Azure Data Architect (Hybrid - 5 days onsite per month)

The following are required for bid submission:

• Resume
• R2R
• Cover Letter
• Meets Work Location

Position Description

• Please ensure you attach the SC Cover Sheet (attached), a valid Right to Represent, and the candidate's resume with full legal first name, and last name.
• The State of South Carolina is looking for an SAP Developer/Global Support Manager
• Why is this position open: New Position - DEA requires a Principal Azure Cloud and Integration Architecture with extensive experience designing,
• implementing, and governing enterprise-scale cloud solutions. This resource will provide senior-level architecture leadership for DEA's modernization initiatives, including the development of a cloud-native integration platform supporting integrations between statewide agencies, SCEIS, and enterprise business applications.
• Interview Process: 1 round, virtual or onsite for local resources
• Duration of the Contract: 12 months
• Possibility for Extension: Yes
• Work Location: Fully Remote with occasional onsite visits required. (The consultant should anticipate being onsite approximately 2-4 business days per month or as frequently as directed by DEA leadership.
• Candidate Location: No South Carolina residency required. Open to nationwide candidates; must be able to work eastern time zone hours. All travel-related costs for onsite work will be the responsibility of the resource, regardless of the frequency of onsite work.

Required Skills

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering Data Science, or a related technical field. An equivalent combination or relevant education, professional certifications, and progressively responsible experience may be considered in lieu of the degree requirement.
• 10+ years of experience designing, developing and implementing enterprise technology solutions.
• 7+ years of experience designing and implementing cloud solutions and cloud-native architectures using Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud Platform (GCP), or comparable enterprise cloud platforms.
• Demonstrated experience designing enterprise integration solutions utilizing REST APIs, event-driven architecture, asynchronous messaging, and distributed systems
• Experience designing and implementing enterprise data platforms using cloud-based data lake, analytics, or data engineering technologies.
• Experience with Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC), CI/CD pipelines, DevOps practices, and development automation using tools such as Terraform, Bicep, ARM templates, or equivalent technologies.
• Strong understanding of cloud security, identity and access management, scalability, performance optimization, monitoring, and operational support.
• Experience establishing cloud architecture standards, technical design pattern, governance practices, and solution documentation.

Preferred Skills

• Certification: One of the following certifications: Azure Solutions Architect Expert, Azure Developer Associate, Azure Data Engineer Associate, or TOGAF/an Enterprise Architecture certification.
• Experience integrating SAP, SAP S/4HANA, ERP platforms, HR systems, or enterprise financial applications.
• Experience supporting large-scale government, public-sector, or highly regulated technology environments.
• Experience with Azure API Management, Azure Functions, Logic Apps, Event Grid, Ivalua, or other ERP systems.
• Experience establishing enterprise architecture standards, cloud governance practices, and technical design patterns.

Project Overview

• DEA requires a Principal Azure Cloud and Integration Architecture with extensive experience designing, implementing, and governing enterprise-scale cloud solutions. This resource will provide senior-level architecture leadership for DEA's modernization initiatives, including the development of a cloud-native integration platform supporting integrations between statewide agencies, SCEIS, and enterprise business applications.
• The consultant will provide technical architecture expertise across Azure cloud services, enterprise integration patterns, API management, data platforms, DevOps practices, and cloud governance. This role will work closely with enterprise architects, application teams, infrastructure teams, cybersecurity, vendors, and business stakeholders to ensure solutions are scalable, secure, maintainable, and aligned with enterprise technology strategy.

Opportunity to:

• Lead the architecture, design, and implementation of a modern Azure cloud-native integration platform supporting statewide agencies, SCEIS, and enterprise HR and ERP systems.
• Establish scalable integration patterns using APIs, event-driven architecture, asynchronous messaging, and cloud-native Azure services.
• Design and guide implementation of a statewide Azure data lake and supporting data engineering capabilities.
• Provide technical leadership for DevOps, GitOps, CI/CD, security, observability, and operational readiness.
• Define architecture standards, technical patterns, and governance practices that support secure, reliable, and maintainable enterprise solutions.
• Mentor developers, engineers, and architects while supporting knowledge transfer and long-term internal capability development.

Why is this position open (new role, increased workload, new dept, resignation, promotion)?

• New Position
• Background screenings required for all Admin postings:
• 7-year Standard Background Check Credit History
• Driving Record (MVR) E-Verify
• SLED Check
• CJIS certification will be required for this position and processed by client No

Scope of the project:

• DEA is developing a cloud-native integration platform in Microsoft Azure to support enterprise integrations between statewide agencies, SCEIS, and internal applications. The platform will provide modern synchronous and asynchronous integration capabilities using RESTful APIs, event-driven architecture, enterprise messaging patterns, data lakehouse technologies, and enhanced observability capabilities.
• The consultant will provide principal-level architecture expertise to guide solution design, technical implementation, and enterprise adoption of the platform.

Daily Duties / Responsibilities:

• Lead the architecture, design, and implementation of enterprise Azure cloud solutions supporting DEA's modernization initiatives.
• Design and establish scalable cloud-native integration patterns utilizing APIs, event-driven architecture, data integration, and Azure platform services.
• Provide technical leadership and architecture guidance to development teams, project teams, and implementation partners throughout the solution lifecycle.
• Develop and maintain cloud architecture standards, technical documentation, governance practices, and solution recommendations aligned with enterprise objectives.
• Collaborate with business stakeholders, enterprise architects, infrastructure, cybersecurity, and vendors to deliver secure, reliable, and scalable enterprise solutions.
• Mentor technical staff and support knowledge transfer while promoting cloud engineering best practices and continuous improvements.

Required Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering Data Science, or a related technical field. An equivalent combination or relevant education, professional certifications, and progressively responsible experience may be considered in lieu of the degree requirement.
• Work Address: DEA: 301 Gervais Street, Columbia SC 29201
• Remote, with on-site attendance at the DEA offices in Columbia, SC as required by project needs. The consultant should anticipate being on-site approximately 2-4 business days per month, or more frequently as directed by DEA leadership.

VPN or state equipment?

• VPN

Required / Preferred Certifications:

• Preferred:
  • Azure Solutions Architect Expert
  • Azure Developer Associate
  • Azure Data Engineer Associate
  • TOGAF or equivalent Enterprise Architecture certification

Interview format: Virtual or in-person?

• Virtual
• If candidate is local, we would like an option of in person interview.