DevOps Architect

Job Title: DevOps Architect Job Type: Hybrid (6 months - Contract to Hire) Location: Dallas Tx Summary of Functions: The DevOps Architect is a principal-level technical leadership role responsible for defining enterprise DevOps architecture, automation strategy, platform engineering direction, and software delivery modernization practices. This position provides advanced architectural expertise across DevOps platforms, cloud-native technologies, CI/CD frameworks, infrastructure automation, configuration management, container platforms, observability, and DevSecOps practices. The DevOps Architect establishes enterprise standards, reference architectures, and engineering frameworks that enable secure, scalable, and efficient technology delivery. This role leads strategic DevOps initiatives, evaluates emerging technologies, guides engineering teams, and provides technical recommendations that align automation, development, infrastructure, and security capabilities with organizational objectives without direct personnel management responsibilities Duties and Responsibilities: Strategic Leadership Provides enterprise-level technical leadership for DevOps strategy, platform engineering, automation, and technology modernization initiatives. Defines long-term DevOps capabilities, develops technology roadmaps, establishes engineering principles, and aligns DevOps practices with organizational objectives, cloud strategies, security requirements, and operational goals. Evaluates emerging technologies and industry trends, recommends strategic investments, and serves as a trusted technical advisor to IT leadership and engineering teams on DevOps transformation initiatives. Operational Excellence Provides architectural guidance and technical oversight for enterprise DevOps platforms, CI/CD ecosystems, automation frameworks, developer enablement platforms, cloud operations tooling, and operational practices. Establishes standards for reliability, scalability, security, and performance across DevOps solutions. Partners with engineering teams to resolve complex technical challenges, improve deployment processes, optimize automation capabilities, and ensure DevOps platforms support efficient and reliable technology delivery. Architecture and Design Defines enterprise DevOps architecture standards, reference architectures, design patterns, and technical frameworks for CI/CD pipelines, infrastructure-as-code, cloud automation, container platforms, application delivery, and DevSecOps practices. Leads architecture reviews, evaluates solution alternatives, designs scalable platform solutions, and ensures DevOps architectures align with enterprise architecture, cybersecurity requirements, and future technology strategies. Quality and Continuous Improvement Drives continuous improvement through automation, standardization, engineering maturity, and operational optimization. Establishes DevOps governance practices, promotes infrastructure automation, enhances monitoring and observability capabilities, integrates security practices into delivery workflows, and advances platform reliability and developer experience. Reviews performance metrics, identifies opportunities for improvement, and leads initiatives that improve delivery speed, consistency, and operational effectiveness. Team Development and Management: Provides technical leadership, mentoring, coaching, and knowledge transfer to DevOps engineers, cloud engineers, developers, and infrastructure teams without direct personnel management responsibilities. Establishes technical best practices, supports professional development, reviews engineering approaches, guides technical decision-making, and strengthens organizational DevOps capabilities through collaboration, documentation, and enablement Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration Collaborates with IT leadership, Enterprise Architecture, Cloud Engineering, Systems Engineering, Network Engineering, Cybersecurity, Application Development, Database, Service Desk, vendors, and business stakeholders to define and implement enterprise DevOps strategies. Communicates architectural recommendations, technology risks, technical standards, and strategic opportunities to technical and executive audiences. Leads cross-functional architecture discussions, supports vendor evaluations, and ensures DevOps solutions align with business priorities and enterprise technology goal. Minimum Qualifications: Education, Experience and Training: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Software Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related field; or an Associate degree with twelve (12) years of progressively responsible DevOps engineering, software development, cloud engineering, systems architecture, or infrastructure automation experience; or an equivalent combination of education, technical training, certifications, and related experience. Twelve (12) or more years of experience designing, implementing, and supporting enterprise DevOps practices, automation platforms, cloud-native architectures, and software delivery solutions is required. Demonstrated experience defining DevOps architecture strategies, designing enterprise automation frameworks, implementing platform engineering practices, establishing technical standards, and leading large-scale modernization initiatives is required. Experience with hybrid cloud environments, enterprise CI/CD platforms, infrastructure-as-code, Kubernetes, DevSecOps, and developer enablement platforms is strongly preferred. Special Requirements/Knowledge, Skills & Abilities: Knowledge of advanced DevOps architecture and engineering principles; enterprise CI/CD strategies; software delivery lifecycle practices; DevSecOps methodologies; cloud-native architectures; infrastructure-as-code frameworks; automation platforms; configuration management; container orchestration technologies including Kubernetes; cloud platforms including Microsoft Azure and/or AWS; platform engineering concepts; developer experience practices; observability and monitoring strategies; security automation; identity integration; enterprise architecture frameworks; Agile methodologies; IT service management practices; and governance models for enterprise technology platforms. Ability to define enterprise DevOps architecture and technical strategy; architect scalable automation and platform solutions; establish engineering standards and governance frameworks; design secure and resilient delivery platforms; evaluate emerging technologies and vendor solutions; lead complex transformation initiatives; influence technical decisions across organizational boundaries; communicate effectively with executive leadership and technical teams; mentor engineering staff; balance business, security, and technical requirements; manage multiple strategic priorities; and demonstrate exceptional technical leadership, analytical, and problem-solving skills without direct supervisory authority. Preferred certifications include: AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional Microsoft Certified: DevOps Engineer Expert Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD) HashiCorp Terraform Associate Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP) TOGAF Enterprise Architecture Certification ITIL Foundation or equivalent service management certification Physical/Environmental Requirements: Work is primarily performed in an office environment with occasional work in data centers or technical facilities. The position requires the ability to sit, stand, walk, bend, reach, and occasionally lift equipment weighing up to 40 pounds. The role may require participation in after-hours implementations, maintenance activities, critical incident response, disaster recovery exercises, and occasional travel between organizational facilities.