Solution Architect Position Overview
The Utah Division of Water Rights (DWRi) is seeking an experienced Solution Architect with expertise in software architecture, user experience (UX), solution design, and technology modernization to support the planning and design of the Next-Generation Utah Water Measurement Data Dashboard.
Working through CAI's Contingent Workforce Solutions program, the selected consultant will develop the functional, technical, and architectural blueprint for a modern water data dashboard that will serve DWRi employees, other state agencies, and the public. This initiative represents a significant modernization effort intended to address recommendations identified in the 2023 Legislative Audit and the Utah State University Technology Modernization Roadmap.
DWRi has adopted the HydroServer platform as the authoritative repository for Utah's water measurement data. The consultant will focus on dashboard architecture, integrations, user experience, implementation planning, and modernization strategy while leveraging existing state technology investments and infrastructure.
This engagement is limited to discovery, requirements gathering, solution architecture, UX refinement, implementation planning, and cost estimation. No production software development, implementation, migration, or system replacement activities are included in this scope.
Project Overview
The Next-Generation Utah Water Measurement Data Dashboard will provide a user-centric web application for accessing, visualizing, analyzing, quality-controlling, and managing water measurement data collected from approximately 1,200 active monitoring sites throughout Utah.
The solution will:
- Support desktop, laptop, tablet, and mobile access.
- Provide intuitive data visualization and analytics capabilities.
- Enable internal users to enter observations and perform quality-control workflows.
- Deliver public-facing access to published water measurement data.
- Integrate with HydroServer and existing DWRi technology platforms.
- Modernize existing water distribution and reporting capabilities.
Key Responsibilities Discovery, Strategy & Stakeholder Alignment
- Collaborate with DWRi and Division of Technology Services (DTS) stakeholders to establish a shared vision for the future-state platform.
- Analyze business, technical, operational, and integration requirements.
- Assess dependencies with legacy systems and determine modernization approaches.
- Recommend incremental implementation strategies that minimize operational disruption.
- Leverage existing modernization studies, strategic initiatives, and technology investments.
- Develop recommendations utilizing modern software engineering practices, including the Strangler Fig modernization pattern.
User Experience & Solution Design
- Review and refine existing user personas, workflows, and requirements.
- Evaluate existing Figma mockups and user journeys.
- Identify functional gaps and opportunities to improve usability.
- Incorporate stakeholder feedback from user testing activities.
- Develop high-fidelity, implementation-ready UX designs.
- Ensure solutions follow user-centered design principles and industry best practices.
Solution Architecture
- Define the overall application architecture and technology stack.
- Develop architectural strategies that align with HydroServer and its ecosystem.
- Design integration approaches utilizing SensorThings APIs, HydroServer APIs, and HydroServerPy.
- Evaluate GIS architecture and mapping integrations.
- Design authentication and authorization strategies using UtahID.
- Recommend API management, monitoring, security, and governance approaches.
- Define cloud deployment architecture leveraging Google Cloud Platform (Google Cloud Platform).
- Establish logging, monitoring, operational support, scalability, and performance strategies.
Technology Modernization
- Evaluate modernization opportunities for the existing Water Rights MapServer application.
- Assess migration from ArcGIS Maps SDK for JavaScript 3.x to 5.x.
- Recommend phased implementation and release strategies.
- Define approaches that support coexistence with legacy applications when appropriate.
- Evaluate opportunities for integrating Google Gemini and emerging AI capabilities in accordance with State of Utah AI policies.
Implementation Planning
- Develop a comprehensive implementation roadmap.
- Translate requirements and UX mockups into an actionable backlog.
- Define development phases, milestones, and release plans.
- Prepare cost estimates using cone-of-uncertainty methodologies.
- Recommend iterative and incremental delivery strategies.
- Develop training and knowledge transfer plans to support long-term ownership by internal teams.
Accessibility & Performance
- Ensure recommended solutions support:
- ADA compliance
- Responsive design principles
- Cross-browser compatibility
- Mobile-friendly experiences
- Application scalability
- Data security and privacy requirements
Required Deliverables
The selected consultant will be expected to produce detailed planning and architecture artifacts that support future procurement and implementation efforts, including:
Architecture Documentation
- Solution Architecture Document
- System Context Diagram
- Component Diagram
- Deployment Diagram
- Data Flow Diagrams
- API Integration Specifications
- Security Architecture Documentation
- Implementation Roadmap
UX Deliverables
- Refined and finalized Figma designs
- High-fidelity dashboard mockups
- User workflow documentation
- UX recommendations and improvements
Planning Deliverables
- Comprehensive implementation backlog
- Phased development roadmap
- Project schedule and milestones
- Cost estimation model
- Recommended development and deployment approach
- Training and transition strategy
Required Qualifications
Candidates should demonstrate experience in:
- Enterprise Solution Architecture
- Software Architecture and Design
- Web Application Architecture
- UX/UI Design and User-Centered Design
- Dashboard and Data Visualization Platforms
- Requirements Gathering and Business Analysis
- Agile Delivery Methodologies
- Technical Roadmap Development
- Cloud Architecture and Modern Application Design
- API Architecture and Integration Design
- Security Architecture
- Cross-functional Stakeholder Engagement
- Strategic Technology Planning
Preferred Qualifications
Strong preference will be given to candidates with experience in:
Water & Environmental Systems
- Water resources technology solutions
- Environmental information systems
- Scientific and monitoring data platforms
- Time-series data management systems
GIS & Spatial Technologies
- GIS-enabled web applications
- ArcGIS Maps SDK for JavaScript
- Geospatial integration architectures
- MapServer solutions
Modern Development Platforms
- React
- Node.js
- CI/CD pipelines
- GitHub-based development workflows
Cloud & Integration Technologies
- Google Cloud Platform (Google Cloud Platform)
- HydroServer ecosystem
- HydroServer APIs
- SensorThings architectures
- UtahID or similar Identity and Access Management (IAM) platforms
Modernization Expertise
- Government technology modernization initiatives
- Legacy system modernization
- Strangler Fig modernization pattern
- Digital transformation programs
- Enterprise architecture strategy
Out of Scope
The following activities are explicitly excluded from this engagement:
- Production software development
- Application implementation
- Data migration activities
- API development or redesign
- Modifications to HydroServer
- Cloud infrastructure procurement
- ETL redesign
- Sensor deployment activities
Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate is a seasoned Solution Architect who combines strong technical architecture expertise with exceptional UX and modernization planning skills. They possess a proven track record delivering architecture roadmaps, digital transformation strategies, GIS-enabled solutions, and cloud-native application designs within complex government, environmental, or data-intensive organizations. They are equally comfortable facilitating stakeholder workshops, analyzing business requirements, defining technical solutions, and creating actionable implementation plans that guide successful future development efforts.
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