Metrocouncil
Solution Architect (Systems Engineer 4)
Metrocouncil, El Segundo, California, United States, 90245
Overview
We are the Metropolitan Council, the regional government for the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area. We plan 30 years ahead for the future of the metropolitan area and provide regional transportation, wastewater, and housing services. We are committed to supporting a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.
About the department Information Services is the central IT department supporting all divisions of the Metropolitan Council. Our 140 team members provide technology, practices and innovative solutions that enable the core services of the Council.
Role purpose Solution Architect (Systems Engineer 4) will design secure, scalable, and resilient solutions, and will directly support the growth and digital transformation of Met Council, resulting in enhanced responsiveness to internal and external community members. This role will assist the IT team in delivering solutions that improve efficiency, enhance user experiences, and enable data-driven decision-making. Also accountable for ensuring that technology investments align with strategic objectives, maximizing value for the organization and positioning us as an innovation leader in the Twin Cities region.
This is a senior-level position that will mentor and guide teams, with the goal set of broadening the technical skill base of the Council\'s workforce, further contributing to strengthening the local talent pool. Indirectly, the Solutions Architect will contribute support to the regional economic growth by ensuring our services operate securely, efficiently, and sustainably benefiting both our internal teams and the broader community we serve.
Location and travel Position is based at our Robert Street office in St. Paul and requires some travel to various Council work sites in the Twin Cities metro area. Some Council work sites are not accessible by public transportation, so driving a Council vehicle may be necessary. Candidates must have a valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record.
Responsibilities
Partner with stakeholders to understand business challenges and define holistic solution architectures across software engineering, data, infrastructure, networking, and security domains.
Design end-to-end solutions that are scalable, secure, and cost-effective—leveraging cloud technologies (Azure preferred) and SaaS platforms as appropriate.
Create prototypes, proof-of-concepts, and reference architectures to validate approaches before implementation.
Guide technical teams through the delivery lifecycle, ensuring alignment to architecture standards, best practices, and business objectives.
Evaluate on a continual basis emerging technologies and recommending innovations that drive business value.
Act as a trusted advisor, effectively communicating complex technology concepts and persuading diverse stakeholders to adopt optimal solutions.
Balance short-term delivery needs with long-term architecture strategy, ensuring your designs fit the "big picture."
Prototype fluently and demonstrate new solutions to accelerate decision-making.
Document solution roadmaps, reference architectures, and implementation guidelines, and collaborate closely with technical teams to ensure the successful delivery of optimally designed solutions that adhere to established standards and best practices.
Qualifications
Education (in Computer Science, Management Information Systems, or a related field) and experience in the software industry including solution architecture and solution design.
High school diploma or GED AND ten (10) years of experience and a minimum of three (3) years of solution architecture or solution design experience.
Associate\'s degree AND eight (8) years of experience including three (3) years of solution architecture or solution design experience.
Bachelor\'s degree AND six (6) years of experience including three (3) years of solution architecture or solution design experience.
Master\'s degree AND four (4) years of experience including three (3) years of solution architecture or solution design experience.
Desired qualifications
Advanced degrees such as a Master’s or MBA focused on technology, business or related fields.
Cloud architecture certifications (e.g., Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert, AWS Solutions Architect Professional, Google Cloud Professional Architect).
Experience with DevOps tools and practices, including CI/CD pipelines and infrastructure-as-code tools like Terraform, ARM templates, or CloudFormation.
Familiarity with containerization and orchestration platforms such as Docker, Kubernetes, and managed services like AKS, EKS, or GKE.
Knowledge of enterprise integration patterns, API gateways, RESTful or GraphQL APIs, and event-driven architecture frameworks (Kafka, Azure Event Hub).
Experience with data engineering, analytics platforms, and BI tools (Databricks, Azure Synapse, Snowflake, Power BI).
Strong security practices, identity and access management, and zero-trust architectures.
Ability to lead large-scale, cross-domain architectural initiatives and develop enterprise reference architectures and governance frameworks.
Experience optimizing cloud spend and applying FinOps principles.
Excellent stakeholder management, with demonstrated ability to influence without authority and lead cross-functional teams.
Comfort working in agile and fast-paced environments, adapting quickly to changing business needs and priorities.
Experience working with diverse populations of internal and external customers.
Initial six months expectations
Problem-solving, critical thinking, and analytical skills to diagnose complex technical and business challenges and design effective solutions.
Strong written and verbal communication to articulate technical concepts to diverse audiences.
Ability to deliver exceptional customer service and build strong relationships with clients.
Prioritization and time management to balance multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.
Collaborative skills to work with diverse teams, vendors, and leadership as a trusted technology partner.
Ability to influence without authority and gain stakeholder buy-in.
Independent work habits and ownership of deliverables.
Proactive risk identification and remediation to prevent issues from escalating.
What you can expect from us
Opportunity to influence the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
On-site training and tuition reimbursement to develop skills.
Competitive salary, excellent benefits, and good work/life balance.
Work environment You would perform your work in a standard office setting. Travel between primary worksite and various locations may be required on short notice to resolve computer system problems.
Recruitment process
We review your minimum qualifications.
We rate your education and experience.
We conduct a structured panel interview.
We conduct a selection interview.
Security and compliance Security Policy: This position involves direct access to Criminal Justice Information (CJI) as defined by the FBI CJIS Security Policy. Final candidates must agree to a state of residence and national fingerprint-based record check. If the record check reveals criminal convictions, access to CJI will be reviewed for permissibility. False statements may disqualify applicants.
Equal opportunity and accommodations The Metropolitan Council is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, and veteran-friendly employer. The Council is committed to a workforce that reflects the diversity of the region and strongly encourages persons of color, members of the LGBTQ community, individuals with disabilities, women, and veterans to apply. If you have a disability that requires accommodation during the selection process, please email HR-OCCHealth@metc.state.mn.us.
Contacts Address: 390 Robert St. N., St. Paul, Minnesota, 55101
Website: metrocouncil.org
#J-18808-Ljbffr
About the department Information Services is the central IT department supporting all divisions of the Metropolitan Council. Our 140 team members provide technology, practices and innovative solutions that enable the core services of the Council.
Role purpose Solution Architect (Systems Engineer 4) will design secure, scalable, and resilient solutions, and will directly support the growth and digital transformation of Met Council, resulting in enhanced responsiveness to internal and external community members. This role will assist the IT team in delivering solutions that improve efficiency, enhance user experiences, and enable data-driven decision-making. Also accountable for ensuring that technology investments align with strategic objectives, maximizing value for the organization and positioning us as an innovation leader in the Twin Cities region.
This is a senior-level position that will mentor and guide teams, with the goal set of broadening the technical skill base of the Council\'s workforce, further contributing to strengthening the local talent pool. Indirectly, the Solutions Architect will contribute support to the regional economic growth by ensuring our services operate securely, efficiently, and sustainably benefiting both our internal teams and the broader community we serve.
Location and travel Position is based at our Robert Street office in St. Paul and requires some travel to various Council work sites in the Twin Cities metro area. Some Council work sites are not accessible by public transportation, so driving a Council vehicle may be necessary. Candidates must have a valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record.
Responsibilities
Partner with stakeholders to understand business challenges and define holistic solution architectures across software engineering, data, infrastructure, networking, and security domains.
Design end-to-end solutions that are scalable, secure, and cost-effective—leveraging cloud technologies (Azure preferred) and SaaS platforms as appropriate.
Create prototypes, proof-of-concepts, and reference architectures to validate approaches before implementation.
Guide technical teams through the delivery lifecycle, ensuring alignment to architecture standards, best practices, and business objectives.
Evaluate on a continual basis emerging technologies and recommending innovations that drive business value.
Act as a trusted advisor, effectively communicating complex technology concepts and persuading diverse stakeholders to adopt optimal solutions.
Balance short-term delivery needs with long-term architecture strategy, ensuring your designs fit the "big picture."
Prototype fluently and demonstrate new solutions to accelerate decision-making.
Document solution roadmaps, reference architectures, and implementation guidelines, and collaborate closely with technical teams to ensure the successful delivery of optimally designed solutions that adhere to established standards and best practices.
Qualifications
Education (in Computer Science, Management Information Systems, or a related field) and experience in the software industry including solution architecture and solution design.
High school diploma or GED AND ten (10) years of experience and a minimum of three (3) years of solution architecture or solution design experience.
Associate\'s degree AND eight (8) years of experience including three (3) years of solution architecture or solution design experience.
Bachelor\'s degree AND six (6) years of experience including three (3) years of solution architecture or solution design experience.
Master\'s degree AND four (4) years of experience including three (3) years of solution architecture or solution design experience.
Desired qualifications
Advanced degrees such as a Master’s or MBA focused on technology, business or related fields.
Cloud architecture certifications (e.g., Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert, AWS Solutions Architect Professional, Google Cloud Professional Architect).
Experience with DevOps tools and practices, including CI/CD pipelines and infrastructure-as-code tools like Terraform, ARM templates, or CloudFormation.
Familiarity with containerization and orchestration platforms such as Docker, Kubernetes, and managed services like AKS, EKS, or GKE.
Knowledge of enterprise integration patterns, API gateways, RESTful or GraphQL APIs, and event-driven architecture frameworks (Kafka, Azure Event Hub).
Experience with data engineering, analytics platforms, and BI tools (Databricks, Azure Synapse, Snowflake, Power BI).
Strong security practices, identity and access management, and zero-trust architectures.
Ability to lead large-scale, cross-domain architectural initiatives and develop enterprise reference architectures and governance frameworks.
Experience optimizing cloud spend and applying FinOps principles.
Excellent stakeholder management, with demonstrated ability to influence without authority and lead cross-functional teams.
Comfort working in agile and fast-paced environments, adapting quickly to changing business needs and priorities.
Experience working with diverse populations of internal and external customers.
Initial six months expectations
Problem-solving, critical thinking, and analytical skills to diagnose complex technical and business challenges and design effective solutions.
Strong written and verbal communication to articulate technical concepts to diverse audiences.
Ability to deliver exceptional customer service and build strong relationships with clients.
Prioritization and time management to balance multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.
Collaborative skills to work with diverse teams, vendors, and leadership as a trusted technology partner.
Ability to influence without authority and gain stakeholder buy-in.
Independent work habits and ownership of deliverables.
Proactive risk identification and remediation to prevent issues from escalating.
What you can expect from us
Opportunity to influence the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
On-site training and tuition reimbursement to develop skills.
Competitive salary, excellent benefits, and good work/life balance.
Work environment You would perform your work in a standard office setting. Travel between primary worksite and various locations may be required on short notice to resolve computer system problems.
Recruitment process
We review your minimum qualifications.
We rate your education and experience.
We conduct a structured panel interview.
We conduct a selection interview.
Security and compliance Security Policy: This position involves direct access to Criminal Justice Information (CJI) as defined by the FBI CJIS Security Policy. Final candidates must agree to a state of residence and national fingerprint-based record check. If the record check reveals criminal convictions, access to CJI will be reviewed for permissibility. False statements may disqualify applicants.
Equal opportunity and accommodations The Metropolitan Council is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, and veteran-friendly employer. The Council is committed to a workforce that reflects the diversity of the region and strongly encourages persons of color, members of the LGBTQ community, individuals with disabilities, women, and veterans to apply. If you have a disability that requires accommodation during the selection process, please email HR-OCCHealth@metc.state.mn.us.
Contacts Address: 390 Robert St. N., St. Paul, Minnesota, 55101
Website: metrocouncil.org
#J-18808-Ljbffr