Solutions Architect - Government Publishing Office (GPO)

Description

The U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO) is the Federal Government’s Legislative Agency, dedicated to being the official, secure digital resource for producing, procuring, cataloging, indexing, authenticating, disseminating, and preserving the official information products of the U.S. Government.

**Division Overview:** 
The GPO Information Technology Security (IT Security) division is committed to ensuring the safety and integrity of GPO’s IT systems and applications. The division acts as a security consultant and architect, providing guidance and support to the CIO and other business organizations within GPO.

**Position Summary:** 
The Solutions Architect will be instrumental in designing and implementing secure and scalable IT solutions, aligning with GPO’s mission to protect federal information dissemination systems while promoting modernization and security enhancements. The role involves collaboration across multiple projects and operations including IT Security Development, IT Security Operations, and Zero Trust Architecture activities.

**Key Responsibilities:**

1. **Architectural Design:**
   - Develop and maintain secure system architectures that align with GPO’s IT Security requirements.
   - Apply Zero Trust principles in the design of IT solutions to enhance system resilience.

2. **Technical Guidance:**
   - Provide expert consulting on the setup, configuration, and maintenance of various security and IT operations tools including Microsoft Defender, Sentinel, Trellix, and others.
   - Collaborate with IT Security teams to develop and implement security controls and mitigation strategies.

3. **Integration and Implementation:**
   - Lead the integration of new technologies while ensuring compliance with RMF (Risk Management Framework) requirements.
   - Oversee the deployment of security solutions across GPO systems, including Defender for Endpoint and other security tools.

4. **Documentation and Standards:**
   - Produce and maintain necessary documentation such as technical white papers, SOPs, configuration management plans, and patch/update management plans.
   - Ensure all documentation is stored in the centralized GRC application/repository in collaboration with the IT Security Division leads.

5. **Continuity of Operations (COOP):**
   - Support COOP activities by ensuring solutions are adaptable to emergency relocation scenarios.
   - Assist in testing and validating solutions during COOP events to ensure business continuity.

6. **Collaboration and Communication:**
   - Work closely with GPO Agency IT Security Division Chief, project managers, and other stakeholders to ensure all solutions support business objectives and security standards.
   - Facilitate communication between teams to align IT operations with security initiatives.

**Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:**
- Strong understanding of cybersecurity principles, frameworks, and best practices (especially Zero Trust).
- Proficient in managing a variety of tools and technologies (e.g., Microsoft Azure, RSA NetWitness, Cloudflare).
- Exceptional problem-solving skills and the ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.
- Knowledge of compliance and regulatory requirements related to government IT systems.

Requirements

- Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Cybersecurity, or related field; Master’s degree preferred.
- Relevant certifications (e.g., AWS Solutions Architect, CISSP, CISM, etc.) are highly desirable.
- Proven minimal experience as a Solutions Architect, preferably within a federal or governmental context.