Solutions Architect

Looking for Solutions Architect with Integration Experience ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Solution Architecture & Design: • Design comprehensive end-to-end solution architectures spanning infrastructure, integration, and application layers • Develop architecture blueprints, patterns, and reference implementations for enterprise-wide adoption • Create functional architecture specifications that translate business requirements into technical solutions • Design hybrid and multi-cloud architectures leveraging Azure, AWS, or GCP platforms • Architect disaster recovery, high-availability, and business continuity solutions • Evaluate and recommend technology stacks, platforms, and tools aligned with business objectives • Ensure architectural solutions adhere to enterprise security, compliance, and governance standards Infrastructure Architecture (5+ Years): • Design enterprise infrastructure architectures including compute, storage, networking, and virtualization • Architect cloud-native infrastructure solutions on Azure with focus on scalability and cost optimization • Design containerization strategies and Kubernetes cluster architectures for enterprise workloads • Create infrastructure automation frameworks using Infrastructure as Code (IaC) principles • Architect network topologies, connectivity patterns, and security zones for hybrid environments • Design monitoring, logging, and observability solutions for infrastructure health and performance • Evaluate and select infrastructure technologies: servers, storage, networking, and cloud services Integration Architecture (3+ Years): • Design enterprise integration architectures connecting diverse systems, applications, and data sources • Architect API-led connectivity strategies using API Management platforms (Azure APIM, MuleSoft, Kong) • Design event-driven architectures leveraging Apache Kafka for real-time data streaming and processing • Create microservices integration patterns including service mesh, API gateways, and service discovery • Architect data integration solutions: ETL/ELT patterns, data synchronization, and master data management • Design B2B integration solutions using protocols: AS2, SFTP, EDI, and modern APIs • Evaluate integration patterns: point-to-point, hub-and-spoke, bus, and event-driven architectures Technical Project Management (3+ Years): • Lead technical workstreams and architecture tracks within global project delivery initiatives • Manage technical scope, dependencies, and risks across distributed teams in multiple geographies • Coordinate with project managers, delivery leads, and stakeholders to ensure architectural alignment • Drive technical decision-making processes and resolve architecture-related conflicts • Oversee proof-of-concept implementations and architecture validation activities • Manage technical vendor relationships and third-party solution evaluations • Ensure timely delivery of architecture deliverables: design documents, patterns, and guidelines Kafka & Event Streaming (3+ Years): • Architect enterprise event streaming platforms using Apache Kafka and Kafka ecosystem (Kafka Connect, Kafka Streams, ksqlDB) • Design event-driven microservices architectures with event sourcing and CQRS patterns • Create Kafka cluster architectures: sizing, partitioning strategies, replication, and fault tolerance • Architect schema management strategies using Confluent Schema Registry or similar solutions • Design real-time data pipelines for stream processing and event-driven integrations • Evaluate Kafka deployment options: self-managed, Confluent Cloud, Azure Event Hubs for Kafka • Ensure Kafka security: SSL/TLS encryption, SASL authentication, and ACL management API Management (3+ Years): • Architect API Management strategies and governance frameworks for enterprise API ecosystems • Design API gateway architectures using Azure API Management, Kong, or Apigee • Create API security architectures: OAuth 2.0, OpenID Connect, JWT validation, and API key management • Architect API developer portal strategies and API lifecycle management processes • Design API versioning, deprecation, and backward compatibility strategies • Evaluate API protocols: REST, GraphQL, gRPC, and SOAP for appropriate use cases • Ensure API compliance with industry standards: OpenAPI, AsyncAPI, and API security best practices Kubernetes & Microservices (3+ Years): • Architect container orchestration platforms using Kubernetes and OpenShift • Design microservices architectures with proper service boundaries and domain-driven design (DDD) • Create Kubernetes cluster architectures: control plane, worker nodes, networking, and storage • Architect service mesh implementations using Istio, Linkerd, or Consul Connect • Design microservices deployment patterns: blue-green, canary, and progressive delivery • Create container security architectures: image scanning, runtime security, and network policies • Evaluate Kubernetes deployment options: managed services (AKS, EKS, GKE), on-premises, or hybrid Stakeholder Engagement & Communication: • Collaborate with C-level executives, business leaders, and IT stakeholders to understand strategic objectives • Present architecture solutions, roadmaps, and recommendations to technical and non-technical audiences • Facilitate architecture review boards and technical design authority sessions • Create architecture documentation, diagrams, and decision records for stakeholder consumption • Translate complex technical concepts into business-friendly language for executive communication • Build consensus among diverse stakeholders with competing priorities and requirements • Represent architecture team in steering committees and governance forums Governance & Standards: • Establish and enforce architecture standards, patterns, and best practices across the organization • Define architecture review processes and quality gates for solution designs • Create architecture principles and guardrails aligned with enterprise strategy • Conduct architecture assessments and health checks for existing solutions • Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements: GDPR, PCI-DSS, SOX, HIPAA as applicable • Define and track architecture metrics and KPIs for continuous improvement • Mentor development teams on architectural patterns and design principles Innovation & Strategy: • Research emerging technologies and evaluate their applicability to business challenges • Develop architecture roadmaps and migration strategies for legacy modernization • Lead proof-of-concept initiatives to validate new technologies and approaches • Contribute to enterprise architecture strategy and digital transformation planning • Identify opportunities for automation, optimization, and cost reduction in existing architectures • Drive adoption of cloud-native, microservices, and event-driven architectural patterns PRIMARY SKILLS (REQUIRED) Infrastructure Solution Architecture (5+ Years): • Expert-level experience designing enterprise infrastructure solutions including: - Cloud infrastructure architecture on Azure (VMs, networking, storage, identity) - Hybrid and multi-cloud infrastructure strategies - Virtualization and containerization technologies (VMware, Hyper-V, Docker) - Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, ARM templates, Bicep, Ansible) - Network architecture: VNets, VPN, ExpressRoute, load balancing, firewalls - Storage architecture: blob storage, file shares, databases, data lakes - Identity and access management: Azure AD, Active Directory, SSO, MFA - Disaster recovery and business continuity planning - Infrastructure monitoring and observability solutions Integration Solution Architecture (3+ Years): • Proven experience architecting enterprise integration solutions: - API-led connectivity and API Management strategies - Event-driven architecture and messaging patterns - Enterprise Service Bus (ESB) and integration middleware - Data integration and ETL/ELT architecture - B2B integration protocols and standards - Microservices integration patterns and service mesh - Integration security and data governance Technical Project Management (3+ Years): • Demonstrated experience managing technical delivery in global organizations: - Leading technical workstreams in large-scale transformation programs - Managing cross-functional and geographically distributed teams - Technical scope management and requirement analysis - Risk management and mitigation planning for technical deliverables - Vendor management and third-party solution evaluation - Agile and waterfall project methodologies - Stakeholder management and communication in matrix organizations Apache Kafka (3+ Years): • Deep expertise in Apache Kafka and event streaming architectures: - Kafka cluster architecture and sizing (brokers, partitions, replication) - Kafka ecosystem: Kafka Connect, Kafka Streams, ksqlDB, Schema Registry - Event-driven microservices with event sourcing and CQRS patterns - Real-time stream processing and event-driven integrations - Kafka security: SSL/TLS, SASL, ACLs, and encryption at rest - Kafka monitoring and performance tuning - Cloud-managed Kafka: Confluent Cloud, Azure Event Hubs for Kafka API Management (3+ Years): • Extensive experience with API Management platforms and strategies: - Azure API Management architecture and implementation - API gateway design patterns and traffic management - API security: OAuth 2.0, OpenID Connect, JWT, API keys, mTLS - API developer portals and API lifecycle management - API versioning, deprecation, and backward compatibility - API governance and compliance frameworks - Alternative platforms: Kong, Apigee, MuleSoft, AWS API Gateway Kubernetes & Microservices (3+ Years): • Strong competence in container orchestration and microservices architecture: - Kubernetes architecture: control plane, worker nodes, networking, storage - OpenShift Container Platform enterprise deployments - Microservices design patterns: DDD, bounded contexts, sagas, circuit breakers - Service mesh: Istio, Linkerd, Consul Connect - Container security: image scanning, runtime security, network policies - Kubernetes deployment strategies: blue-green, canary, rolling updates - Helm charts and GitOps workflows (ArgoCD, Flux) Cloud Platforms: • Expert-level knowledge of cloud platforms with focus on: - Microsoft Azure: core services, architecture patterns, best practices - Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) and Azure Red Hat OpenShift (ARO) - Azure API Management and Azure Event Hubs - Azure networking, security, and identity services - Multi-cloud and hybrid cloud strategies - Cloud cost optimization and FinOps practices Architecture Frameworks & Methodologies: • TOGAF or similar enterprise architecture frameworks • Architecture patterns: microservices, event-driven, serverless, CQRS, Saga • Integration patterns: Enterprise Integration Patterns (EIP), API-led connectivity • Domain-Driven Design (DDD) and bounded context modeling • Agile architecture and evolutionary design principles SECONDARY SKILLS (PREFERRED) Additional Integration Technologies: • Message queuing: RabbitMQ, ActiveMQ, Azure Service Bus, AWS SQS/SNS • Integration platforms: MuleSoft Anypoint Platform, Dell Boomi, TIBCO • ESB technologies: IBM Integration Bus, Oracle Service Bus, WSO2 • Data integration: Informatica, Talend, Azure Data Factory, Apache NiFi Microservices & Cloud-Native: • Serverless computing: Azure Functions, AWS Lambda, Knative • Service mesh advanced features: traffic splitting, fault injection, observability • 12-factor app methodology and cloud-native application design • Polyglot persistence strategies and data mesh architectures Data Architecture: • Data modeling and database design (relational and NoSQL) • Data lake and data warehouse architectures (Azure Synapse, Snowflake, Databricks) • Data governance and master data management (MDM) • Real-time analytics and stream processing (Apache Flink, Spark Streaming) Security & Compliance: • Cloud security architecture and zero-trust principles • Identity and access management: OAuth, OIDC, SAML, LDAP • Data privacy regulations: GDPR, CCPA, HIPAA, PCI-DSS • Security architecture frameworks: NIST, ISO 27001, CIS Controls DevOps & Automation: • CI/CD pipeline architecture and DevOps practices • Infrastructure as Code advanced patterns and modules • Configuration management: Ansible, Chef, Puppet, SaltStack • GitOps and progressive delivery strategies Soft Skills & Leadership: • Executive presence and C-level communication • Strategic thinking and business acumen • Conflict resolution and negotiation skills • Change management and organizational transformation • Mentoring and knowledge sharing • Vendor and partner relationship management CERTIFICATIONS (REQUIRED/PREFERRED) Required: • Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert (AZ-305) OR • Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104) with demonstrated architecture experience Preferred: • TOGAF 9 Certified or TOGAF Enterprise Architecture Certification • Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD) or Administrator (CKA) • Microsoft Certified: DevOps Engineer Expert (AZ-400) • Confluent Certified Developer for Apache Kafka or Kafka-related certifications • API Management certifications: Kong, Apigee, or MuleSoft • AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate or Professional • Google Cloud Professional Cloud Architect • ITIL 4 Foundation or Managing Professional • Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) or PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP) • Project Management Professional (PMP) or PRINCE2 Practitioner QUALIFICATIONS Educational Background: • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Software Engineering, or related technical field • Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Business Administration (MBA), or related field is highly preferred Experience Requirements: • Total 5+ years of professional experience in solution architecture, enterprise architecture, or technical leadership roles • Minimum 5 years as infrastructure solution architect designing enterprise-scale infrastructure solutions • Minimum 3 years as integration solution architect designing API, messaging, and data integration solutions • Minimum 3 years as technical project manager leading delivery in global organizations with distributed teams • Minimum 3 years specific competence in Kafka, API Management, Kubernetes, and Microservices • Proven track record of delivering complex, enterprise-scale architecture solutions • Experience working in global organizations with cross-cultural and cross-geographical collaboration Architecture Competencies: • Deep understanding of enterprise architecture frameworks (TOGAF, Zachman, FEAF) • Expertise in cloud-native architecture patterns and 12-factor app principles • Strong knowledge of integration patterns and enterprise integration strategies • Understanding of microservices architecture, domain-driven design, and event-driven systems • Familiarity with data architecture, security architecture, and application architecture domains • Knowledge of IT governance, risk management, and compliance frameworks Business & Strategic Skills: • Business acumen to align technical solutions with organizational strategy • Strategic planning and roadmap development capabilities • Financial acumen for cost-benefit analysis and ROI calculations • Vendor evaluation and technology selection methodologies • Change management and organizational transformation experience Soft Skills: • Exceptional communication skills for technical and executive audiences • Strong leadership and influence without authority • Stakeholder management and relationship building across organizational levels • Problem-solving and analytical thinking in complex environments • Collaboration and teamwork in matrix organizations • Adaptability and resilience in fast-paced, changing environments • Continuous learning mindset and passion for emerging technologies We are seeking an experienced Solution Architect (Functional Architect) with 5+ years of expertise in designing and delivering enterprise-scale infrastructure and integration solutions. The ideal candidate will possess a unique blend of infrastructure architecture, integration architecture, and technical project management experience within global organizations. With demonstrated competence in Kafka, API Management, Kubernetes, and Microservices, this senior role requires a strategic thinker who can bridge business requirements with technical solutions, lead cross-functional teams across geographies, and drive digital transformation initiatives. The Solution Architect will serve as a trusted advisor to business and IT stakeholders, designing end-to-end solution architectures that align with enterprise standards, optimize operational efficiency, and enable business agility.