Solutions Architect (Software Architect)

Berkshire Hathaway - Urbandale, IA

Full-time - Mid Level

Urbandale, IA

Insurance Carriers and Related Activities

About the position

The Solutions Architect is responsible for creating, maintaining, and managing IT architecture models to support business improvement activities. This role ensures that the IT architecture aligns with the company's technology and governance strategies, policies, and standards, focusing on security and quality.

Responsibilities

• Defines the principles, guidelines, standards, and solution patterns to ensure solution decisions are aligned with the enterprise's future-state architecture vision.
• Designs, develops, and leads the implementation of a solutions architecture across specific business applications or technologies based on enterprise business strategy, capabilities, and requirements.
• Documents all solution architecture design and analysis work.
• Leads code reviews and provides consulting support to developers to ensure projects align with the overall enterprise architecture.
• Performs project planning, system analysis, software design and coding, testing, documentation, implementation, and research activities for software engineering projects.
• Facilitates the evaluation and selection of software product standards and services, as well as the design of standard and custom software configurations.
• Designs and directs governance activities associated with ensuring solutions architecture assurance and compliance.
• Monitors the current-state solution portfolio to identify deficiencies through aging of technologies or misalignment with business requirements.
• Understands technology trends and the practical application of existing, new, and emerging technologies to enable new and evolving business and operating models.
• Conducts and/or actively participates in meetings related to priority IT projects.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in information systems, computer science, or related technical field or equivalent work experience.
• Minimum of six years of experience in at least two IT solution development disciplines, including technical architecture, network management, application development, middleware, database management, or operations.
• Understanding of agile methods and processes, with the capability to support agile project teams by providing advice and guidance on opportunities, impact, and risks.
• Advanced knowledge of programming, integration, and application security models; proficiency with a variety of software development tools.
• Expert knowledge of object design methodologies, architecture methodologies, security practices, and integration techniques.
• Advanced knowledge of relational database technology, structured analysis concepts, and software design patterns.
• Effective project management skills and ability to prioritize and handle multiple tasks and projects concurrently.
• Knowledge of information technology terms, equipment, systems, functions, and major vendors.
• Effective oral and written communication skills.
• Effective analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Effective interpersonal skills and customer relationship skills.
• General understanding of IT operating and capital investment budgets.
• Understanding of the company's existing IT environment and applicable company policies, practices, and procedures.