Solutions Architect

Software Guidance & Assistance, Inc., (SGA), is searching for an Solutions Architect for a RIGHT TO HIRE assignment with one of our premier Financial clients in McLean, VA .

As a Director, Solution Architecture, you will be working with software architecture teams guiding architecture of all products we build, owning and facilitating architecture development, reviewing architecture, providing feedback on application designs, providing input on company-wide initiatives, and help raise the talent bar by recruiting and hiring top architecture talent. You will also work with product owners to articulate benefits of proposed solutions, influence technical roadmap of platforms, and help business prioritize work. If you have proven strategic leadership, and technical architecture experience with multi-cloud, application transformation, collaborating with agile teams, and would like to be a part of a team providing solution architectures, this role may be for you.

Responsibilities :

• Integrate the technology, data, and business architecture into a holistic strategy for delivering business value through technology solutions.
• Provide strategic guidance to the head of technology on horizontal/enterprise-wide and business line specific architecture priorities, initiative and actions plans.
• Provide architectural thought leadership and develop end-to-end architecture blueprints and roadmaps for all data and technology-based initiatives in company division.
• Present and communicate architecture vision to various partners, both technical and business, and be able to explain how architecture strategy benefits client.
• Work closely with key stakeholders in technology, operations, the lines of business, and key functions to align priorities and optimize business processes, data flows and technical design.
• Enhance efficiencies by identifying and leveraging common/enterprise-wide technology solutions and the strategic reuse of technology components, platforms, and services.
• Collaborate with the head of technology to collectively define and own the division technology vision, aligning to broader company strategy and evangelizing throughout.
• Collaborate with the head of enterprise architecture and other architect leaders across company to drive cohesion, standards, and best practices.
• Lead the modernization, integration, and (as required) the rationalization of applications and technology portfolios.
• Evangelize and influence necessity of better design practices throughout architectural lifecycle management.
• Function as counselor to business counterparts, customers, and senior business management on requirements pertinent to the technical capability
• Collaborate with Enterprise Architecture, and other teams to ensure architecture consistency across organization.
• Establish current and future state technical, data and business architecture standards and governance.
• Build and cultivate an operating model where solution architects work seamlessly with enterprise, platform, security, and data architects to ensure technology meets the needs of the business.
• Participate in Technology Standards and Governance committees to influence and ensure the appropriate levels of governance are in place.
• Develop and document the approach to handle non-functional requirements such as performance, scalability, security, and availability.
• Contribute & support architecture governance processes that effectively balance risk and control with the need for speed and delivery.
• Embed actionable KPIs and real-time feedback loops to ensure timely deployment and adherence to solution architecture principles & standards; monitor progress and course correct, as necessary.
• Review and approve all architecture documents for Multifamily in a timely manner.
• Attract, develop, retain, and lead a team of highly skilled architecture professionals and develop a vibrant architecture community; create a working environment of high employee engagement with a focus on proactively providing dependable, flexible, and innovative technology solutions.

Required Skills:

• B.S. or M.S. degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Technology
• 12+ years' experience in software development, design, and architecture
• 8+ years' experience in solution architecture with emphasis on implementation of scalable cloud/cloud native technical solutions in products
• 8+ years of experience architecting cloud-native applications using AWS/Google Cloud Platform/Azure services with exposure to infrastructure as code and DevOps principles.
• 8+ years' experience in Agile practices, building software in an enterprise environment.
• Deep enterprise architecture experience, including technical architecture, business architecture, security architecture and data architecture practices and their significance with solution architecture discipline.
• Experience with distributed systems, enterprise communications patterns & open standards like REST, Open/Async API.
• Experience with virtualization, containerization, connectivity protocols, microservice design patterns, data analytics, event-driven architecture, domain-driven design & machine learning.
• Knowledge of business ecosystems, SaaS, IaaS, PaaS, SOA, data governance, reporting and predictive analytics
• Understanding of enterprise architecture patterns, AWS well architected framework pillars, especially on meeting business continuity plan, resiliency, performance, scalability, operational excellence, and reliability needs
• Experience designing microservices based systems with message-brokers like JMS/Kafka/ActiveMQ
• Experience leading at least 10-member engineering/architecture team.
• Presentation skills with a high degree of comfort speaking with executive leaders & technical teams.
• Excellent business acumen and people skills; able to work across business lines at a senior and executive level to influence and effect change to achieve common goals. Be viewed as a business leader who practices IT
• Experience transforming legacy environment into a modern, scalable service-oriented architecture with efficient, interoperable solutions supported by the latest technologies.
• Excellent communication, relationship management and negotiation skills
• Expert level technical acumen and the ability to understand the business problem, identify opportunities and overcome any technical obstacles, influencing the adoption of proposed solution to meet or exceed business requirements.
• Prior Leadership experience in leading engineering or technical teams
• Depth in various migration techniques such as re-host, refactor, re-architect, re-platform, repurchase.
• The ability to create & articulate application architecture strategy & roadmaps aligning with business goals.
• The ability to effectively balance the desire/need for broad change with an understanding of the amount of change the organization is capable of handling, to create realistic goals and implementation plans that are achievable and successful.
• The ability to set clear and challenging goals while committing the organization to improved performance, tenacious and accountable in driving results.
• Comfortable with ambiguity and uncertainty; the ability to adapt nimbly and lead others through complex situations.
• A risk-taker who seeks data and input from others to foresee threats or unintended circumstances from decisions; someone who takes smart risks.
• A leader who is viewed by others as having a high degree of integrity and forethought in her/his approach to making decisions; the ability to act in a transparent and consistent manner while always considering what is best for the organization.
• Maintains high say/do ratio.
• The ability to attract and recruit top talent, motivate the team, delegate effectively, celebrate diversity within the team, and manage performance; widely viewed as a strong developer of others.
• The ability to persevere in the face of challenges and exhibit a steadfast resolve and relentless commitment to higher standards, which commands respect from followers
• A leader who is self-reflective and aware of her/his own limitations; leads by example and drives the organization's performance with an attitude of continuous improvement by being open to feedback and self-improvement.
• Drive positive culture, collaboration across the team and Business, and external parties outside of Multifamily division.
• Strong executive presence that inspires confidence, artfully articulates vision, builds networks and is politically savvy.
• Naturally connects and builds strong relationships with others, demonstrating strong emotional intelligence and an ability to communicate clearly and persuasively.
• An ability to inspire trust and followership in others through compelling influence, powerful charisma, passion in her/his beliefs, and active drive.
• Strong capability & ability to drive Stakeholder & Relationship Management with internal & external customers & partners.
• Creates a sense of purpose/meaning for the team that generates followership beyond her/his own personality and engages others to the greater purpose for the organization.

SGA is a technology and resource solutions provider driven to stand out. We are a women-owned business. Our mission: to solve big IT problems with a more personal, boutique approach. Each year, we match consultants like you to more than 1,000 engagements. When we say let's work better together, we mean it. You'll join a diverse team built on these core values: customer service, employee development, and quality and integrity in everything we do. Be yourself, love what you do and find your passion at work. Please find us at .

SGA is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of Race, Color, Sex, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Religion, National Origin, Disability, Veteran Status, Age, Marital Status, Pregnancy, Genetic Information, or Other Legally Protected Status. We are committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, and our services, programs, and activities. Please visit our company to request an accommodation or assistance regarding our policy.