Sr Solutions Architect

INDEPENDENT ELECTRICITY SYSTEM OPERATOR (IESO)

Why join us? 

You’ve got great skills. And you want to use them in an organization where you know what you do every day matters. We get that.
We also know that ensuring Ontarians have access to affordable and reliable power doesn’t happen by accident. So we give you the tools, flexibility and support you need to achieve your goals, and development opportunities to help you grow. You’ll thrive in a collaborative, team-based environment that values your unique skills and experiences – and recognizes that when you do better, we become even better too.  

Who we are 

The Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) works at the centre of the province’s power system, ensuring Ontarians have access to reliable and cost-effective electricity when and where they need it. We operate the province’s electricity grid 24/7, design, run and oversee the wholesale electricity markets, and plan and prepare to meet Ontario’s electricity needs – now and into the future.

 

The Opportunity

Senior Solutions Architect is a role responsible for designing, describing, and managing end-to-end solutions for specific business need. The Senior Solutions Architect identifies processes, system components and technologies to solve business problems; engages and collaborates with business and technology stakeholders to ensure alignment with corporate standards, IT policies and best practices; manages solution delivery life-cycle; and provides detailed architecture specifications to inform, support and guide solution implementation.
The Senior Solutions Architect will develop peers in their career progression as Architects through teaching, serving on peer review boards, coaching and/or mentoring. 
The Senior Solutions Architect will contribute to the development of new architecture approaches, standards, or patterns.

What you'll be doing

• Defines and foresees multiple aspects of a business solution, from both the strategic and tactical perspectives. Solution architecture covers all aspects of a system, which will be included but not limited to, software solution, data architecture, system infrastructure, networking, security, compliance requirement, system operation, cost, risk and reliability.
• Lead design analysis of business problems and develop business solutions and the creation of architecture deliverables for any change initiative supported by I&TS.
• Identify and describe the current state of architecture, analyze and design target state architecture, identify and assess alternative solutions, technology selection and architectural configurations. Indicate architecture requirements, major gaps, delivery strategy including solution plateaus to achieve target state.
• Analyze objectives of change initiatives and assess opportunities, risks, benefits, and costs; as well as identify improvements to existing systems.
• Propose and conduct assessment of solution alternatives to assist with recommendation and key decisions for solution architecture approach, including assessment of new technology solution, platforms, products, information architecture needs or innovative methods for IT solutions. 
• Facilitate stakeholder collaboration to ensure alignment of IESO’s business and technical strategies related to business change initiatives while demonstrating effective leadership skills.
• Leverage and provide improvements and contribution to enterprise architecture frameworks, tools, reference models and technology standards as part of solution analysis, design and delivery.
• Evaluate Technology Debt and contribute to the development of new information technology standards/practices and propose digital transformation opportunities that are consistent with IESO’s business and IT strategy.
• Develop Solution Architecture Definition Documents by providing details on the Application, Information and Technology Architecture artefacts to serve as comprehensive architecture specification and delivery strategy that aligns with business needs.
• Maintain and update the enterprise architecture repository to reflect changes applied by the change initiatives, including traceability and relationship of various components of the architecture model.
• Act as a consultant or mentor to junior staff to advance their learning and facilitate their problem solving, critical thinking, technical and leadership skills.
• Perform other duties as required.  

What you need to be successful

Education: 

• Bachelor’s degree related to Information Technology, Engineering or Computer Science is required.
• Requires a strong academic knowledge of computer science and associated subjects, including knowledge of IT service management processes, Solution Delivery Lifecycle, business analysis, common software applications, programming languages, database management, operating systems, network configuration, server hardware, virtualization, converged infrastructure. 
• Requires technical and verbal communication skills, including technical report writing and business presentation skills.
• This knowledge is considered to be normally acquired either through the successful completion of a four-year University education in the appropriate field/discipline or by having the equivalent education.

Work experience: 

• A minimum of 8-10 years of experience working as an IT solutions delivery professional is necessary in order to possess the expertise required in performing this role adequately at the IESO
• TOGAF® 9 Certified or willing to obtain certification within a year
• ArchiMate® 3 Certified or willing to obtain certification within a year
• Possesses hands-on experience and comprehensive understanding obtained by working within the solution design, development and delivery environments
• Experience in assessing, reviewing, designing, developing and delivering business solutions
• Experience with information/application design patterns and analytic best practices
• Experience and ability to abstract complex business problems and break down to functional requirements, information requirements, technology requirements and identify affected/supported processes and capabilities
• Experience with all aspects of project management, requirements development, solution delivery, and software development lifecycle
• Familiar with industry information modeling methodologies
• Experience authoring technical specifications, process documentation and accompanying diagrams 
• Experience managing and/or leading cross-functional technical teams with varying levels and areas of expertise and goals 
• Experience working on large scale or complex application and data integration initiatives 
• Experience designing and utilizing APIs and/or middleware, as part of large system implementation, integration, and ongoing support
• Experience with a diverse set of common solutions, industry specific solutions and knowledge of organization specific solutions a bonus
• Experience with diverse solution deployment configurations, practices (physical, virtual or cloud) and integration patterns 
• Experience with Information/Data management, Design and Implementation of Relational Databases to meet information requirements
• Experience working with SQL and database systems such as Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server and NoSQL databases such as MongoDB
• Experience in handling multiple projects and deadlines with conflicting priorities with no supervision

What’s in it for you

• A comprehensive total rewards program, including best-in-class benefits and a flexible workplace 
• A challenging, fast-paced and collaborative team environment, where your perspectives and experiences matter 
• Leaders who support your growth and success through regular feedback and coaching 
• The opportunity to work with some of the brightest minds in the industry 
   

Deadline: October 2, 2023 

For future reference, please ensure to save a copy of the job description as it will no longer be available once the posting closes.

At the IESO, we know that achieving great results depends on embracing diversity by attracting, developing and retaining people from a wide variety of backgrounds. We do this by ensuring our recruitment and advancement policies are fair and equitable, and by creating an accessible and inclusive environment – one that values every team member’s unique skills and experiences and ensures they have the support they need to achieve their potential. If you require accommodation during the recruitment process, please let us know. 

We thank you for your interest in a career at the IESO, but we will only contact those candidates selected for an interview. 

Note: The successful candidate must be eligible to work in Canada and will be subject to a background check.

The IESO offers a hybrid work model program to most of our employees, based on business needs. Individuals participating in the program can work an average of three days per week remotely within Ontario. It also offers three flex weeks when individuals can work remotely within Ontario . When working in the office, you will be located at our Mississauga location.

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Sign up for talent community; stay in touch, find out about new opportunities – and discover how you can make a difference. Discover how we use our expertise and commitment to deliver reliable and affordable electricity to Ontario’s businesses and communities, and how we’re innovating to secure a stronger energy future for all Ontarians. Visit Careers at IESO and be sure to follow us on LinkedIn.

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