Background

This Information Services Division (ISD) Hope Cards Solutions Architect (SA) position will convert business and project requirements into an architecture design that becomes the blueprint for IT solutions being created to solve identified business and project problems; ensures that technology solutions are cohesive, align with the organization’s technology standards, IT roadmaps, and meets customer needs; employs effective reusable application design and software engineering strategies and best practices for the Hope Cards Project. The Information Services Division (ISD) Solutions Architect develops technical options and recommends Information technology designs and solutions to meet business requirements and resolve identified business problems within Washington State judicial branch of government. 

Reporting to the Office of Architecture and Strategy Manager, this expert level professional works under general supervision to develop system architecture and designs in support of projects and applications primarily but not limited to the Courts Lines of Business. This position also interacts regularly with Enterprise Architects, Solutions Architects, executive leadership, business partners, agency management, all levels of division staff, and staff assigned to specific projects.

Our Mission: Advance the efficient and effective operation of the Washington Judicial System.

The Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) is looking for top-performing employees who embody its core values integrity, inclusion, accountability, and teamwork. It is committed to both employee growth and work-life balance.

Our diversity and inclusion efforts include embracing different cultures, backgrounds, and perspectives while fostering growth and advancement in the workplace.

Job #: 2024-40

Status: Project Position - 1 year - Full-Time

Location: Olympia, Washington

Salary: Range 74: $95,652 - $125,520 per year (DOQ).

Opens: May 8, 2024

Closes: May 29, 2024. AOC reserves the right to close the recruitment at any time.

AOC requires employees to reside in Washington State. Any exceptions must be approved. If you are invited to interview and currently reside outside of Washington State, seek more information about residency requirements from the AOC hiring manager of this recruitment.

Solution Planning

• Serves as the Solution Architect to assess available project information to understand the scope of project, the current IT and business environment, objectives and priorities of the Project and Organization. 
• Validates and/or defines and documents the proposed, high-level solution. 
• Analyzes technical risks and advises on risk mitigation strategies. 
• Participates in business related project meetings with Business Owners, Business Analysts and other related stakeholders.
• Provides information and expertise to the Project Manager/Coordinator and Business Analyst to assist with development of a high-level project schedule, resource plan for the project, and project costs. 
• Provides input to ISD planning from a Solutions Architecture perspective 

Solution Outline

• Prepares for the delivering of the application or system by evaluating and selecting the best methodologies and tools. 
• Analyzes available assets (frameworks, reference architectures, etc.) to bridge the gap between the as-is current architecture and the to-be future architecture. 
• Understands and applies knowledge of complex technology environments and solution architecture practices across the necessary analysis, technical architecture, and design tasks to develop well-integrated, cost-effective solutions for the business problems in the assigned projects. 
• Works with the Business Analyst or Business Owner to document/refine requirements (functional and non-functional) and to addresses compliance requirements. This includes aiding in functional design to implement those requirements.
• Establishes high-level UML models that guide solution architecture design, sub-architecture, or deployment; and reviews with all interested parties. 
• Collaborates with Enterprise Architects, other Solutions Architects and Project Managers to optimize and balance long range architectural objectives and project constraints while maintaining customer value streams. Adheres to IT standards.
• Defines and documents the actions needed to close architecture gaps in support of business objectives. 
• Participates in reviews of the designs, prototypes, and other technical deliverables to ensure they fulfill requirements and meet standards. 
• Refines architectural decisions, at a project level, related to the infrastructure, data architecture, application architecture, patterns and designs, and security; to include:

1. Developing conceptual models and performing gap analysis. 
2. Identifying services to be developed and integrated into IT solutions. 
3. Able to assist the technical lead in technical architecture and related artifacts

• Ensures the end-to-end service architectural roadmap to address the standard service and customization options. 
• Defines and implements plans to address the service's integration points with other services. 

Solution Release

• Provides guidance and oversight on the work performed by the development team. Duties include providing basic guidance to development and testing staff for assigned daily duties, monitoring work product quality, and assisting project managers in project planning.
• Ensures the progression of the solution development through to implementation and customer acceptance and rollout to production.
• Participates in solution design reviews and other project related checkpoints.
• Analyzes, learns, and applies new technology and architecture trends in alignment with the AOC Enterprise Architecture direction.
• Continuously enhances the AOC solution architecture knowledgebase by creating reusable common design patterns, models and solutions.
• Independently prepares written materials and gives oral presentations to project stakeholder groups and AOC leadership to communicate and educate stakeholders on solution recommendations and technology options.
• Performs other duties in other domains as required.

A Bachelor’s degree in an information technology discipline; Master’s degree or post-graduate work preferred; AND

• At least four (4) years of senior level experience in development and design of complex IT systems including substantive experience providing architectural guidance and/or supervision to developers/teams as an Architect or Lead Developer/Engineer; 
• Substantive experience working across expansive, multiple areas of software, hardware, networking, and integration of diverse technology areas for architecting front-end, back-end, data analytics or cloud-based solutions using a variety of appropriate technologies.

Relevant experience may substitute for education on a year for year basis.

• Leadership and interpersonal skills to work across boundaries and to establish and maintain professional working relationships with co-workers, management, and others; mentors and works effectively with people of different abilities/skills 
• Ability to effectively communicate both orally and in writing; ability to communicate proficiently in written reports as well as delivering information through presentations
• Communication skills that facilitate effective, appropriate information exchanges at all levels within the AOC and the Washington Courts
• Ability to present complex ideas and designs to a variety of technical or non-technical stakeholders

• Skill in research methods and practices
• Understands customer expectations and ensures work meets those expectations
• Ability to estimate project effort, staffing, and financials; skill to manage time, and resources to accomplish goals and objectives
• Ability to logically integrate information to form effective goals, objectives, timelines, action plans and solutions; prioritization; effective time management

• Ability to multi-task and effectively coordinate multiple projects simultaneously
• Ability to identify risks and outcomes associated with courses of action; ability to develop action plans/strategies for the purpose of ensuring the desired outcome
• Ability to accomplish work objectives in cooperation with agency, court and state colleagues and officials
• Ability to achieve excellent results with little need for direct/oversight
• Ability to accept personal responsibility for the quality and timeliness of work
• Ability to exercise judgment and make timely, sound, strategic decisions and recommendations consistent with organizational objectives

• IT generalist knowledge with an understanding of applications, data, and hardware; along with proven skills, business acumen, and discipline to ensure alignment among solution, business, and IT architecture
• Proficient in all aspects of designing and constructing application systems; as well as in developing requirements, use cases, and design specifications for new and existing applications.
• Strong project management knowledge and understanding of software development life cycles
• Ability to adjust priorities in rapidly changing environments, work well under pressure, and provide technical leadership in multiple tasks concurrently.
• Helpful but not required:
  • Have Business Analysis understanding and or experience
  • Have courts or legal background