INFRASTRUCTURE ARCHITECT I
FUNCTIONAL PURPOSE:
Serves as an architect for cloud and on-premise infrastructure implementations and operation to ensure performance, reliability, and security of enterprise applications and systems. Implements and operates infrastructure technologies via planning, process, procedure, automation, and optimization.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Serves as an architect on projects and initiatives for on-premise and cloud-based infrastructure solutions. Provides technical guidance and expertise to professionals and other stakeholders involved in the implementation and operation of cloud-based and on-premise infrastructure technologies and architecture to ensure developed solutions align with business organizational strategies and objectives.
2. Implements, and operates enterprise wide IT infrastructure solutions including: physical and virtual IT hardware environments and platforms, operating systems, databases, backup and recovery, disaster recovery, virtualization, storage, web and application servers, event streaming, APIs, containerization, and other IT software environments and platforms.
3. Implements and operates IT infrastructure solutions related to Cloud, Platform as a Service (PaaS), Software as a Service (SaaS), Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), and on-premise to be used for applications, enterprise data, and other architectures.
4. Implements, maintains, and validates IT Infrastructure processes, procedures, standards, triage, designs, guides, operations, future strategies, and current state layouts using collaborative tools to share consistent knowledge, security, and reliability of IT Infrastructure technologies to stakeholders.
5. Provides technical assistance to and collaborates with stakeholders engaged in the implementation, operation, usage, and maintenance of infrastructure solutions. Escalates significant issues to appropriate personnel for awareness.
6. Identifies and resolves issues encountered on IT systems related to implementation, operation, and usage by leading the triage through complete technical assistance, guidance, advice, tuning, modifications, communications, and reporting.
7. Implements and monitors optimized performance measurements, resiliency, and security metrics. Implements and maintains processes for the evaluation of infrastructure effectiveness, including the defining and tracking of performance metrics. Develops, presents, and publishes deliverables (e.g., CPU/memory utilization) for broad stakeholder consumption.
8. Facilitates coordination and ongoing communications with contract vendors to ensure clear expectations, appropriate prioritization, consistent service, and to troubleshoot issues.
SUPERVISION:
Manager of unit to which assigned.
Requirements
REQUIREMENTS:
- Ability to resolve incidents and restore network and IT infrastructure services through technical assistance, guidance, triage, coordination, collaboration, and configuration.
- EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: Applicants must possess one of the following: 1. Bachelors or Graduate degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Engineering, Computer Information Systems, or a closely related field from a college or university accredited by a national or regional accreditation organization recognized and sanctioned by the U.S. Department of Education. OR 2. Possess four (4) years of equivalent professional experience managing enterprise-wide infrastructure technologies.
- Knowledge of physical and virtual information system infrastructure sufficient to implement and operate infrastructure technologies, and the modernization of legacy infrastructure technologies.
- Knowledge of cloud services (e.g., Amazon, Microsoft, and Google) sufficient to implement and operate cloud infrastructure services.
- Ability to implement and operate the integration of on-premise and cloud technologies from providers (e.g., Microsoft, IBM, Oracle, HP, Linux, SAP) with existing organizational technologies, systems, or services.
- Ability to implement and operate existing, new, and emerging infrastructure technologies by following processes, standards, and procedures to ensure consistency, security, and reliability.
- Ability to implement and operate automation technologies to provision, patch, upgrade, deploy infrastructure across the enterprise.
- Ability to implement and maintain processes used for evaluating infrastructure performance, including procedures to define performance metrics, analyze data, and improve infrastructure operability.
- Ability to communicate, orally and in writing, sufficient to develop and present technical documentation; provide written and/or verbal guidance on technical issues; and prepare/publish/present recommendations and reports to all levels of management including executive leadership.
- SPECIAL CONDITIONS: Applicant must pass and maintain a Moderate Background Investigation (MBI). This investigation requires, among other things, completion of a questionnaire, fingerprinting for a criminal records check, and credit check. A drug test may be required.
Benefits
- Retirement: Employees are covered by the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). This features a defined benefit pension plan and a Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), which is similar to a 401(k) with up to a 5% agency match.
- Health and Insurance: Workers qualify for the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program, with a large portion of premiums paid by the USPS. Employees can also utilize tax-free Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), dental and vision coverage, and basic life insurance.
- Paid Time Off: Career employees receive 13 days of annual leave (vacation) initially, increasing to 20 days after 3 years and 26 days after 15 years. They also accrue 13 days of sick leave annually.
- Pay and Financial Perks: Employees are eligible for regular salary increases, overtime pay, Sunday premium pay, and night shift differentials. Tax-free commuter benefits for public transit and parking are also provided.
- Career Growth: The USPS is a massive employer with structured pathways for career advancement, allowing employees to move from entry-level or non-career roles into specialized, management, or corporate positions.
- Job Security: As a vital national infrastructure, the postal service offers significant long-term job security.
- Autonomy and Activity: Roles like mail carriers often appeal to those who prefer working independently, being outdoors, and avoiding desk-bound jobs.