Job Title: Principal GCP Solutions Architect
Location: Remote (USA)
Experience: 15+ years preferred
Job Summary:
We are looking for a seasoned, executive-ready Principal GCP Solutions Architect with 15+ years of IT leadership experience to serve as the chief technical authority for a multi-million-dollar legacy SAS to Google Cloud Platform (GCP) migration program.
In this strategic, high-visibility leadership role, you will be accountable for defining the overarching modernization strategy, translating legacy SAS ecosystems (Base SAS, Macros, SAS EG, SAS Viya) into modern cloud-native architectures (BigQuery, Dataproc, Dataflow, Vertex AI). You will act as the primary liaison to the Client's Executive Leadership and Enterprise Architecture Review Board (ARB), leading technical defense sessions, justifying architectural paradigms, and driving formal consensus and architectural sign-offs across complex enterprise domains.
Key Responsibilities Strategic Architecture & Modernization:
- Establish the target-state cloud architecture, modernization blueprint, and multi-phase roadmap to transition complex SAS footprints to GCP-native analytics platforms.
- Architect conversion patterns across diverse workloads:
- SAS Data Steps, Procs, & SQL Google BigQuery (BigLake, SQL stored procedures, dbt).
- Statistical & Predictive Models Vertex AI and Python/PySpark on Serverless Dataproc.
- Complex Orchestration & Batch Workflows Cloud Composer (Apache Airflow) or Workflows.
- Multi-tier Datamarts & Storage Cloud Storage (GCS) & BigQuery.
- Establish enterprise-wide data validation, dual-run reconciliation, and automated parity frameworks to guarantee data consistency and computational integrity between SAS and GCP.
- Define and enforce governance frameworks covering IAM, data mesh/governance (Dataplex), VPC Service Controls, Customer-Managed Encryption Keys (CMEK), and regulatory compliance (e.g., HIPAA, GDPR, PCI-DSS, Basel III/BCBS 239).
Executive Client Defense & Architecture Approval:
- Lead architecture defense, design reviews, and steer-co presentations before the Client Chief Enterprise Architect, Chief Data Officer (CDO), and ARB.
- Drive consultative discussions regarding total cost of ownership (TCO), capacity sizing, compute optimization (BigQuery editions/slots vs. Dataproc), and migration approaches (automated translation vs. refactoring).
- Author and govern high-level designs (HLD), Architecture Design Documents (ADD), threat models, and architectural decision records (ADRs).
- Proactively address enterprise security audits, infrastructure hurdles, and governance challenges to secure formal written sign-offs.
- Program Leadership & Technical Governance
- Provide technical direction, mentorship, and architectural oversight to cross-functional engineering pods, migration leads, and data engineering squads.
- Guide the creation of reference implementations, Proofs of Concept (PoCs), and code conversion accelerators for automated SAS macro and proc translations.
- Oversee zero-downtime cutover plans, dual-run operations, business continuity, and disaster recovery (DR) strategies.
- Partner with client leadership to establish target operational operating models (Cloud CoE / FinOps).
Required Skills & Experience:
- Extensive IT & Cloud Leadership: 15+ years of technology consulting and solution design experience, with substantial hands-on and architectural depth in enterprise GCP data platforms (BigQuery, Dataproc, Dataflow, Composer, Vertex AI, Dataplex).
- Legacy Modernization Pedigree: Proven track record leading large-scale analytics migrations from legacy analytical platforms (SAS, Teradata, Oracle, or Mainframe) into cloud environments. Deep functional comprehension of Base SAS, SAS Macros, SAS/STAT, and SAS EG logic is required.
- Executive Stakeholder Management: Demonstrated mastery in guiding client C-suite, Chief Architects, and ARBs through complex architectural transformations and change management.
- Security, Compliance & Networking: Comprehensive mastery of enterprise GCP networking (Shared VPC, Cloud Interconnect, Private Service Connect) and zero-trust security postures (VPC-SC, Cloud KMS/CMEK, BigQuery policy tags and row/column security).
- Automation & Enterprise DevOps: Strong grounding in Infrastructure as Code (Terraform), GitOps, and enterprise-grade CI/CD automation.
Qualifications & Certifications:
- Education: Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Systems, or a related field.
- Required Certifications: Google Cloud Certified Professional Cloud Architect AND Professional Data Engineer.
- Preferred Background: Senior leadership/advisory tenure within a premier Global System Integrator (GSI), Big 4, or elite technology consultancy.