Cloud Solutions Architect

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. JOB SUMMARY 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 integrity, but listens to and addresses stakeholder needs. The IT Architect has 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. Develop 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 the 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. Advises, recommends, and justifies critical architecture decisions to management and senior staff Directs the development, implementation, and continual use of ERCOT IT standards 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 PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Requires minimum 5 years related work experience as an Architecture Practitioner 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 Experience in and working with DevOps Engineering Experience and expertise in Microsoft Azure environments Experience and expertise in automation and scripting Experience designing and implementing container deployment strategies Experience with data platforms Experience and expertise in leading modernization efforts Experience and expertise with hybrid cloud implementations Experience in performance and cost optimizations Experience in creating and communicating technical architecture documentation CERTIFICATIONS Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert (preferred) TOGAF (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 WORK LOCATION – Taylor, TX: Employees will be required to be on-site in Taylor, TX at a minimum of 2 days per week, or more, as needed based on the business needs as determined by management On-site schedules are flexible or may be rotated based on business needs as determined by the Manager Remote work is required to be performed from your Texas residence. Employees may opt to work on-site more than required or 100% of the time 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. 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: $122,262 - $207,828 The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) manages the flow of electric power to 27 million Texas customers - representing about 90 percent of the state's electric load. As the independent system operator for the region, ERCOT schedules power on an electric grid that connects more than 54,100 miles of transmission lines and 1,250 generating units. ERCOT also performs financial settlement for the competitive wholesale bulk-power market and administers retail switching for 8 million premises in competitive choice areas. ERCOT is a membership-based 501(c)(4) nonprofit corporation, governed by a board of directors and subject to oversight by the Public Utility Commission of Texas and the Texas Legislature. ERCOT's members include consumers, cooperatives, generators, power marketers, retail electric providers, investor-owned electric utilities (transmission and distribution providers,) and municipal-owned electric utilities. ERCOT offers an excellent benefits package, which includes health, dental, vision, life insurance, long/short-term disability insurance, long-term care insurance, Section 125 Flexible Spending Account, and a Retirement Savings Plan. The medical, dental, vision, and quality-of-life benefits offered by ERCOT are second to none. Full-time employees are eligible to enroll in benefits on the first of the month following the date of hire. Additionally, 401(k) plans are available to help employees plan for the future. The ERCOT Internship Program provides college students the opportunity to develop their skills in a professional work environment. Each intern will receive unique projects and assignments that aim to solve real challenges facing the electric industry. ERCOT internships provide professional learning experiences that offer meaningful, practical work related to each student's desired career path. Eligible candidates should be enrolled in an academic bachelors or post graduate degree program maintaining a GPA of 3.0 or higher. The ERCOT Engineer Development Program (EDP) is a 12- to 16-month, self-paced program geared toward entry-level engineers looking to start a career in the power industry. Through the program, an EDP Engineer receives one-on-one mentoring, specialized training, and exposure to the work performed by each of the engineering groups at ERCOT. The program allows engineers to develop the fundamental skills necessary to reach their full potential while gaining an understanding of the types of engineering work ERCOT has to offer. EDP management supports participants each step of the way as they progress through the program. Upon completion, graduates are placed as full-time engineers within one of ERCOT’s engineering groups. The GMS Development Program (GDP) is designed to provide entry-level and early career professionals with the skills necessary to become successful Power System and Computer Engineers. The program, which is based in ERCOT’s Grid and Market Solutions (GMS) Department, will provide experience in day-to-day work and instruction in the fundamentals of electric power systems engineering, grid and market applications, software programming, and IT service and operations management. The GDP offers one-on-one mentoring, training, field trips, and special assignments. These assignments allow GDP engineers to become knowledgeable and familiar with the various business areas at ERCOT. The GMS leadership team prepares GDP engineers for a future career at ERCOT in power systems and computer engineering. The System Operator Development Program (ODP) is intended to combine real-time daily operations in an exciting work setting to prepare participants with the vital skills necessary to be successful in such a critical position — providing 24x7x365 on-demand support to manage the flow of electric power to more than 26 million Texas customers. If you are new to the industry, this program introduces you to the Bulk Electric System by combining introductory courses with the NERC Certification Exam Preparation Program in preparation to pass the NERC Certification Exam.

Salary : $122,262 - $207,828