Azure Architect

Summary This position is located in the Railroad Retirement Board's Bureau of Information Services. The incumbent will be responsible for the design, development, implementation, and optimization of cloud-based solutions within Microsoft Azure. This job announcement may be used to fill one or more vacancies. This is a bargaining unit position. This position is represented by the Council of AFGE Locals in the Board. Responsibilities As an Azure Architect, you will: Serve as the organization's senior Azure Architect and recognized subject matter expert (SME) for cloud systems engineering, providing authoritative guidance on the design, development, implementation, and governance of Microsoft Azure solutions. Advise senior leadership on cloud strategy, investment planning, and long-term modernization initiatives, influencing the agency's overall IT direction. Design and engineer enterprise-level cloud architectures that are secure, scalable, highly available, and resilient, ensuring alignment with mission requirements and seamless integration with on-premises systems in hybrid environments. Lead evaluations of existing and proposed IT systems, applications, and services to determine optimal hosting environments, conducting detailed analyses of architectural feasibility, system performance, cybersecurity requirements, and total cost of ownership. Perform comprehensive cost-benefit and lifecycle cost analyses comparing Azure-based solutions with traditional on-premises infrastructure, providing data-driven recommendations to leadership to support strategic and investment decisions. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Minimum Qualifications for GS-13 level: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is: Design and implement secure Microsoft Azure cloud solutions within an enterprise or hybrid environment. Planning and executing cloud migration and modernization activities, including workload assessment, migration planning, implementation, or validation. Implementing cloud security and governance controls based on NIST guidance or comparable cybersecurity standards. In addition, all applicants qualifying based on experience must have IT-related experience demonstrating each of the four competencies listed below. Applicants must demonstrate possession of these competencies within the body of the resume; no separate statements addressing them are required. Attention to Detail - Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail. Customer Service - Works with clients and customers (that is, any individuals who use or receive the services or products that your work unit produces, including the general public, individuals who work in the agency, other agencies, or organizations outside the Government) to assess their needs, provide information or assistance, resolve their problems, or satisfy their expectations; knows about available products and services; is committed to providing quality products and services. Oral Communication - Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately. Problem Solving - Identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and to make recommendations. Time-in grade-restrictions: Applicants who are current or former Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements (52 weeks at the next lower grade level). Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Only experience and/or education obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered. Documenting experience: IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Qualifications are based on breadth/level of experience. In addition to describing duties performed, applicants must provide the exact dates of each period of employment (from MM/YY to MM/YY) and the number of hours worked per week if part time. As qualification determinations cannot be made when resumes do not include the required information, failure to provide this information may result in disqualification. Applicants are encouraged to use the USAJOBS Resume Builder to develop their federal resume. Do not copy and paste the duties or specialized experience from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position. Education There is no education substitution for this position. Additional Information Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. (https://appsupport-usastaffing.opm.gov/hc/en-us/sections/45063131363475-Reasonable-Accommodation-Information) Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA): To be eligible for a VEOA appointment under Merit Promotion procedures, the veteran must be a preference eligible or a veteran separated after 3 years or more of continuous active service performed under honorable conditions. INTERAGENCY CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PLAN (ICTAP): ICTAP provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority for competitive service vacancies. You must be determined to be well-qualified for the vacancy to be eligible for special selection priority. After submission of an acceptable application which meets ICTAP eligibility, you will be determined to be well-qualified for a vacancy if your rating places you in the 85th percentile or higher in total possible points. ICTAP eligibles must submit proof of eligibility for special selection priority. Please see the Required Documents section below for more information. Click here for more information on ICTAP. Noncompetitive Appointment Authorities: For more information on noncompetitive appointment authority eligibility requirements: Special Hiring Authorities for Veterans Special Hiring Authorities for Certain Military Spouses Other Special Appointment Authorities If you are a male applicant who was born after 12/31/59 you are required to register under the Military Selective Service Act; the Defense Authorization Act of 1986 requires that you be registered or you are not eligible for appointment in this agency.