Atlassian Jira Architect

Title: Architect Senior Associate - Atlassian Administrator / Developer Location: Dearborn, MI (Hybrid)

Duration: Long Term Contract Position Description: The Developer Tools Enablement (DTE) Planning and Integration Team is seeking a highly skilled Atlassian Administrator / Developer with strong expertise in Jira Cloud, Jira Service Management (JSM), Jira Product Discovery (JPD), and Assets. In this role, you will play a critical part in leading, managing, and accelerating the Ford Enterprise Technology Atlassian platform portfolio forward. As an Atlassian Administrator / Developer, you will support, manage, and optimize our collaborative ecosystem. Because Jira is widely utilized across Ford for project management, issue tracking, and product discovery, your expertise will be essential in ensuring our engineering and business teams can deliver effectively. The successful candidate will work collaboratively within an Agile team, provide thought leadership, work independently utilizing industry best practices, and contribute directly to our technical development initiatives. The Planning and Integration Team proudly owns and manages Ford's enterprise productivity suite, including Atlassian Apps (Rovo, Jira, JPD, JSM, Assets, Goals), Planview Hub, and various productivity utility tools. Configuration, Customization & Strategy

• Configure and customize Jira workflows, screens, fields, and issue types to align with evolving organizational processes.
• Optimize the Atlassian platform to meet the scaling needs of the broader Ford Enterprise Technology population.
• Manage Atlassian Marketplace applications, evaluating new plugins for security, performance, and utility.
• Provide thought leadership on process improvements, platform strategy, and long-term vision.
• Assist with cloud migration initiatives, troubleshooting migration issues and providing technical support to ensure seamless transitions.
  
  

User Management & Compliance

• Manage user accounts, groups, and permission schemes across all Ford-ET Atlassian products.
• Oversee access management and lead audit compliance efforts to ensure permissions and privileges are securely assigned to appropriate roles.
  
  

Integration & Automation (Development)

• Design, build, and maintain integrations between Atlassian tools and third-party systems to enhance platform functionality.
• Develop custom workflows, scripts, automation rules, and API integrations to eliminate manual overhead.
• Leverage development skills to build custom apps or plugins where out-of-the-box solutions are insufficient.
  
  

System Maintenance & Performance

• Maintain overall platform health and efficiency by monitoring system performance, identifying bottlenecks, and optimizing configurations.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex technical issues related to Jira functionality, usability, and performance.
• Drive continuous improvement by innovating on processes, documenting findings, and sharing learnings with the wider team.
  
  

Enablement, Documentation & Training

• Document platform processes, governance policies, and best practices for the Client Enterprise Technology user community.
• Conduct user training/informational sessions, host Office Hours, lead collaborative forums, and run working sessions to drive tool adoption and awareness.
  
  

Agile Team Collaboration

• Actively participate as a collaborative member of our Agile team by contributing to core ceremonies: o Backlog Refinement & Sprint Planning o Daily Stand-ups o Sprint Retrospectives
  
  

Skills Required: Atlassian Administrator / Developer (Must Have) Strong expertise required in: Jira Jira Service Management (JSM) Jira Product Discovery (JPD) Assets (Jira Assets / Insight) Skills Preferred: Jira, API, Python, GCP Preferred Technical Skills (Nice-to-Have)

• Scripting & Automation: Strong development skills in Python or Shell/Bash.
• API Integration: Practical knowledge and familiarity with Atlassian/Jira REST API endpoints.
• DevOps & Infrastructure: Hands-on experience with GitHub.
• Cloud Platforms: Familiarity with Google Cloud Platform (GCP).
  
  

Experience Required: Senior Associate Exp: 6-10 yrs in IT; 4 yrs in concentration Experience Preferred: Qualifications Required Core Skills & Experience

• Atlassian Platform Expertise: Proven hands-on experience administering and supporting Atlassian Cloud products (specifically as a Jira Administrator or in a highly similar technical role).
• Product Familiarity: Strong working knowledge of Jira Service Management (JSM), Confluence, Jira Product Discovery (JPD), and Assets (formerly Insight).
• Certifications: Atlassian Certified Professional (ACP) certifications (e.g., Jira Administrator for Cloud) are highly preferred.
• Problem-Solving: Exceptional troubleshooting, analytical, and root-cause analysis skills.
• Communication & Collaboration: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a proven ability to bridge technical and non-technical gaps. Must be highly collaborative and capable of navigating complex decision-making scenarios.
• Global Flexibility: Strong planning skills with the flexibility to work effectively across different time zones, demonstrating sensitivity to cultural and geographical differences.
  
  

Education Required: Bachelor's Degree Additional Information : 4 days on site.

• Atlassian Administrator / Developer (Must Have)
• Strong expertise required in: Jira Jira Service Management (JSM) Jira Product Discovery (JPD) Assets (Jira Assets / Insight)