IT Solutions Architect - State of Kansas

Job Description IT Solutions Architect (Contract-to-Hire)Location: Topeka, KS (Remote with local requirement – must be within ~1 hour commute)Type: Contract-to-HireWork Setup: Mostly remote with occasional on-site expectationsEligibility: U.S. Citizenship required (no sponsorship available)We're looking for a senior-level IT Solutions Architect to join a large-scale, mission-driven environment supporting critical systems and infrastructure. This is a hands-on solutions architect role focused on systems, application architecture, and Microsoft-based environments — not a pure cloud, network, or strategy-only position. You'll work across teams to guide architecture decisions, influence technical direction, and ensure systems align with long-term business and technology strategy.What You'll Be DoingDrive architecture strategy across enterprise systems and infrastructurePartner with business and technical teams to define complex requirementsDesign and model system workflows, data flows, and integrationsReview and guide IT projects to ensure alignment with standards and best practicesEvaluate new technologies, systems, and solutionsLead architectural reviews and provide direction on system design decisionsSupport testing strategies and system performance validationContribute to governance, standards, and change management processesWhat We Are Looking For14+ years of overall IT experience10+ years in architecture, development, or system integration rolesStrong background in systems design and enterprise-level architectureAbility to work cross-functionally (PMs, developers, analysts, admins)Excellent communication and stakeholder interaction skillsCurrent hands-on technical experience — not just leadership or oversightTechnical EnvironmentMicrosoft stack (Windows Server, Visual Studio, Office tools).NET (C# / VB), Java, or similar modern development languagesSQL databases and strong SQL skillsExperience with system integration and data-driven applicationsIdeal Background Senior Systems Engineers who moved into architectureLead Developers with architecture responsibilitiesTechnical Architects with experience across applications + infrastructureImportant Must be local to the Topeka, KS area (within commuting distance)Must be a U.S. CitizenThis is a true architect role — not a senior engineer title aloneCandidates with primarily cloud-only or network-only backgrounds will not be a fit