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 Architecture
- Cloud Engineering
- Data Engineering
- Application Development (Python)
- Testing (manual & automated)
- DevSecOps
3. 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:
- Lambda
- Fargate
- Glue
- Aurora/Postgres
- S3
- Batch
- CloudWatch
- Secrets Manager
- Ensure 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 Board
- Interface 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:
- Mojo
- DICE
- EDL
- Tabulation
- Processing systems
- Downstream dissemination systems
- Identify 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 Architects
- Cloud Engineers
- Data Engineers
- Application Developers
- Test Engineers
- DevSecOps Engineers
Modernization & 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% Vested
- Health Insurance - 3 plans to select from
- Dental insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Short Term Disability
- Long Term Disability
- AD&D
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
- Training
- Tuition reimbursement
- Flexible schedule
- Flexible spending account
- Referral program
- Paid Legal Plan
- and 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
Skills Required
- 8-10 years leading technical modernization programs
- Demonstrated experience deploying applications to AWS environments
- Experience leading serverless architecture implementations
- Experience managing Infrastructure-as-Code and CI/CD pipelines
- Experience standing up Agile teams from inception
- Experience building backlog and epics from discovery and architecture inputs
- Experience managing cross-functional technical teams (cloud, data, app, test, DevSecOps)
- Experience leading legacy-to-cloud modernization initiatives
- Experience planning refactor vs lift-and-shift strategies
- Experience managing phased migration in high-governance federal environments
- Experience supporting architecture review boards and governance (EWG, ATO processes)
- Experience working in FISMA/FedRAMP environments
- Familiarity with Authority to Operate (ATO) processes
- Experience coordinating statistical or data-intensive system modernization
- 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
What We Do
Passion and Purpose. We are a start-up borne out of a group of architects and engineers providing solutions that transform with digital breakthroughs. We Partner - Partnership to us means being all in - on the ground, in the weeds, producing and delivering mission solutions. We Innovate - driving digital innovation and experimentation to improve decision services for the American people. We Engage – co-creating to deliver HCD (human centered design) to solve tour customers digital challenges. We Deliver – and take pride and accountability in everything we do. We are Ignite IT. Ignite IT deploys teams that are customer-obsessed, delivering a CX (Customer Experience) renaissance to our Private and Public Sector customers. We combine Commercial BX (Business of Experience) with customer delivery experts to benefit agencies to innovate and improve services and launch new digital solutions. We have built a company foundation dependent on each of our employee’s success, and provide a healthy, engaging, community where learning and knowledge sharing are encouraged. We empower our employees to be bold, continually innovate and propose new ideas to improve processes and services. We engage daily on work that touches millions of people, always focusing on positive impacts and results. We enable mission services that enable Enterprise companies to succeed in digital transformation, protect Border Agents, deploy the Army Reserve and National Guard, providing decision dominance to make America safer. We apply these digital services across the Private and Public Sectors to include include HHS, DHS, AOUSC and Army. We aim to continually raise the bar for our customers to expect more from their digital services. For more information, visit www.igniteitservices.com
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