Solutions Architect

Required tasks to fulfill primary responsibility:  

• Bring best in class technologies, innovation, and creativity to the table in developing technical solutions to solve complex multi-dimensional problems.
• Perform a wide range of highly technical and advisory duties associated with the design, implementation and support of OIT Applications solutions. 
• Provide technology leadership by architecting, prototyping, researching, recommending, documenting, and assisting in implementing and evaluating technical solutions for business issues whether purchased or developed. 
• Evaluate and design data strategy, data integration architectures, as well as data models. 
• Interpret business, technical, regulatory, and architectural requirements in researching and recommending solutions. 
• Review the accuracy of the release notes and technical documentation through collaboration with the applications development areas.
• Coordinate and monitor OIT technologies for capacity planning, data modeling, integration planning and availability measurement. 
• Work with the CISO staff to implement appropriate application security controls across all applications development areas. 
• Work with CTO staff to establish standards and disciplined techniques for technical activities like creating new code, restructuring existing code, and maintaining version control and security. 
• Develop estimates of the teamwork effort needed to deliver application solutions based on the project specifications provided; report progress to management and project managers as requested.
• Interface with vendor technology/solutions, as well as appropriate involvement of OIT architecture, throughout the entire project lifecycle.
• Have ongoing interaction with key stakeholders to advise and ensure that timely, innovative, and appropriate infrastructure and services support agency strategies, projects and outcomes to align with OIT roadmaps, desired future states and overall architectural fit.
• Assign team members to projects and initiatives based on skill set and experience required.
• Participate in architecture, design, and code reviews.
• Act as a work lead for translating business objectives and requirements into functional solutions.
• Design and develop technology solutions based on existing technology.

• Lead brainstorming sessions for process improvements.
• Contribute information on Architect and Senior Architect performance in collaboration with the direct supervisor to provide well-rounded and informed knowledge of each individual team members level of competency and ability to complete the required work.

Provide specific examples of regular, ongoing decisions made by this position related to this duty.

• Identify and establish enterprise standards. 
• Identify and establish certified reference architectures and design artifacts.

In performing this duty, provide examples of typical problems or challenges encountered by this position, and the guidance used to resolve the problem.

• Establishes an ongoing vision of what the architecture needs to look like, not just create point-in-time solutions.
• Appropriately guide Architects and Senior Architects to be able to align solutions across multiple services, solutions, and adhere to best practices and standards.
• Proactively work with organizational leaders and executives to forecast changes in technology roadmaps and onboard new or emerging technologies.
• Contribute to the development of architecture principles and standard processes, assisting in the continual improvement of the architecture capability of the organization (methodology, reference design, etc.)

Required tasks to fulfill primary responsibility:  

• Plan initiatives with OIT’s functional area teams based on budget, approaches and infrastructure to the OIT architecture governing principles and identify when it is necessary to modify underlying business processes or the OIT architecture standards to accommodate needs.
• Understand OIT funding model and align technology initiatives to ensure the highest return on investment (ROI) based on available budget, while understanding and ensuring the long term requirements for sustainable service.
• Very strong understanding of best practices of data integration, data warehousing, and data lakehouse strategies.
• Maintain currency in technologies and trends through research.
• Maintain awareness of current and future work efforts across the enterprise and identify opportunities for implementing innovative solutions. 
• Research and recommend solutions that meet the requirements of the customers and align with annual agency work plans, OIT’s enterprise strategy, and the OIT Playbook. 
• Track initiatives evaluate the effectiveness of the planned solutions and recommend alternative solutions when needed.
• Provide thought leadership in emerging trends as they relate to business process development and execution.
• Maintain and establish technical contacts with IT industry leaders to pioneer innovative technologies, ideas and structures within OIT.
• Translate complicated technical plans into clear, business value added proposals, which are compelling and effectively communicated using a variety of methods and forums.
• Anticipate the training needs of end users and support staff who will maintain the solution in production.
• Assist the Enterprise Architects in the management of strategic alliances to position OIT as the premier service provider for agencies within the State of Colorado.
• Pursue the development and testing of innovative solutions and organize work efforts and resources needed to prototype or pilot them.  
• Demonstrate the benefits (increased operational efficiencies, decreased costs, etc.) of a solution to an agency unit. 
• Coordinate with OIT internal operations teams to consider the implications (to infrastructure, security, etc.) of introducing solutions.
• Understand advanced data migration techniques.
• Understand the enterprise perspective of OIT operations across the supported agencies.
• Provide technical support for grants and seek out grant opportunities that support projects and initiatives.
• Initiate and lead strategic technology decisions across the enterprise, including the alignment of technology to deliver services; changing processes as needed to enable effective delivery.
• Identify opportunities for technology alignment and work with other senior and executive leaders to gain consensus and lead transformation.

Provide specific examples of regular, ongoing decisions made by this position related to this duty.

• Determine which solutions presented by Senior Solution Architects best meet requirements for customers and align with OIT strategy and planning.
• Evaluating vendor applications to ensure they meet OIT standards and policies and select the appropriate vendor for the need.

In performing this duty, provide examples of typical problems or challenges encountered by this position, and the guidance used to resolve the problem.

• Vendor cost and technology licensing management.
• Work with business leaders and executives to understand challenges and evangelize innovative solutions which meet their needs, ensuring business objectives are met