We’re hiring a Staff Cloud Platform Architect – Networks & IAM (AWS) to lead our cloud networking architecture, AWS Organization/IAM strategy, and DNS/email posture. You’ll own patterns for routing, segmentation, and service-to-service security; partner with Security on controls and incident readiness; contribute to ARB, URI naming, Privacy, Tech Plan, and BCP; and generalize solutions that raise the bar for all platform users. Privileged access is a sacred trust—you’ll exemplify least privilege and auditable change. Strong AWS networking/IAM expertise, SDLC discipline, and clear, empathetic leadership required.
This individual works with divine guidance to provide or support technology that furthers the mission of the Church and reflects the eternal impact of the gospel.
We value early, mid and late-career candidates and encourage all applicants with the posted skills and abilities to apply.
Cloud networking architecture & operations
• Provide architecture oversight for existing network topologies and lead the design of all new networks (layered/segmented, multi-AZ/region).
• Own end-to-end routing architecture and traffic flows across CloudFront, ALB/ELB/NLB, 3rd Party DDOS/WAF, reverse proxies, on-prem load balancing, BCP-47 language tags, and cross-domain controls.
• Lead the re-architecture of complex network boundaries and firewalls (e.g., ICS firewall → AWS-native constructs) to simplify reasoning, improve security, and reduce operational toil.
• Technologies you’ll steward include VPC, subnets/AZs, NACLs, security groups, routing, NAT, Transit Gateway, Direct Connect, IPSec, VPC peering/sharing, PrivateLink, static IP management, WAN, etc.
DNS & email posture (Route 53)
• Govern DNS for product and corporate domains, including MX, DKIM, DMARC, SPF records and domain registration approvals.
• Ensure resilient, least-privilege automation for DNS updates and changes with auditable workflows.
AWS Organization/IAM strategy
• Set direction and provide oversight for AWS Organizations: OU structure, Service Control Policies (SCPs), service integrations, account vending, and guardrails.
• Define and continuously evolve RBAC/ABAC and IAM policy strategies—identity-, resource-, and permission-boundary patterns—for secure service-to-service access across accounts and regions.
• Partner with AWS Support and internal stakeholders to keep pace with platform advances and to resolve high-severity issues swiftly.
• Oversee secure email hosting used in account creation (AWS WorkMail) and related provisioning flows.
Security partnership & governance
• Partner closely with Security to validate infrastructure posture, drive threat-modeling, codify controls, and contribute to Security Committee discussions with deep IAM expertise.
• Champion production-readiness and compliance expectations within the FamilySearch SDLC.
Cross-org committees & assignments
• Actively serve on/advise: Architecture Review Board (ARB), URI Naming governance (approve URI paths & domain names), future platform strategy, Privacy, Tech Plan, and Business Continuity work.
• Set and maintain standards that prevent drift and namespace chaos, especially for URI/Domain usage.
Platform enablement & problem solving
• Meet with platform users, synthesize pain points, convert point solutions → generalized platform capabilities, and partner with PM for roadmap/implementation.
• Advance shared data and observability initiatives (e.g., Cloud Intelligence Dashboards, data lake direction) that improve cost, performance, and decision making.
Application infrastructure stewardship (select examples)
• Provide design/implementation leadership or advisory support for key services (e.g., Russian Access/Yandex admin, Family Search Center Proxies, Blaze Proxy, Correctional Facilities, OLIB decommissioning, Germany Redaction), ensuring secure, performant, and compliant architectures that follow SDLC patterns.
Trusted access & ethics (critical expectation)
This position participates in a controlled privileged-access rotation (e.g., Organization Admin; break-glass processes protected by MFA/Passkeys). Elevated access here is a sacred responsibility—granted based on trust, verified by process. You must exemplify least privilege, impeccable judgment, separation of duties, auditable change management, and strict adherence to internal policies and legal/regulatory requirements.
To successfully perform the essential functions of the job there may be physical requirements which need to be met such as sitting for long periods of time and using computer monitors/equipment
Preferred: