Docker / Container Architect

We are seeking a hands-on Solution Architect to lead the redesign and implementation of a mission-critical application that ingests and processes large volumes of sensor data, drives real-time alerting, and supports operational reporting in an Aerospace & Defense context. You will architect and build end-to-end solutions spanning application, data, and infrastructure layers on Azure GovCloud, working closely with engineering teams to modernize data pipelines, improve reliability, and ensure secure, compliant operations. Key Responsibilities Own the end-to-end architecture and implementation of a modernized sensor data processing platform, including ingestion, transformation, alerting, and reporting capabilities. Architect, design, and develop scalable services and components using Python and Java, deployed on containerized and Kubernetes-based platforms (AKS) in Azure GovCloud. Lead the redesign and migration of data ingestion pipelines from legacy / CDC patterns (including Debezium) to modern streaming and batch frameworks using Kafka, Airflow, and related tooling. Define and optimize data models, schemas, and query strategies for high-volume sensor and telemetry data stored in Oracle DB, PostgreSQL, and related datastores. Design and guide implementation of CI / CD pipelines and infrastructure-as-code (IaC) to enable repeatable, automated deployments (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes, Terraform, Git-based workflows). Collaborate with cloud, data, and application engineering teams to define technical requirements, integration points, SLAs, and non-functional requirements (performance, scalability, observability, and availability). Integrate Databricks (limited scope) and / or Spark-based processing where appropriate for advanced analytics, large-scale batch jobs, or historical sensor data workloads. Define event-driven and streaming architectures leveraging Kafka and related ecosystem components for near real-time ingestion and alert delivery. Implement and enforce security and compliance best practices appropriate to Aerospace & Defense and Azure GovCloud environments, including data protection, access control, and auditing. Establish observability standards and patterns using OpenSearch and related tools for logging, metrics, and traceability across the platform. Conduct architecture reviews, performance tuning, and capacity planning to ensure the platform can scale to large sensor volumes and evolving mission needs. Produce clear technical documentation, architecture diagrams, and reference implementations to support ongoing maintenance and onboarding of additional teams. Provide hands-on technical leadership and mentorship to engineers, setting coding standards, design patterns, and review practices aligned with modern cloud-native engineering. Required Qualifications U.S. Citizen. Engagement type : Contract (1099 or C2C only). 5+ years of hands-on experience in software engineering, solutions architecture, or a closely related role, with a strong emphasis on designing and building production systems. Advanced proficiency in Python , including experience building services, automation, and integration components; familiarity with Java for backend services. Strong experience with DevOps and cloud-native engineering, including : Containerization and orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes; AKS strongly preferred). CI / CD pipelines and Git-based workflows. Infrastructure-as-code (Terraform or similar). Deep experience with relational databases (Oracle DB, PostgreSQL or similar) : schema design, performance optimization, indexing, and query tuning. Demonstrated experience designing, implementing, and maintaining data ingestion / ETL / ELT pipelines (batch and / or streaming) using tools such as Airflow and Kafka. Practical experience building solutions in a major cloud platform; Azure GovCloud experience strongly preferred or demonstrated ability to quickly adapt to regulated cloud environments. Experience working with high-volume data workloads (e.g., sensor, telemetry, or log data) where performance, resiliency, and data quality are critical. Excellent communication skills with the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional engineering teams and non-technical stakeholders. Preferred Qualifications Experience with Databricks , Spark, or other distributed data processing platforms for large-scale batch analytics or historical data processing. Hands-on experience with streaming technologies and event-driven patterns, especially Kafka and related ecosystem components (producers, consumers, topics, schemas). Experience designing event-driven or microservices-based architectures, including patterns for service decomposition, messaging, and fault tolerance. Familiarity with CDC patterns and tools, including prior exposure to Debezium and strategies for phasing out or modernizing legacy CDC solutions. Knowledge of security best practices in cloud and data platforms, including identity and access management, network segmentation, encryption, and audit / logging in regulated environments. Experience with observability and search tools such as OpenSearch (or ELK-family tools) for log aggregation, alerting, and troubleshooting. Background working in Aerospace & Defense, government, or other highly regulated industries. Who You Are