVC3, CMMI/DEV3 best practices, and PMBOK® methods to provide clients with a strategy to build solid foundations to grow capabilities and revenue. Our range of IT services and delivery methodologies are tailored to our customers’ unique needs to achieve maximum value.

IGS is currently recruiting for a remote Data Architect to support the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in designing and managing enterprise data architecture across cloud platforms. This role is critical to ensuring data integrity, scalability, security, and performance for mission-critical applications and analytics platforms. The ideal candidate will have deep experience in cloud-native data solutions, data modeling, and governance, with familiarity in VA Lighthouse infrastructure and compliance requirements.

Assignment of Work and Travel:

This is a remote access assignment. The Candidate will work remotely daily and will remotely access VA systems and therein use approved VA provided communications systems. Travel is not required; however, the candidate may be required to attend onsite client meetings as requested.

This program is a transformative initiative by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs aimed at modernizing and streamlining access to VA data and services through secure, reliable, and scalable APIs. As a member of the team, you will play a key role in designing, developing, and supporting API solutions that empower veterans, partners, and internal stakeholders to access critical information and services efficiently.

In this role, you will collaborate with cross-functional teams—including product managers, engineers, security specialists, and business analysts—to deliver high-quality API products in alignment with federal standards and VA objectives. You will contribute to the program’s mission of improving veteran experiences by enabling digital innovation, ensuring compliance, and promoting best practices in API development and platform management.

This position offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on veteran care and benefits delivery, while working in a dynamic, mission-driven environment that values collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities and Duties (Included but not limited to):

• Data Architecture & Modeling: Design scalable, secure, and highly available data architecture across cloud platforms. Develop conceptual, logical, and physical data models to support application and analytics needs.
• Cloud Data Solutions: Architect and implement cloud-native data solutions using services such as Amazon RDS, DynamoDB, MongoDB, Azure SQL, and Oracle Autonomous DB. Support data migration from on-premises to cloud environments.
• Pipeline & Integration Strategy: Collaborate with pipeline engineers to define data flow architectures and integration strategies. Ensure seamless ingestion, transformation, and delivery of structured and unstructured data.
• Performance Optimization: Monitor and optimize database and data pipeline performance. Implement indexing, partitioning, caching, and clustering strategies to support high throughput and low latency.
• Security & Compliance: Define and enforce data governance policies. Ensure compliance with federal regulations such as HIPAA, FISMA, NIST, and FedRAMP. Oversee encryption, access control, and auditing mechanisms.
• Infrastructure Automation: Support automation of data infrastructure using Terraform, CloudFormation, and CI/CD tools. Collaborate with DevOps teams to integrate data architecture into deployment pipelines.
• Collaboration & Documentation: Work closely with developers, analysts, and business stakeholders to align data architecture with business goals. Document data models, architecture decisions, and operational procedures.
• Innovation & Continuous Improvement: Stay current with emerging data technologies and trends. Recommend improvements to existing data platforms and architecture.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Public Administration, or a related field (Master’s preferred).
• Proven experience with MySQL, Oracle, Amazon RDS, DynamoDB, and MongoDB.
• Strong understanding of data modeling, data governance, and cloud-native data architecture.
• Experience with ETL/ELT pipelines, FlyAway, and data integration tools.
• Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines, DevOps practices, and infrastructure automation.
• Hands-on experience with Docker, Kubernetes, Helm, and cloud platforms such as AWS.
• Proficiency in scripting and automation (e.g., Python, Bash).
• Excellent communication, documentation, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Public Trust security clearance
• Strong organizational skills

Preferred Qualifications and Core Competencies:

• Active VA Public Trust
• Prior experience supporting federal agencies, especially the Department of Veterans Affairs.
• Familiarity with VA Lighthouse tools and infrastructure.
• Certifications in cloud architecture, data engineering, or database administration.
• Experience with Backstage.io, OpenAPI, and OpenTracing.
• Prior, successful experience working in a remote environment

Successful IGS employees embody the following Core Values:

• Integrity, Honesty, and Ethics: We conduct our business with the highest level of ethics. Doing things like being accountable for mistakes, accepting helpful criticism, and following through on commitments to ourselves, each other, and our customers.
• Empathy, Emotional Intelligence: How we interact with others including peers, colleagues, stakeholders, and customers’ matters. We take collective responsibility to create an environment where colleagues and customers feel valued, included, and respected. We work within a diverse, integrated, and collaborative team to drive towards accomplishing the larger mission. We conscientiously and meticulously learn about our customers’ and end-users’ business drivers and challenges to ensure solutions meet not only technical needs but also support their mission.
• Strong Work Ethic (Reliability, Dedication, Productivity): We are driven by a strong, self-motivated, and results-driven work ethic. We are reliable, accountable, proactive, and tenacious and will do what it takes to get the job done.
• Life-Long Learner (Curious, Perspective, Goal Oriented): We challenge ourselves to continually learn and improve ourselves. We strive to be an expert in our field, continuously honing our craft, and finding solutions where others see problems.

Compensation: There are a host of factors that can influence final salary, including, but not limited to, geographic location, Federal Government contract labor categories and contract wage rates, relevant prior work experience, specific skills and competencies, education, and certifications.

Benefits: Initiate Government Solutions offers competitive compensation and a robust benefits package, including comprehensive medical, dental, and vision care, matching 401K and profit sharing, paid time off, training time for personal development, flexible spending accounts, employer-paid life insurance, employer-paid short and long term disability coverage, an education assistance program with potential merit increases for obtaining a work-related certification, employee recognition, and referral programs, spot bonuses, and other benefits that help provide financial protection for the employee and their family.

Initiate Government Solutions participates in the Electronic Employment Verification Program.