AWS Architect

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Job Title: Senior Cloud Software Architect

Reports to: Chief Technology Officer Location: Itasca, IL

FLSA Status: Exempt Career Band: E4

Position Summary:

This role is responsible for the overall architecture, design, and evolution of our cloud-based applications, including client/server web applications and mobile apps, that deliver our core roadside assistance services. As a key technical leader, you will work closely with our CTO and external development partners to ensure our systems are scalable, reliable, secure, and aligned with our business objectives. This position requires strong technical expertise in AWS application architecture, exceptional communication and negotiation skills, and a proven ability to manage complex projects through external partnerships.

Principal Responsibilities:

• Architectural Leadership:

• Define and maintain the overall architecture and technical roadmap for Client application ecosystem, ensuring alignment with business strategy and future growth.
• Design and implement scalable, resilient, and secure cloud-based solutions using AWS services.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to our external development partner, ensuring adherence to architectural standards and best practices.
• Stay abreast of emerging technologies and trends in cloud computing, evaluating their potential impact on our technology roadmap.
• Conduct code reviews and provide feedback to ensure code quality and adherence to coding standards.
• Ensure that we follow industry accepted software development methodologies and advocate for best practices.

• Partner Management:

• Serve as the primary technical point of contact for our external development partner.
• Collaborate with the partner to define project scope, timelines, and deliverables.
• Manage the partner's performance, ensuring they meet agreed-upon service level agreements (SLAs) and quality standards.
• Facilitate communication and collaboration between internal stakeholders and the external development partner.
• Drive for continuous improvement in the partnership relationship, identifying opportunities for increased efficiency and effectiveness.

• Project Management:

• Lead and manage complex software development projects from inception to deployment, working closely with the external development partner.
• Develop detailed project plans, track progress, and manage risks.
• Ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to the required quality standards.
• Use project management methodologies (e.g., Agile, Waterfall) as appropriate.

• Requirements Management and Negotiation:

• Work closely with stakeholders across the business to gather and document requirements for new features and enhancements.
• Analyze and prioritize requirements based on business value, technical feasibility, and resource constraints.
• Negotiate priorities and timelines with stakeholders, balancing competing demands and ensuring alignment with overall business goals.
• Translate business requirements into clear and concise technical specifications for the external development partner.

• Security:

• Ensure that all systems are designed and developed with security as a primary concern.
• Conduct security reviews and vulnerability assessments.
• Stay up to date on the latest security threats and vulnerabilities.
• Ensure we comply with all applicable security standards.

• Other Duties:
• Perform other duties as needed.

Skills and Experience:

• Bachelor s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field.
• Proven experience in software development, with a focus on cloud architecture and application development.
• Expertise in AWS application architecture, including services such as EC2, S3, Lambda, API Gateway, RDS, Elastic Beanstalk, CloudWatch, and IoT Core.
• Strong proficiency in PHP and related frameworks (e.g., Laravel, Symfony).
• Proven experience managing external development partners.
• Excellent project management skills, with a track record of successfully delivering complex software projects on time and within budget.
• Exceptional communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to effectively communicate technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Experience with Agile development methodologies.
• Experience in designing and implementing RESTful APIs.
• Experience with mobile app development (iOS and Android) is a plus.
• Experience with DevOps practices and tools (e.g., CI/CD, Infrastructure as Code) is a plus.
• Experience with database design and optimization is a plus.
• Security experience, understanding of common security vulnerabilities and how to mitigate them.

Desired but not Required Skills:

• AWS certifications (e.g., AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Professional).
• Experience in the roadside assistance or automotive industry.
• German language skill

• Other Duties:
• Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.