Information Technology Solutions Architect

IT Solutions Architect (Contract-to-Hire) Location: Topeka, KS (Remote with local requirement – must be within ~1 hour commute) Type: Contract-to-Hire Work Setup: Mostly remote with occasional on-site expectations Eligibility: 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 Doing • Drive architecture strategy across enterprise systems and infrastructure • Partner with business and technical teams to define complex requirements • Design and model system workflows, data flows, and integrations • Review and guide IT projects to ensure alignment with standards and best practices • Evaluate new technologies, systems, and solutions • Lead architectural reviews and provide direction on system design decisions • Support testing strategies and system performance validation • Contribute to governance, standards, and change management processes What We Are Looking For • 14+ years of overall IT experience • 10+ years in architecture, development, or system integration roles • Strong background in systems design and enterprise-level architecture • Ability to work cross-functionally (PMs, developers, analysts, admins) • Excellent communication and stakeholder interaction skills • Current hands-on technical experience — not just leadership or oversight Technical Environment • Microsoft stack (Windows Server, Visual Studio, Office tools) • .NET (C# / VB), Java, or similar modern development languages • SQL databases and strong SQL skills • Experience with system integration and data-driven applications Ideal Background • Senior Systems Engineers who moved into architecture • Lead Developers with architecture responsibilities • Technical Architects with experience across applications + infrastructure • ImportantMust be local to the Topeka, KS area (within commuting distance) • Must be a U.S. Citizen • This is a true architect role — not a senior engineer title alone • Candidates with primarily cloud-only or network-only backgrounds will not be a fit