Solutions Architect

Title : Senior Solutions Architect
Location : Denver, CO - Remote
Duration : 6 + Months
Job Type : C
Description :

OIT is seeking a dedicated Senior Solutions Architect to provide strategic guidance for CDLE's technology initiatives. This role involves advising on solution design, vendor selection, integrations, security, risk and compliance, and strategic planning. The ideal candidate will have strong consulting experience, expertise in government systems and regulatory compliance, and the ability to align business needs with technology solutions. The successful architect will provide strategic technical leadership, mentor product managers, assist enterprise architects and collaborate extensively with business leaders, IT teams, and external vendors.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Business Solution Design and Innovation Strategy. Focus on translating business objectives into a future-state architecture, emphasizing innovation and technical debt reduction.
• Focus on translating business objectives into a future-state architecture, emphasizing innovation, technical debt reduction, and sustainability.
• Advise on the design of robust and scalable technology solutions that directly align with CDLE's strategic goals and objectives.
• Develop high-level solution concepts, including products, system components, interfaces, and data flows
• Collaborate with stakeholders to gather, analyze, and refine complex requirements, ensuring proposed solutions meet current and future business needs.
• Drive the evaluation and recommendation of emerging technologies and suitable vendors (e.g., AI/ML, cloud-native services) for new initiatives to foster innovation and efficiency.
• Advise on RFP development and SOWs, setting technical evaluation criteria, and conducting proposal assessments. Evaluate and recommend appropriate technologies and vendors for new initiatives.

1. System Integration and Data Strategy. Provide strategic direction for data exchange and system interoperability across the enterprise.
• Advise on integration strategies between various internal and external systems to support business needs.
• Develop high-level integration plans that ensure data consistency, quality, and real-time process flow across different platforms and with government partners.
• Coordinate with vendors and partner agencies to facilitate smooth integrations
• Advise on the modernization of legacy system interfaces to reduce technology debt and improve overall system performance and agility.

1. Information Security, Risk, and Compliance Governance. Ensure that all technological implementations adhere to stringent security, state, and federal compliance standards.
• Define and implement comprehensive security strategies to protect CDLE's sensitive data and systems, in alignment with the Governor's Office of Information Technology (OIT).
• Provide authoritative guidance on mandated security controls including access management, data encryption, and threat detection systems to ensure alignment with OIT and regulatory standards.
• Advise on strategies to ensure all systems and processes comply with state and federal cybersecurity regulations, including the specific regulatory compliance affecting government technology systems for Federal Data, IRS, SSA, and CJI data assets.
• Collaborate with business legal and policy teams to interpret and apply new legislative requirements to technology systems, advising on necessary documentation for audits and reviews.

1. Technology Governance and Roadmap Leadership. Proactively engage with strategic planning and oversight of technology investments and standards for CDLE.
• Recommend and enforce technology governance frameworks, policies, standards, and best practices across the department to ensure consistency, quality, and maintainability.
• Provide strategic guidance on project portfolio management to ensure technology investments are prioritized and aligned with departmental goals and OIT policies.
• Actively participate in steering committees and governance boards providing authoritative technical oversight and agency decision support.
• Provide strategic guidance on project portfolio management to ensure technology investments are prioritized and aligned with departmental goals and OIT policies.
• Support efforts in development of the technology roadmap in alignment with the CDLE's long-term strategic plan and business needs and in collaboration with CDLE leadership.

1. Project Steering. Provide guidance and steering for technology projects and initiatives
• Advise on project charters, timelines, and resource plans to ensure feasibility and alignment with the architecture roadmap.
• Monitor project progress, risks, and issues, recommending proactive mitigation strategies as needed.
• Ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and meeting quality standards.
• Serve as a liaison between technology vendors, implementation teams, and other departments within CDLE during project execution.

1. Stakeholder Management and Communication. Serve as a technical liaison, ensuring effective communication and strong relationships across the enterprise and with external partners.
• Serve as a liaison between technology vendors, implementation teams, and other departments within CDLE.
• Communicate complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders effectively.
• Prepare and deliver presentations, reports, and recommendations to leadership.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with vendors, partners, and other government agencies.

Deliverables:

The contractor shall deliver the following, as agreed upon during the engagement:

• Architectural Strategy Documentation: Comprehensive document(s) outlining the long-term technical architecture vision for CDLE.
• System Documentation for Risk and Compliance: Assist the policy team(s) in development of appropriate security, access and control documentation for systems including but not limited to RBAC, logging, change control.
• Solution Architecture Designs: Detailed architectural blueprints and specifications for assigned projects.
• Technical Design Documents (TDDs): In-depth documentation of technical implementation details for specific modules or components.
• Integration Specifications: Documentation outlining data exchange formats, protocols, and API specifications for system integrations.
• Architectural Review Reports: Documentation of architectural assessments and recommendations for existing or proposed systems.
• Technical Roadmaps: Visual representations of planned technology evolution and implementation phases.
• Proof-of-Concept (POC) Prototypes: As needed, demonstrate the feasibility of new technologies or architectural approaches.
• Knowledge Transfer Documentation: Documentation and sessions to ensure continuity and understanding for internal teams.
• Weekly Status Reports: High-level summary of activities, progress, challenges and upcoming plans.

Skills :

Qualifications:

• Minimum of 15 years of experience in technology consulting or advisory roles, with at least 10 years in a Senior Solution Architect, Lead Architect or similar senior architectural role.
• Strong understanding of solution architecture, system integration, and IT security concepts.
• Strong background in designing and implementing secure, scalable and high-performance cloud-based solutions.
• In-depth knowledge of relevant state and federal regulations affecting government technology systems
• Familiarity with technology governance frameworks and project management methodologies
• Experience with data warehousing, big data and analytics platforms.
• Experience working with government agencies is highly desirable

Soft Skills

The individual in this position must be an effective communicator, capable of managing necessary work and meeting objectives autonomously.

• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.

• Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a distributed team.
• Excellent presentation and documentation skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines effectively.

Technical Skills

• Experience with multiple programming languages (e.g., .Net, Python, Java, )
• Expertise in database technologies to include relational databases and NoSQL
• Proficient in the development and maintenance of CI/CD pipelines utilizing multiple tools

In-depth knowledge of AWS and Google Cloud Platform environments