Solutions Architect

Job Title:
Solution Architect

Location:
Chicago, IL (Hybrid)

About The Company
We are a financial institution serving banks and other financial institutions across the Midwest. We focus on providing competitively priced funding and supporting community investment activities. We are committed to fostering a collaborative, high-performing workforce and bringing people together to reinvest in our communities, from urban centers to rural areas.

Job Summary
We are looking for a Solution Architect to join our Technology team in Chicago, IL. The ideal candidate will be an experienced technology professional who can bridge the gap between business needs and technical capabilities, with strong analytical skills and enterprise architecture experience. This role will involve defining technology solutions that satisfy business unit needs, evaluating existing systems, and proposing optimal architectures to solve business challenges while aligning with enterprise technology strategy.

Key Responsibilities

• Business Domain Needs Analysis: Develop understanding of relevant business functions and associated challenges, translate complex business requirements into technical solutions that align with enterprise strategy and documented patterns.
• Solution Development: Propose architecture solutions considering cost, performance, scalability, reuse, operational efficiency, and security while ensuring alignment with enterprise technology strategy and architectures.
• Proof of Concept Development: Build prototypes and proof-of-concepts to validate solution feasibility and demonstrate technical approaches to stakeholders.
• Technology Governance & Implementation Oversight: Participate in governance processes, present solutions to Architecture Review Board (ARB), act as technical approver for Change Approval Board (CAB), and guide delivery teams during implementation.
• Stakeholder Management & Documentation: Collaborate with cross-functional teams, create comprehensive architecture documentation, and effectively communicate technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences while providing mentorship to team members.

Requirements

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or equivalent education or work experience
• Experience: 7+ years in information technology roles with 1-3 years in architecture roles (enterprise or solution architecture)
• Skills: Experience modeling system diagrams, functional processes and interfaces between systems; cloud computing services, particularly Amazon Web Services (AWS)
• Certifications: None required (AWS and TOGAF certifications are desirable)
• Other: Demonstrated ability to communicate technical program complexities; experience in financial institutions and regulated industries desirable

Preferred Qualifications

• AWS certifications
• TOGAF certification
• Deep understanding of cloud computing, databases, networking, software development methodologies, domain driven design, event driven architecture
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with business acumen
• Experience with emerging technologies and innovation in financial services
• Leadership experience guiding technical teams and facilitating decision-making

Benefits

• Competitive Salary: $150k - $215k annually with performance bonus opportunities
• Health and Wellness: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance plus annual Lifestyle Spending Account for wellness activities
• Work-Life Balance: 5 weeks PTO for new employees, 11 paid holidays, hybrid work model with allocated remote days for flexibility
• Professional Development: Upskilling programs, mentorship opportunities, tuition reimbursement, and Buddy Program for new hires
• Additional Perks: 401(k) and pension retirement program, award-winning downtown Chicago location with rooftop access and public transportation convenience