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Principal Cloud Architect

RaftCollege Park, Maryland, United StatesOnsite
This job is no longer open

This is a U.S. based position. All of the programs we support require


U.S. citizenship to be eligible for employment. All work must be conducted within the continental U.S.


Who we are:


Raft (https://TeamRaft.com) is a customer-obsessed non-traditional small business with a purposeful focus on Distributed Data Systems, Platforms at Scale, and Complex Application Development, with headquarters in Reston, VA. Our range of clients includes innovative federal and public agencies leveraging design thinking, cutting-edge tech stack, and cloud-native ecosystem. We build digital solutions that impact the lives of millions of Americans.We’re looking for an experienced Principal Cloud Architect to support our customers and join our passionate team of high-impact problem solvers.

About the role:


At Raft, we are committed to pushing the boundaries of technology to deliver innovative solutions that meet the complex demands of our clients. We are in search of a Principal Cloud Architect with a proven track record in deploying cloud-native services and infrastructure to join our team. This position is integral to our mission, requiring a candidate who is not only adept in cloud technologies but also passionate about creating robust, secure, and scalable applications. Join us at Raft, where innovation, excellence, and technical prowess are at the heart of everything we do.

What we are looking for: 


  • Proficiency in Designing and Architecting Cloud Native Services and Infrastructure: A strong background in crafting scalable, efficient, and cost-effective cloud solutions.
  • Expertise in Hosting, Monitoring, Securing, and Maintaining Web-facing Cloud Native Applications: Demonstrated capabilities in ensuring application reliability, security, and performance optimization.
  • Knowledge in Enabling Services to Support Access via DOD Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) CAC Authentication: Familiarity with secure access controls and authentication mechanisms.
  • Skill in Ensuring Services are Highly Available and Resilient: Ability to create systems that are fault-tolerant and capable of self-recovery.
  • Understanding of IDM, LDAP, DNS: Insight into identity management, directory services, and domain name systems.
  • Eligibility to Obtain and Retain a U.S. DoD Common Access Card: Must meet the criteria for access to classified information.
  • U.S. Citizenship
  • Security+: Obtain Security+ within the first 90 days of employment with Raft

Highly preferred:


  • Advanced Configuration of Cloud Services for DOD Security Compliance: In-depth knowledge of cloud security practices and compliance with DOD standards.
  • Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) Certification: Valued for its demonstration of comprehensive Kubernetes knowledge, essential for managing containerized applications.
  • Advanced Linux Troubleshooting Capabilities: Highly regarded for the ability to diagnose and solve complex Linux system issues.

Clearance Requirements:


  • Ability to obtain and maintain a US Security Clearance

Work Type: 


  • On Customer Site in College Park, MD
  • May require up to 10% travel

Salary Range:

  • $140,000 - $225,000
  • The determination of compensation is predicated upon a candidate's comprehensive experience, demonstrated skill, and proven abilities

What we will offer you:


  • Highly competitive salary
  • Fully covered healthcare, dental, and vision coverage
  • 401(k) and company match
  • Take as you need PTO + 11 paid holidays
  • Education & training benefits
  • Annual budget for your tech/gadgets needs
  • Monthly box of yummy snacks to eat while doing meaningful work
  • Remote, hybrid, and flexible work options
  • Team off-site in fun places!
  • Generous Referral Bonuses
  • And More!

Our Vision Statement: 


We bridge the gap between humans and data through radical transparency and our obsession with the mission. 

Our Customer Obsession:


We will approach every deliverable like it's a product. We will adopt a customer-obsessed mentality. As we grow, and our footprint becomes larger, teams and employees will treat each other not only as teammates but customers. We must live the customer-obsessed mindset, always. This will help us scale and it will translate to the interactions that our Rafters have with their clients and other product teams that they integrate with. Our culture will enable our success and set us apart from other companies.

How do we get there?


Public-sector modernization is critical for us to live in a better world. We, at Raft, want to innovate and solve complex problems. And, if we are successful, our generation and the ones that follow us will live in a delightful, efficient, and accessible world where out-of-box thinking, and collaboration is a norm. Raft’s core philosophy is Ubuntu: I Am, Because We are. We support our “nadi” by elevating the other Rafters. We work as a hyper collaborative team where each team member brings a unique perspective, adding value that did not exist before.

People make Raft special. We celebrate each other and our cognitive and cultural diversity. We are devoted to our practice of innovation and collaboration. 

We’re an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.


This job is no longer open

Life at Raft

Raft is a full stack digital consulting firm with niche expertise in rapid delivery of modern, user-first, scalable, and data-intensive digital solutions. We accelerate the missions of our federal partners through human-centered design (HCD) and agile development practices, bringing deep technical expertise in DevSecOps, Kubernetes management, cloud-native microservice architectures, and secure, open source delivery. As an SBA Certified 8(a) WOSB, we provide services that fall under the CNCF umbrella. We put our people and our culture first. We work with some of the smartest, hardest working experts in their field. We owe it to them to make sure our team is free of meaningless restrictions and internal politics so they can focus on what they love, finding innovative solutions. We build off the Open-Source and resist vendor lock in. That way you’re not paying us to reinvent the wheel, our solutions play nice with others and are always adaptable. We know digital innovation doesn’t always operate during bank hours, so neither do we. (It's also why we don’t dress like bankers.) We aren’t afraid to go the extra mile or put in the extra time to find a solution. We get it right the first time; we won’t waste our time (and your money) trying to fix something that’s fundamentally broken. It’s kind of like making an exceptional cup of coffee, if the beans are roasted wrong, it doesn’t matter how much pumpkin spice you dump in your cup, it’s still not going to taste great. And above all else we’re up for a challenge; it’s in our DNA. Ask us to something that’s never been done, or better yet something that can’t be done, and we’ll find a way to do. It’s just who we are. If you need a partner that’s looking toward the future and not the past, don’t go traditional, go Raft.
Thrive Here & What We Value1. Customer obsessed mentality2. Hyper collaborative team player3. Devoted to innovation and collaboration4. Elevates others through Ubuntu philosophy5. Equal opportunity employer6. Generous referral bonuses7. Monthly box of yummy snacks for meaningful work8. Team offsite in fun places9. Celebrating cognitive and cultural diversity10. Remote, hybrid, and flexible work options
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