Information Technology Architect

Austin, TX, United States

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 diversity and inclusion at all levels of our company. It is the cornerstone of our corporate values of accountability, leadership, innovation, trust, and expertise. We accept and celebrate those that join us and recognize that individuals with a wide variety of talents, ideas, and experiences propel the innovation that drives our success. A diverse and inclusive workforce strengthens us and allows for a collaborative environment to solve the challenges that face our industry today and in the future.

ERCOT offers the flexibility to work both in and out of the office within the state of Texas, providing our employees with an enhanced work life balance.

As a member of our collaborative IT team, you will encounter cutting edge technology systems and solutions that run the electric power grid and wholesale markets within the state of Texas.  You will use your creativity and technical expertise to implement industry leading IT solutions that will help shape the future of the global electric utility industry.

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 “backbone” but listens to and addresses stakeholder needs.   The IT Architect has a close 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. Develops enterprise level applications and custom integration solutions including major enhancements, interfaces, functions, and features.

Senior Level –

Broadly applies principles, theories and concepts related to the profession. A seasoned, experienced professional with an in-depth/full understanding of 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 by leading the EA Working Group

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

Level Lead – Above +

Leads projects, schedules work, trains, mentors, and provides coaching for other employees

Shares project results in the form of whitepapers, then presents them to the internal team and stakeholders

Ensures work assignments of team members are completed in a timely manner and reviews work products for accuracy prior to submitting to management for approval

Transformation agent throughout IT and beyond traditional infrastructure - extends to process, organizational, and business transformation

Oversees definition, developments, and maintains ERCOT’s Reference Architectures including developing content and approving content developed by others

Maintains knowledge of emerging trends and industry best practices; disseminates information out to ERECOT’s communities of interest

Works on the most complex issues where analysis of situations requires an in-depth evaluation of variable factors. Has the ability to resolve complex issues in creative and effective ways

Applies creativity, in-depth technical and theoretical knowledge, and experience in solving highly complex architectural design problems

Provides SWOT analysis of current and future architectural and business direction

Establishes and grows beneficial working relationships between IT Architecture team members and stakeholders; earns leadership through building trust and delivering value to stakeholders

Maintains situational awareness across ERCOT’s portfolios and advises on the appropriate timing of specific technical initiatives

Demonstrates ownership of one or more portfolios; completes assessments of technical health of applications, platforms, and technologies in the portfolio.  Capable of developing roadmaps marrying vendor release schedules and recommended technology uptake for ERCOT

EXPERIENCE

Senior Requirements:

Requires minimum 5 years related work experience as an Architecture Practitioner

Requires experience in using a metamodel-based architecture tool (Sparx EA, Orbus iServer, MEGA, Rational System Architect, oversight for these solutions through the entire lifecycle – inception, planning, design, implementation, operational turnover, patch/maintenance, decommissioning Troux)

Required previous experience delivering multiple end-to-end solutions and has provided

Lead Requirements:

Requires minimum 8 years related work experience as an Architecture Practitioner

Requires experience in using a metamodel-based architecture tool (Sparx EA, Orbus iServer, MEGA, Rational System Architect, Troux)

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

Senior & Lead Preferred Experience:

Requires experience developing and delivering Architecture and designs for Software solutions including integration and communication perspectives

Requires experience in software development and coding in various languages (Java, Python, SQL, etc.)

Requires Excellent knowledge of UML and other modeling methods supporting both solution and data design

Preferred experience delivering data solutions in AWS and/or Azure

Requires experience translating business requirements into technical specifications, including data streams, integrations, transformations, databases, and data warehouses

Requires experience defining the data architecture framework, standards, and principles, including modeling, metadata, security, reference data, master data management and data lifecycle/retention

Requires experience defining reference architecture and data flows - which parts of the organization generate data, which require data to function, how data flows are managed, and how data changes in transition

Requires experience collaborating and coordinating with multiple departments, stakeholders, partners, and external vendors

Requires experience developing diagrams representing key data entities and their relationships

Preferred experience in Database administration and performance tuning

Preferred exposure to emerging data technologies like columnar and NoSQL databases, Business Intelligence and Analytics, data visualization, and unstructured data.

Requires strong communication skills and political savvy, being persuasive with various communities and ability to conceive and portray the big data picture to others.

CERTIFICATIONS

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

​There is one position available. Level will be determined by individual's level of experience that is identified.

WORK LOCATION – Taylor, TX:

Employees will be required to be on-site in Taylor, TX at minimum 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

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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.

Expected Salary Range:

$132,078 - $224,536 Are you an ERCOT Employee? If so please log in to Workday to apply.