Solutions Architect - National Security & Defence, Public Sector

Overview

This position mandates eligibility for a New Zealand Government Security Clearance, requiring candidates to be New Zealand citizens or permanent residents with verifiable background histories. Applications from ineligible candidates will not be considered.

Join the AWS Public Sector team in New Zealand as a Solutions Architect dedicated to supporting national security, defence, and public safety sectors. This role involves partnering with government bodies and their technology collaborators to design, prototype, and deploy cloud solutions that underpin mission-critical functions within secure and sovereign environments.

Key Responsibilities

The Solutions Architect will facilitate accelerated cloud adoption for NSD clients, guiding them from initial workload evaluations to deployment of production-grade architectures. Acting as a trusted technical consultant, the role translates complex operational requirements into effective cloud-native architectures leveraging AWS technologies.

Primary Duties

• Design and evaluate architectures for secure, resilient workloads in classified and protected settings.
• Lead technical initiatives such as proofs of concept, prototypes, architecture reviews, and Well-Architected assessments.
• Provide expert advice on AWS security services, compliance protocols like NZISM and NIST, and strategies for sovereign cloud deployment.
• Promote the adoption of advanced services including AI/ML, containers, serverless computing, and data analytics within secure environments.
• Establish strong, trust-based engagements with technical leaders across NSD agencies.
• Interpret mission and operational demands into cloud-native solutions.
• Conduct technical presentations, workshops, and immersion sessions tailored for both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Spot opportunities to expedite customer objectives through AWS service and program innovations.
• Collaborate closely with account managers, partner solutions architects, professional services, and specialist teams.
• Engage with New Zealand defence primes and systems integrators to assist joint solution delivery.
• Contribute to the wider NZ Solutions Architect team by sharing knowledge, conducting peer reviews, and fostering community.
• Provide technical inputs relating to opportunity evaluations, pricing negotiations, and proposal preparations.

Team Environment

The role is embedded within a supportive and intellectually curious team that values kindness, integrity, and a relentless commitment to enhancing customer and citizen experiences.

Basic Qualifications

• Minimum 4 years experience in specific technology domains such as software development, cloud computing, systems engineering, infrastructure, security, networking, or data analytics.
• At least 2 years’ experience in design, implementation, or consulting within applications and infrastructures.
• Over 10 years of IT development or implementation/consulting experience in the software or Internet sectors.
• Eligibility to obtain and maintain New Zealand Government Security Clearance, with preference for candidates currently holding clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience within software development or Internet-based industries.
• Proven track record in migrating or transforming legacy systems to cloud environments.

Additional Information

AWS embraces diversity and inclusion, providing support and accommodations throughout the recruitment and onboarding process for candidates with disabilities who require assistance.

Company: Amazon Web Services New Zealand Limited.