Principal M365 Exchange & Collaboration Architect

We are seeking a highly experienced Principal M365 and Exchange Architect to support a federal customer in designing, operating, and modernizing enterprise collaboration, messaging, and identity platforms. This role provides architectural leadership and hands-on technical expertise across Microsoft 365, Exchange (SE and Online), Entra ID, Teams, and hybrid cloud environments in a highly regulated setting.

The ideal candidate will function as a technical authority and trusted advisor to government stakeholders, leading architecture decisions, large-scale migrations, and platform optimization efforts while ensuring security, compliance, and operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities

Architecture & Technical Leadership

• Serve as the lead architect for Microsoft 365, Exchange, and collaboration services in support of a federal customer.
• Design and maintain enterprise reference architectures, standards, and patterns for hybrid and cloud-based collaboration systems.
• Provide architectural guidance aligned with federal security, compliance, and governance requirements.
• Evaluate Microsoft roadmap features and recommend adoption strategies based on mission needs.

Exchange & Collaboration Services

• Provide senior-level administration and architectural oversight of Exchange SE and Exchange Online environments.
• Architect and manage mail flow, security, compliance, retention, and eDiscovery solutions.
• Lead and support enterprise migrations, including hybrid-to-cloud transitions and tenant consolidations.
• Architect, configure, and support Microsoft Teams deployments, integrations, and lifecycle management.

Identity & Access Management

• Design and support hybrid identity solutions using Entra ID and Entra ID Connect.
• Implement and maintain identity synchronization, access controls, and governance policies.
• Support conditional access, privileged identity management, and zero trust initiatives in coordination with security teams.

Automation & Engineering

• Design and maintain PowerShell-based automation frameworks to improve operational efficiency and reliability.
• Develop scripts and tools for administration, monitoring, reporting, and compliance validation.
• Apply engineering best practices to scripting, version control, and documentation.

Cloud, Virtualization & Infrastructure

• Support Azure and VMware environments hosting collaboration and identity workloads.
• Provide guidance on capacity planning, performance optimization, patching, and lifecycle management.
• Ensure infrastructure configurations align with architectural standards and security requirements.

Project Delivery & Customer Engagement

• Act as technical lead on task orders, projects, and modernization initiatives.
• Collaborate with government stakeholders to translate requirements into implementable technical designs.
• Support ServiceNow workflows, including complex incidents, problems, and changes.
• Provide technical input to project plans, schedules, and risk mitigation strategies.

Documentation & Compliance

• Produce and maintain architecture diagrams, design documents, SOPs, and operational runbooks.
• Support audits, assessments, and compliance activities through accurate documentation.
• Contribute to architecture reviews and change control boards.

Mentorship & Knowledge Transfer

• Mentor junior contractor staff and provide technical escalation support.
• Promote knowledge transfer and operational continuity for government personnel.

Required Qualifications

Experience

• 10+ years of enterprise experience supporting Microsoft Exchange, M365, and identity platforms
• Demonstrated experience in architecting and supporting large-scale, hybrid environments
• Experience supporting federal or highly regulated customers preferred

Technical Skills

• Expert knowledge of Exchange SE and Exchange Online
• Strong experience with Entra ID and Entra ID Connect
• Hands-on administration and architecture experience with Microsoft Teams
• Advanced PowerShell scripting skills; working knowledge of Python
• Experience with Azure and VMware environments
• Familiarity with email security platforms such as Trellix

Security & Clearance

• Must be a U.S. Citizen
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Tier 4 Public Trust clearance

Soft Skills

• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Proven ability to work directly with government customers
• Strong time management and multitasking skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Microsoft certifications (Exchange, M365, or Azure Solutions Architect)
• Experience leading enterprise migrations and modernization efforts
• Familiarity with ITIL-based service delivery models

Work Environment

• 100%25 remote, with a preference to reside in the DC/DMV area for occasional on-site support
• Supportive, mission-focused environment with opportunities to lead high-impact initiatives