The Principal Technical Architect at Dealer.com is responsible for architecting and designing comprehensive solutions that meet non-functional (e.g. performance, security, and operational considerations) requirements in support of a given initiative. The Technical Architect plays a role in establishing architectural vision and direction, architects technical solutions, provides advice and guidance, monitors emerging technologies, and in technology evaluation and selection.

Key Responsibilities:

Architecture Vision and Direction

• Assists with the development of frameworks, standards, policies, principles and procedures that guide technology decisions and maximize reuse of technology.
• Facilitates technical design reviews, ensuring adherence to architectural standards, and consistency across organizational and design boundaries.

Technical Architecture Development

• Develops the logical and technical architecture for project and platform initiatives, and collaborates with project teams to realize them.
• Identifies necessary non-functional requirements (performance, security, operational concerns) and participates in the development of conceptual architecture.
• Evaluates technology, security, performance, availability, and interoperability requirements and produces high level design deliverables that enable development teams to produce products that are flexible, scalable, and secure.
• Recommends options for the resolution/prevention of technical debt and to facilitate rapid development and implementation. Develops and executes test plans to check infrastructure and systems technical development, and where possible, makes recommendations for improvement. Contributes performance, security, and operational items to backlog of development team.

Advice & Guidance

• Provides technical guidance and oversight, acts as a point of escalation and serves as a technical expert on projects.
• Communicates technical architectures, relevant technologies, practices, platforms, and products to delivery team and other stakeholders. Mentors on business knowledge, technology, and career guidance.
• Assists in the identification, analysis, and resolution of technology infrastructure problems.

Emerging Technology Monitoring

• Evaluates emerging technologies and the evolution of current technologies to define a future vision roadmap for optimal applications of technology to meet business needs.
• Recommends improvements to processes and technology that improve the effectiveness of the team.
• Conducts Proof of Concept for feasibility studies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related discipline, and 10 years’ experience in a related field. The right candidate could also have a different combination, such as a Master’s degree and 8 years’ experience, a PhD and 5 years’ ; or 22 years’ experience in a related field.
• 10+ years of experience in full development life cycle and significant experience in delivering applications and architecture services in a production environment.
• 7+ years of experience in the implementation of structured design and architecture processes in a corporate environment.
• 5+ years of leadership experience, with a track record of increasing responsibilities.
• Strong foundational knowledge of software engineering and familiarity with various technologies such as Node.js, Java, C# and JavaScript. Build Software with API first approach using service-oriented or event-driven architectures. Practical experience in delivering software and services leveraging cloud infrastructure such as AWS.
• Deep understanding of the architecture discipline, processes, concepts, and best practices.
• Experience with cloud-native architectures or compatible architecture patterns.
• Experience with large data set analysis and advanced ETL practices.
• Exemplary consulting skills and a track record of applying these skills as a practicing architect. Outstanding verbal, written, presentation, facilitation, and interaction skills, including ability to effectively communicate architectural issues and concepts to multiple organization levels.
• Deep experience in breaking solution plans down into iterative deliverables.
• Demonstrated ability in applying lean architecture principles in an agile product delivery environment.