***Please note: This position is onsite and not remote. Candidates must be based in the Houston area, as relocation assistance is not provided. Only individuals authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship will be considered.*** Job Title: Enterprise Application Modernization Architect Job Type: 12 month contract Job Salary: $75-$78/hour Job Schedule: Mon-Fri, 40 hrs/week Job Location: Houston TX 77002 Pre-Employment Requirements: Successful completion of a background check, drug screening, and any applicable assessments Position Overview We are seeking an experienced Enterprise Application Modernization Architect to support the modernization of a large, mission-critical management platform with complex integrations across justice and law enforcement agencies. The selected candidate will assess the current technology environment, define the future-state architecture, develop a modernization roadmap, recommend tools and frameworks, and provide architectural oversight during implementation. Key Responsibilities • Assess existing applications, databases, infrastructure, integrations, and technology dependencies. • Develop application modernization and migration strategies using approaches such as rehosting, replatforming, refactoring, replacing, retaining, and retiring. • Create current-state and future-state architecture diagrams, technical documentation, and modernization roadmaps. • Design scalable solutions involving n-tier applications, microservices, SOA, APIs, databases, and enterprise integrations. • Evaluate on-premises, hybrid-cloud, Microsoft Azure, and AWS architecture options. • Recommend appropriate platforms, tools, frameworks, and implementation approaches. • Incorporate security, governance, compliance, disaster recovery, and CJIS-related requirements into solution designs. • Lead technical workshops and communicate recommendations to executives, IT teams, business stakeholders, and vendors. • Provide architectural guidance and oversight throughout planning and implementation. Requirements Required Qualifications • Bachelor’s degree. • Formal architecture training or certification, such as TOGAF or a comparable credential. • 15+ years of experience leading complex technology transformation or modernization initiatives. • 10+ years of experience in IT architecture, application design, systems analysis, application support, or technology project management. • 3+ years of state or local government experience within the past seven years. • Strong experience with enterprise application modernization, cloud architecture, databases, integrations, infrastructure, and security. • Experience designing n-tier, microservices, SOA, API-based, and database-driven solutions. • Experience working with Azure, AWS, or hybrid-cloud environments. • Strong architecture documentation, leadership, stakeholder management, and executive presentation skills. • Ability to meet background screening and CJIS requirements. Preferred Qualifications • Criminal justice, court, public safety, or law enforcement technology experience. • CJIS experience. • PMP or ITIL certification. • Disaster recovery and business continuity architecture experience. • Experience modernizing mission-critical public-sector systems.