What are the responsibilities and job description for the Software Architect (Systems / Platform Focus) position at Pacific West Companies?
About Pacific West Companies
Pacific West Companies designs, engineers, and builds multifamily housing. We don’t separate those functions—we integrate them into one system so projects actually work in the real world.
We’ve spent decades refining how buildings get delivered: reducing cost, eliminating disconnects, and creating repeatable systems that hold up under pressure.
Alongside that, we’ve built an internal platform—TEC—that supports how we estimate, plan, build, and operate. It connects workflows across the company and reflects how we actually work, not how software vendors think we should work.
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The Role
We are not hiring a typical Software Architect.
We’re looking for someone to evaluate and help shape the next version of an existing system (TEC)—a platform that has grown over time and is deeply tied to real-world operations.
Your first responsibility is not to build.
But you must be capable of building once the path is clear.
It is to:
Understand how the system is used day-to-day
Map workflows, data, and dependencies
Separate what is essential from what has simply accumulated over time
Identify where structure exists—and where it breaks down
From there, you’ll help define a path forward:
What should be preserved
What should be simplified
What should be rebuilt
And how to move from the current system to a more modern, scalable architecture without disrupting ongoing operations
This role is expected to transition into leading implementation if alignment is proven.
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What You’ll Be Working With
A real, functioning system used daily—not a greenfield project
A large-scale internal platform (~800 forms / ~500 reports) built over decades and actively used across operations
Legacy components alongside newer tools
Integrations across estimating, accounting, scheduling, and operations
A business that values practical outcomes over theoretical architecture
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What We’re Looking For
Experience working with existing, evolving systems (not just greenfield builds)
Ability to understand workflows, not just code
Strong systems thinking—how data, processes, and people connect
Comfort operating in environments where documentation may be incomplete
Experience modernizing or restructuring platforms over time
Proven ability to say “no” to unnecessary complexity
Helpful (but not required):
Cloud architecture experience (Azure or AWS)
Experience with enterprise or operational systems
Exposure to construction, manufacturing, or logistics workflows
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How We Work
We’re a small, experienced team. Communication is direct. The goal is clarity, not process for its own sake.
We value:
Practical thinking over theoretical perfection
Simplicity over unnecessary complexity
Systems that work in the field—not just on paper
We are building a system that must operate under real pressure — cost, schedule, and execution are not theoretical here.
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Location / Structure
Based in Reno, Nevada, with flexibility for remote work
Initial phase focused on evaluation and strategy
Compensation and structure will be discussed based on experience and scope
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How to Apply
Send a brief note on how you would approach evaluating an existing system like this to:
tec@pacificwestcompanies.com
- We’re not evaluating writing style—we’re interested in how you think.