Applications Architecture Sr (Hybrid)

At ERCOT, our diverse and dynamic work environment provides a platform on which employees can work together to build the future of the Texas power grid and wholesale market utilizing the latest technologies and resources.  We encourage you to join our talented, dedicated workforce to develop world-class solutions for today and tomorrow’s energy challenges while learning new skills and growing your career.

ERCOT is committed to fostering inclusion at all levels of our company. It is the cornerstone of our corporate values of accountability, leadership, innovation, trust, and expertise. We know that individuals with a wide variety of talents, ideas, and experiences propel the innovation that drives our success. An inclusive and diverse workforce strengthens us and allows for a collaborative environment to solve the challenges that face our industry today and in the future.

As a member of our collaborative IT team, you will encounter cutting edge technology systems and solutions that run the electric power grid and wholesale markets within the state of Texas.  You will use your creativity and technical expertise to implement industry leading IT solutions that will help shape the future of the global electric utility industry.

Software Architect develops and executes design of resilient, mission-critical enterprise systems.  Aligns architectural designs to coincide with Business and Technology strategies and is very influential in gaining commitment from Operations, Development and Service Delivery teams. Partners with the Enterprise Architecture team to ensure technical feasibility of strategies and drives towards excellence.  The IT Architect demonstrates collaboration and inclusiveness through clear verbal and written communications targeting multiple levels of the organization.  Functions with integrity and has an architectural “backbone” but listens to and addresses stakeholder needs.   The IT Architect has a close attention to detail but will also be able to see the larger picture and mitigate impact on technologies and systems that support ERCOT’s mission. Provides design recommendations. Develops enterprise level applications and custom integration solutions including major enhancements, interfaces, functions, and features.

JOB DUTIES

• Broadly applies principles, theories and concepts related to the profession. A seasoned, experienced professional with an in-depth/full understanding of area of specialization.
• May provide recommendations regarding issues outside the bounds of defined procedures and practices.   Demonstrates good judgment in selecting methods and techniques for obtaining solutions.
• Wide latitude for decisions within assignments, programs, and projects; impact is generally limited to the project or department.
• Acts as a resource to advise and may at times lead the work of lower level professional and/or support employees.  Generally, represents the department on projects and may perform in a project leadership role.

Level 2 Additional Job Duties:

• Applies in-depth knowledge of business and IT to validate the cost-benefit analysis of IT initiatives
• ​Partners with Enterprise Architecture to align Technology strategies with Business strategies to ensure system reliability and efficiency
• Refines technical requirements around resilience, recoverability, performance and long-term care and maintenance of systems throughout their lifecycle
• Partners with peers, IT Operations, Application Development, Project delivery and end-users to develop solutions that fulfill functional and technical requirements
• Educates IT and business groups on ERCOT’s enterprise-wide approach to IT solutions and integration opportunities
• Acts as IT's interface to Business with regards to IT strategy and technology with an emphasis on defining requirements, synergies, and value
• Works closely with business and IT leaders to communicate IT Architecture and demonstrate IT's value to the corporation
• Works on moderately complex issues where analysis of situations requires an in-depth evaluation of variable factors
• Creates Deployment, Integration Architecture models for the solution
• Creates the Nonfunctional Requirements for the projects
• Create Architecture Vision document for any new initiative
• Develops and articulates architectural decisions that concisely state the rationale for the recommended architectural approach and alternatives that were considered
• Updates the ERCOT Reference Architecture to reflect the current and future states of the technology products and patterns allowed to be used for solution development

Level Senior –

• Advises, recommends, and justifies critical architecture decisions to management and senior staff
• Directs the development, implementation, and continual use of ERCOT IT standards by leading the EA Working Group
• Seeks out and builds beneficial working relationships to influence technology decisions within IT and with key stakeholders
• Serves as a Subject Matter Expert in one or more domains and provides guidance to others
• May schedule work, train, mentor, and/or coach other employees
• Conveys team goals effectively through strong written and verbal communication skills
• Works on complex issues where analysis of situations requires an in-depth evaluation of variable factors
• Provides expertise regarding the integration of applications across the business
• Develops end-to-end solutions to include people, process and technology
• Acts as an internal consultant, advocate, mentor and change agent

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

Level 2 Requirements:

• Requires minimum 2 years related work experience as an Architecture Practitioner
• Requires experience in using a metamodel-based architecture tool (Sparx EA, Orbus iServer, MEGA, Rational System Architect, Troux)
• Required previous experience delivering multiple end-to-end solutions and has provided oversight for these solutions through the entire lifecycle – inception, planning, design, implementation, operational turnover, patch/maintenance, decommissioning

Senior Requirements:

• Requires minimum 5 years related work experience as an Architecture Practitioner
•  Requires experience in using a metamodel-based architecture tool (Sparx EA, Orbus iServer, MEGA, Rational System Architect, Troux)
• Required previous experience delivering multiple end-to-end solutions and has provided oversight for these solutions through the entire lifecycle – inception, planning, design, implementation, operational turnover, patch/maintenance, decommissioning

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE (all levels):

• Requires experience developing and delivering Architecture and designs for Software solutions
• Requires experience in software development and coding in various languages (Java, Python, SQL, etc.)
• Requires Excellent knowledge of UML and other modeling methods
• Preferred experience designing reusable frameworks and libraries
• Preferred experience designing using Spring framework components and Spring Boot
• Preferred experience delivering solutions using modern delivery practices built including but not limited to Docker, Kubernetes, Jenkins, Ansible
• Preferred experience delivering solutions in AWS and/or Azure
• Required experience with programmatic interaction of various APIs (SOAP/XML, REST/JSON, XML, XSLT, XPath)
• Requires Familiarity with HTML/CSS, JavaScript and UI/UX design
• Requires excellent communication and presentation abilities
• Preferred experience in the Electric Utility industry

CERTIFICATIONS

• TOGAF (preferred)
• CISSP (preferred)
• DoDAF (preferred)
• FeAF (preferred)

​EDUCATION

• Bachelor's Degree: Computer Science, MIS or related field (Required)
• Master's Degree: Computer Science, MIS or related field (Preferred)
• or a combination of education and experience that provides equivalent knowledge to a major in such fields is required

There is one position available. Level will be determined by individual's level of experience that is identified.

The foregoing description reflects the minimum qualifications and the essential functions of the position that must be performed proficiently with or without reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities.  It is not an exhaustive list of the duties expected to be performed, and management may, at its discretion, revise or require that other or different tasks be performed as assigned.  This job description is not intended to create a contract of employment with ERCOT.  Both ERCOT and the employee may exercise their employment-at-will rights at any time.

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ERCOT is firmly committed to equal employment for all qualified persons without regard to race, sex, medical condition, religion, age, creed, national origin, citizenship status, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, ancestry, veteran status, genetic information or any other protected category under federal, state or local law.

Expected Salary Range: