Senior Solutions Architect

GCI Communication Corp • Anchorage, WA

4d

About The Position

GCI's Senior Solutions Architect is responsible for defining and communicating a shared technical and architectural vision to ensure the system or solution under development is fit for its intended purpose and consistent with intended customer experience. Focuses on business requirements and solution technologies to achieve specific business outcomes. Creates deliverables that develop the enterprise portfolio of target and current-state solutions in alignment with corporate strategy and goals. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES AT ALL LEVELS: Solution Architecture Engagement Elicit business drivers and business capabilities as solution context and identify the organizational and financial impact of solution options Understand how all parts of the business model work together including people, processes, and technology Describe the structure, characteristics, behavior, and other aspects of solution options, and recommend the best fit-for-purpose solution to stakeholders. Understand business and technical limitations and constraints, and support business owners in making the necessary decisions to reconcile these restrictions with solution goals. Engage with business owners and project team to resolve complex organizational, technical, and business problems related to solution selection and implementation. Provide consulting support to technical architects and engineers to ensure that solutions are aligned with the overall enterprise architecture. Work closely with program management, project management, and release train engineers to ensure execution of plans corresponds with solution intent. Ensure overall solution and solution roadmap address compliance concerns, technical debt mitigation, risk reduction and continuous improvement. Solution Selection and Design Provide specifications according to which the solution is defined, managed, and delivered Aggregate and reconcile technical requirements and constraints across multiple disciplines and departments as part of solution architecture development Analyze non-functional requirements and ensure solution selected and designed will meet standards and fit the existing enterprise environment. Review solution and define or call out dependencies that will drive implementation coordination. Document all solution architecture design and analysis work; update solution architecture repository as needed. Support solution retrospectives and help define post-launch operational support, including support models and KPIs. Oversee or consult on technical architecture design, modification, or execution activities, particularly for complex and/or shared technology solutions. Guidance and governance Implement architectural guidance and governance tools, frameworks and processes. Define the principles, guidelines, standards and solution patterns to ensure solution decisions are aligned with the enterprise architecture vision. Understand and apply industry frameworks to solution architecture, including TMForum and TOGAF. Engage in GCI’s overall solution and enterprise architecture community. Takes initiative in communication and collaboration among remote and onsite teams. Ability to accurately read, write, and respond to routine business correspondence such as emails, chat messages, policies, procedures, reports. Ability to accurately communicate information virtually and in-person in a clear and concise manner to a range of audiences. Ability to communicate complex technical concepts effectively to all audiences. Knowledgeable in the areas of solutions strategy and development. Excellent organizational and technical problem-solving skills and resources. Relentlessly persistent and positive in pursuit of good architectural decisions and direction. Strong knowledge of current architecture methodologies and systems technologies and standards. Ability to translate desired business capabilities and requirements into solution architecture. Excellent at timely and thorough architecture documentation and modeling. Technology neutral and results-oriented, unbiased toward any specific technology choice. Ability to research and gain deep understanding of various technologies quickly and thoroughly. Basic knowledge of financial models and budgeting and able to estimate the financial impact of technical architecture alternatives. Experience in architecture modeling techniques and tools (Archimate modeling language highly desired). Application and engagement of Lean/Agile frameworks and practices. Business process design and technology modeling, tools, and techniques (e.g., Archi, Signavio). Must have broad domain experience across multiple telecommunications disciplines, which could include: Data and/or information architecture. Contemporary software development practices. Principles of continuous integration and continuous delivery and DevOps. Automation and orchestration tools and disciplines. Knowledge of telecommunication core and access technologies. Virtualized and cloud compute platforms. Integration strategies and principles. Infrastructure and network architecture. Governance, security and compliance principles and best practices. COMPETENCIES: ACCOUNTABILITY- Takes ownership for actions, decisions, and results; openly accepts feedback and demonstrates a willingness to improve. BASIC PRINCIPLES - Interacts with people in a way that builds mutual trust, confidence, and respect; adheres to GCI’s Code of Conduct for Employees – the Basic Principles. COLLABORATION - Works effectively with others to accomplish common goals and objectives; maintains positive relationships even under difficult circumstances. Exceptional interpersonal skills, including collaboration, facilitation, negotiation, and persuasion. COMMUNICATION- Conveys thoughts and expresses ideas appropriately and professionally. Takes initiative in communication and collaboration among remote and onsite teams. Ability to accurately read, write, and respond to routine business correspondence such as emails, chat messages, policies, procedures, reports. Ability to accurately communicate information virtually and in-person in a clear and concise manner to a range of audiences. Ability to communicate complex technical concepts effectively to all audiences. COMPLIANCE - Follows internal controls; protects confidential information; abides by GCI’s Code of Business Conduct & Ethics. CUSTOMER FOCUS - Demonstrates commitment to service excellence; gives high priority to customer satisfaction. RELIABILITY - Consistently follows through on assigned tasks as expected; demonstrates timely attendance at meetings, training, and other work obligations. RESULTS - Uses a combination of job knowledge, initiative, sound decision making, innovation, adaptability, and problem solving. Knowledgeable in the areas of solutions strategy and development. Excellent organizational and technical problem-solving skills and resources. Relentlessly persistent and positive in pursuit of good architectural decisions and direction. Strong knowledge of current architecture methodologies and systems technologies and standards. Ability to translate desired business capabilities and requirements into solution architecture. Excellent at timely and thorough architecture documentation and modeling. Technology neutral and results-oriented, unbiased toward any specific technology choice. Ability to research and gain deep understanding of various technologies quickly and thoroughly. Basic knowledge of financial models and budgeting and able to estimate the financial impact of technical architecture alternatives. Experience in architecture modeling techniques and tools (Archimate modeling language highly desired). Application and engagement of Lean/Agile frameworks and practices. Business process design and technology modeling, tools, and techniques (e.g., Archi, Signavio). Must have broad domain experience across multiple telecommunications disciplines, which could include: Data and/or information architecture. Contemporary software development practices. Principles of continuous integration and continuous delivery and DevOps. Automation and orchestration tools and disciplines. Knowledge of telecommunication core and access technologies. Virtualized and cloud compute platforms. Integration strategies and principles. Infrastructure and network architecture. Governance, security and compliance principles and best practices. SAFETY & SECURITY - Supports a safe work environment by following all workplace safety rules and guidelines; complies with applicable Security policies and procedures. TECHNICAL PROFICIENCY - Proficient computer skills and MS Office knowledge (e.g., Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel) to complete job duties effectively. Additional Job Requirements: This is a senior level position within the discipline demonstrating proficiency in all areas of responsibility. Performs complex tasks and assignments under minimal guidance, anticipating and preventing problems and roadblocks before they occur. Works under minimal supervision with latitude for independent judgment. Work independently as a senior technical professional and internal consultant supporting business users, product management, and technical teams effectively. Support the development of our Solutions Architecture practice. Contribute substantially to documentation, template, process, and model repository. Contribute to standards, principles, policies and guidelines for business and technical solutions. Mentor and support systems engineers and solution architects in tools, architecture development, and problem-solving. Additional Competencies: Highly skilled in the areas of solutions strategy and development.

Requirements

• A combination of relevant work experience and/or education sufficient to perform the duties of the job may substitute to meet the total years required on a year-for-year basis
• High School diploma or equivalent.
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Systems Analysis, Engineering, or a relevant field.
• Minimum of ten (10) years of combined experience in solutions architecture and other disciplines in a telecommunications and/or IT environment, including technical architecture, network design, application development, integration, cloud services, data architecture, security/compliance, and operational support.
• This position may require access to reliable transportation for occasional travel between retail store locations, offices, worksites, or other locations as needed.
• Physical agility and effort sufficient to perform job duties safely and effectively.
• Ability to make valid judgments and decisions.
• Available to work additional time on weekends, holidays, before or after normal work hours when necessary.
• Must work well in a team environment and be able to work with a diverse group of people and customers.
• Virtual workers must comply with remote work policies and agreements.
• As such, you will be requested to provide emergency after hours contact numbers, to include your home and cell phone numbers if you have those services.

Nice To Haves

• CCAr, TOGAF, CEA, Certified SOA Architect, CITA, EACOE, Open CA, FEAC certifications.
• Cloud certifications: Azure, AWS, Google Cloud, Oracle Cloud.
• Agile team leadership or project management experience.
• Telecommunications experience.
• Other relevant telecom industry or job specific certifications.

Responsibilities

• Elicit business drivers and business capabilities as solution context and identify the organizational and financial impact of solution options
• Understand how all parts of the business model work together including people, processes, and technology
• Describe the structure, characteristics, behavior, and other aspects of solution options, and recommend the best fit-for-purpose solution to stakeholders.
• Understand business and technical limitations and constraints, and support business owners in making the necessary decisions to reconcile these restrictions with solution goals.
• Engage with business owners and project team to resolve complex organizational, technical, and business problems related to solution selection and implementation.
• Provide consulting support to technical architects and engineers to ensure that solutions are aligned with the overall enterprise architecture.
• Work closely with program management, project management, and release train engineers to ensure execution of plans corresponds with solution intent.
• Ensure overall solution and solution roadmap address compliance concerns, technical debt mitigation, risk reduction and continuous improvement.
• Provide specifications according to which the solution is defined, managed, and delivered
• Aggregate and reconcile technical requirements and constraints across multiple disciplines and departments as part of solution architecture development
• Analyze non-functional requirements and ensure solution selected and designed will meet standards and fit the existing enterprise environment.
• Review solution and define or call out dependencies that will drive implementation coordination.
• Document all solution architecture design and analysis work; update solution architecture repository as needed.
• Support solution retrospectives and help define post-launch operational support, including support models and KPIs.
• Oversee or consult on technical architecture design, modification, or execution activities, particularly for complex and/or shared technology solutions.
• Implement architectural guidance and governance tools, frameworks and processes.
• Define the principles, guidelines, standards and solution patterns to ensure solution decisions are aligned with the enterprise architecture vision.
• Understand and apply industry frameworks to solution architecture, including TMForum and TOGAF.
• Engage in GCI’s overall solution and enterprise architecture community.
• Takes initiative in communication and collaboration among remote and onsite teams.
• Ability to accurately read, write, and respond to routine business correspondence such as emails, chat messages, policies, procedures, reports.
• Ability to accurately communicate information virtually and in-person in a clear and concise manner to a range of audiences.
• Ability to communicate complex technical concepts effectively to all audiences.
• Knowledgeable in the areas of solutions strategy and development.
• Excellent organizational and technical problem-solving skills and resources.
• Relentlessly persistent and positive in pursuit of good architectural decisions and direction.
• Strong knowledge of current architecture methodologies and systems technologies and standards.
• Ability to translate desired business capabilities and requirements into solution architecture.
• Excellent at timely and thorough architecture documentation and modeling.
• Technology neutral and results-oriented, unbiased toward any specific technology choice.
• Ability to research and gain deep understanding of various technologies quickly and thoroughly.
• Basic knowledge of financial models and budgeting and able to estimate the financial impact of technical architecture alternatives.
• Experience in architecture modeling techniques and tools (Archimate modeling language highly desired).
• Application and engagement of Lean/Agile frameworks and practices.
• Business process design and technology modeling, tools, and techniques (e.g., Archi, Signavio).
• Must have broad domain experience across multiple telecommunications disciplines, which could include: Data and/or information architecture. Contemporary software development practices. Principles of continuous integration and continuous delivery and DevOps. Automation and orchestration tools and disciplines. Knowledge of telecommunication core and access technologies. Virtualized and cloud compute platforms. Integration strategies and principles. Infrastructure and network architecture. Governance, security and compliance principles and best practices.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level