IT Software Architect

Gainesville Regional Utilities' (GRU) IT Department currently has an opening for an experienced IT Software Architect to apply theories and principals of computer science and mathematical analysis to create, test, and evaluate software applications and systems. As a developer/architect you will play a major role in designing and developing applications to ensure end-user needs are met, designing and translating business requirements into solutions. You will be a generalist IT developer, tasked with solving various problems over time. When the situation calls for it, you'll be part of a team that implements vendor sourced enterprise software, configuring that software, customizing it, and integrating with other internal systems. Other times, you'll be primarily tasked with creating custom-built software.

To qualify for this position you must possess a Bachelor Degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in Information Technology, mathematics, business administration or related field; and four (4) years progressively responsible IT experience which includes a minimum of two (2) years in IT experience developing application or interfaces; web-based and client/server applications;

or an Associates degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in Information Technology, mathematics, business administration or related field and six (6) years progressively responsible IT experience which includes a minimum of two (2) years in IT experience developing application or interfaces; web-based and client/server applications.

Relevant IT Certificates such as:
Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer [MCSD],
Adobe Certified Expert for Developers [ACE],
Google Apps Certified Deployment Specialist [GACDS],
Programming Language Certified Associate [CLA],
Certified Associate Programmer [CPA],
Certified Professional Programmer [CPP]
may be substituted for up to two (2) year of education or experience. 

A valid State Driver License required at the time of hire and a valid Florida Driver's license within 30 days of start date and at all times while employed in this classification.

A typical work day includes using system automation technologies to create standardized IT environments, managing development repositories, managing Cloud resources to optimize ROI, building platforms that allows developers to self-service environments for testing and production, including deployments to these environments, and provides metrics to interested parties, providing self-provisioning environments to enable integration testing, stress testing and load testing, supporting the build and release process including management of environments for the development organization, maintaining release branches and documentation describing system configuration management processes and system requirements for all build systems, assisting developers with development issues related to configuration management tool use, supporting testing, deployment, and monitoring of applications along with working closely with cross-departmental teams, specifically IT/Network Operations, to deploy and support hosted production applications to achieve company goals as well as additional project work as assigned.

The ideal candidate will possess the following:

• Strong analytical skills applied to understanding business functionality and translating them into application requirements.
• Excellent understanding of project interdependencies.
• Ability to adapt quickly to new technologies and changing business requirements.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to quickly troubleshoot problems that may arise in work products.
• Ability to partner with software engineers quality analysts to identify course of resolutions.
• Ability to appropriately manage customer expectations regarding scope, schedule, and budgetary parameters.
• Ability to learn new technical concepts and software languages.
• Ability to write software code in both web and client/server environments using the following: Java, .Net, C #, , XML, SQL, VBA, PowerShell, SOAP-based web services, RESTful web services, ABAP, ABAP Web DynPro, oData, Entity Framework, TypeScript.
• Experience with business and system process flow techniques using UML (e.g. Use Case Diagrams, Activity Diagrams, Entity Relationship Diagrams).
• Experience with Azure DevOps.
• Knowledge of continuous integration tools and platforms.
• In depth knowledge and understanding of the various software development lifecycles  (e.g. Agile, RUP, and Waterfall).
• Demonstrated experience in writing software requirements and test specifications.
• Knowledge in solid, grounded principals in Object Oriented design and development approaches

SUMMARY
The Software Architect applies the theories and principals of computer science and mathematical analysis to create, test, and evaluate software applications and systems. Partners with Senior Software Architect to design and develop applications to  ensure end-user needs are met. Primarily designs and translates business requirements into solutions that align with the company's overall objectives, and ensures that business and technology groups enable and drive each other to meet the needs of the company's mission and vision.
Positions allocated to this classification report to a designated supervisor and work under general supervision.  Work in this class is distinguished from other classes by its administrative duties, interdepartmental interactions, independently executed assignments, and advanced technical skills.

EXAMPLES OF WORK*
*This section of the job description is not intended to be a comprehensive list of duties and responsibilities of the position.  The omission of a specific job function does not absolve an employee from being required to perform additional tasks incidental to or inherent in the job.  Performance of lower level duties may be required.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
Analyzes, documents, and tests program development, logic, process flows and specifications.
Defines the system landscape, identify gaps between the current and desired end-states
Recommends alternate choices, trade-offs, and impact analysis.
Promotes the use of a shared infrastructure and application roadmap to reduce costs and improve how information flows.
Partners with business analysts and respective cross-functional business groups (e.g. Finance, HR, IT, etc.) to elicit functional and non-functional requirements.
Develops and maintains new and existing web-based and client/server applications.
Analyzes and translates business requirements in functional and non-function system requirements
Develops and maintains GUIs using design techniques such as prototyping, wireframe diagramming, and UML diagramming.
Improves the performance of applications via load and stress testing.
Partners with senior software developers to convert the instructional algorithms into applications.
Analyzes application reports to ensure that the functionality and performance meets all product and service level requirements.
Creates technical specifications and processes using structured analysis and data modeling techniques (e.g., activity diagrams, entity-relationship diagrams).
Builds and leverages automation to decrease overall system deployment and support cycle time.
Works with fellow developers, User Experience team members, QA staff, and business people through the stages of design, development, QA, launch, and maintenance.
Participates in code reviews and meting daily with team members.
Attends work on a continuous and regular basis.

Content Specialist
Addresses and reconciles problems in accordance to scope, timeline, and budgetary parameters.
Partners with end-users to diagnose and resolve critical content management related challenges/problems.
Monitors and tracks the performance and utilization of the content management system to ensure that uptime and performance metrics meet required targets.
Participates in full lifecycle projects related to content system implementations.
Mobile/Web
Develops and maintains new and existing web-based and client/server applications.
Creates user-centered designs based on business and functional requirements, user research, market analysis, customer feedback, and usability findings.
Participates in user research and usability testing to help improve the user experience.
Develops and designs mobile cross-platform Rich Media Applications using multiple Software Development Kits such as HTML5, Adobe (Flex SDK, Flash SDK, Builder), Google (Android), and Apple (iPhone SDK).
Develops and maintains new and existing web-based and client/server applications by writing code.
Technical Writer
Partners with subject matter experts to understand application and documentation requirements.
Documents and edits material for reports, manuals, briefs, proposals, catalogs, and publications that relate to the installation, operation, and maintenance of operating equipment (i.e. both hardware and software).
Organizes all material for conciseness, style, and consistent terminology.
Maintains records and files of technical work.
NON-ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
Performs other related duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job function satisfactorily. Below are the required education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the essential functions.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Bachelor Degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in Information Technology, mathematics, business administration or related field; and four (4) years progressively responsible IT experience which includes a minimum of two (2) years in IT experience developing application or interfaces; web-based and client/server applications;
or Associates degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in Information Technology, mathematics, business administration or related field and six (6) years progressively responsible IT experience which includes a minimum of two (2) years in IT experience developing application or interfaces; web-based and client/server applications.
Relevant IT Certificates (Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer [MCSD], Adobe Certified Expert for Developers [ACE], Google Apps Certified Deployment Specialist [GACDS], Programming Language Certified Associate [CLA], Certified Associate Programmer [CPA], Certified Professional Programmer [CPP]) may be substituted for up to two (2) year of education or experience.
CERTIFICATIONS OR LICENSES
Licenses
Valid Florida Driver License required within 30 days of appointment.
Certifications
None.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES
Strong analytical skills applied to understanding business functionality and translating them into application requirements.
Excellent understanding of project interdependencies.
Ability to adapt quickly to new technologies and changing business requirements.
Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to quickly troubleshoot problems that may arise in work products.
Ability to partner with software engineers quality analysts to identify course of resolutions.
Ability to appropriately manage customer expectations regarding scope, schedule, and budgetary parameters.
Ability to learn new technical concepts and software languages.
Ability to work with minimal supervision.
Ability to write software code in both web and client/server environments using the following: Java, .Net, C #, , XML, SQL, VBA, PowerShell, SOAP-based web services, RESTful web services, ABAP, ABAP Web DynPro, oData, Entity Framework, TypeScript.
Experience with presentation tier technologies and tools, such as, Photoshop, GIMP, Illustrator, HTML5, XHTML, CSS3, and SVG.
Experience with modern JavaScript frameworks such as Angular, React, Node.js, Vue.js, or similar.
Experience using software project lifecycle tools for bug tracking, requirement gathering, and backlog management tools, such as, JIRA, VSTS, TFS, Mercury, ALM or similar(i.e. Bug Tracking, Requirements Management, etc.).
In depth knowledge and understanding of the various software development lifecycles  (e.g. Agile, RUP, and Waterfall).
Demonstrated experience in writing software requirements and test specifications.
Knowledge in solid, grounded principals in Object Oriented design and development approaches.
Experience with business and system process flow techniques using UML (e.g. Use Case Diagrams, Activity Diagrams, Entity Relationship Diagrams).
Experience with Azure DevOps.
Knowledge of continuous integration tools and platforms.
PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must possess certain physical abilities and be able to withstand work related environmental conditions.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is often required to sit for prolonged periods of time.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
May be required to work and attend meetings outside regular business hours.
Requires local travel to other general government or GRU locations within the Gainesville area.