100% REMOTE- Kubernetes and Cloud Architect in WFH-Florida at National General Insurance

Job Description

The Architect- Expert serves as the expert in IT systems architecture, undertaking complex projects requiring additional specialized technical knowledge. The Architect-Sr Technician makes decisions on complex or ambiguous IT architecture issues, coordinating with users to determine requirements, and ensuring system improvements are successfully implemented and monitored, finding ways to increase efficiency.

Key Responsibilities:

• Apply reference architectures and positions toward the design, deployment and support of highly complex systems that deliver business functionality.
• Involve Director and Associate Vice President level leadership from business and technology disciplines to present and deliver highly complex solutions as needed.
• Consult on the application of reference architecture, strategic direction of enterprise technology, and serve as subject matter expert with contextual knowledge of the business model.
• Utilize or develop reusable patterns, practices, and enterprise reference architectures that fit within the overall Allstate architectural blueprint.
• Drive requirements analysis activities and develop the design of highly complex architectural solutions involving multiple logical and/or physical dimensions. Oversee the production and present documentation for these components.
• Maintain awareness of current complex architectures and business drivers and guide their application to initiatives as appropriate.
• Identify opportunities to enhance existing architecture.
• Assist with drafting the business case including identification of potential business/customer benefits.
• Advocate effective architectural designs and optimize current architecture and processes.  
• Influence clients and partners to prioritize for enterprise benefit and risk reduction and assist in driving the adoption of technology solutions that leverage existing patterns, practices and reference architectures.
• Recommend when tactical solutions should be replaced or incorporated into sunset and refresh strategies for assigned application(s), project(s) or discipline.
• Ensure that application sunset and refresh strategies are created and maintained.
• Lead the assessments and inspections of high complexity physical and/or logical architectural components.
• Verify conformance to architectural patterns, practices and enterprise/departmental reference architecture.
• Lead analysis of complex system issues. 
• Make recommendations for major/significant changes to the architecture.
• Ensure the sharing of 'appropriate lessons learned'.
• Develop high complexity architectural solution concepts and support Pursuit team with feasibility and high-level project estimation.
• Ensure the accuracy of current and future state documentation and adherence to Reference Architecture patterns.
• Define and confirm the architectural portion of RFP and analyze responses.
• Work with strategic vendors and partners to review and influence product roadmaps, strategies, and plans with a view to identify gaps and recommending solutions that serve to gain alignment with Allstate’s needs, both current and future.
• Apply expertise to ensure appropriate resources are engaged in projects and provide architectural guidance across all relevant disciplines.
• Scope projected work high complexity projects and forecast the need for resources.
• Identify the need for specific architectural resources and work with leaders to ensure those needs are known.
• Participate in industry-related conferences and events.
• Provide technical and professional leadership and coach more junior level Architects.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

This job does not have supervisory duties

Preferred Qualifications:

Education and Experience

• 7 or more years of related experience
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

• None

Functional Skills

• Architecture Platform Knowledge - Business Architect- 1: Possesses a fundamental knowledge of the platform. Has used the platform or one or more of its components as part of assignment. Has had training in the platform and understands its basic architecture and concepts.
• Architecture Platform Knowledge - Solutions Architect- 3: Demonstrates a solid conceptual and business understanding of the platform, as well as related and peripheral components. Capable of efficiently making changes to the platform which may impact other organizational functions. Able to quickly and accurately discuss the impact of new technology, applications, and design criteria on the platform. Knowledgeable of the major business units which use the platform(s). Able to communicate with users and customers regarding various business functions and how they fit into the platform in an easily understood manner.
• Architecture Platform Knowledge -Information Systems Architect and Technology Architect- 4: Is a company expert in the platform. Demonstrates the ability to apply diverse areas of business knowledge to successfully meet broad platform objectives. Knowledgeable of major functions of the primary business units and how they interact within the scope of the platform. Able to converse intelligently with users, customers, and management on the impact of technology and resultant applications.
  Business Acumen - Information Systems Architect, Solutions Architect, and Technology Architect- 3
• Have a mastery level of understanding of multiple areas of business knowledge to successfully meet work objectives, as demonstrated by knowledge of Allstate’s business units that relate to work responsibilities, understanding and monitoring appropriate key business indicators as well as what our competition is doing, ability to communicate clearly business partners regarding various  organizational functions, ability to interpret and draw conclusions from business data, understanding of overall business needs and desires that apply to a project or effort, knowledge of Allstate processes performed by other areas and how they interact, analysis of department initiatives and spotting new opportunities, analysis of new product offerings and seeing their effects on technology/business requirements, and the use of Allstate product/service knowledge to find business solutions.
• Business Acumen - Business Architect- 4: Considered a company expert in the area of Business Acumen as demonstrated by one’s detailed knowledge of Allstate’s primary business units, ability to converse intelligently with internal and external customers on the impact technology and competition have on Allstate’s business, ability to discern the impact of subtle changes in competition and technology and discuss these with internal and external customers and leadership, use of industry and competitor benchmarks to evaluate the effectiveness of Allstate’s organizational structure, guiding principles and operating model, use of process and project metrics to create process improvements, and recommendation of changes to products and services in an ever-changing marketplace.
• Business Analysis - Information Systems Architect- 3: Demonstrates the ability to grasp and apply advanced analysis concepts to solving problems of a difficult nature. Designs screens and reports for advanced business systems. Can synthesize disparate and complex information, organizing it in a way which permits the development of effective and efficient databases and presentations. Displays soundness of decisions as reflected in results. Capable of identifying and verifying themes and patterns imbedded within quantitative data, in a set of user requirements, and/or in a problem situation; then drawing conclusions through rational judgment and recommending solutions and approaches. Displays ingenuity and imagination in problem resolution. Able to eliminate subjective and emotional elements not critical to the problem when conducting analysis. Knows when a timely "guestimate" is preferable to more thorough analysis.
• Business Analysis - Business Architect, Solutions Architect, and Technology Architect- 4: Demonstrates the ability to reach sound decisions using insufficient data or best available information, in an ambiguous situation, under pressure, and/or quickly. Capable of recognizing obscure cause and effect relationships. Accurately integrates the impact of non-objective factors, such as behavior, when conducting analysis.
• Business Systems Architecture - Business Architect, Information Systems Architect, Solutions Architect, and Technology Architect- 4: Demonstrates a high level of knowledge of all core business systems, how they are structured, how various components and parts interact, as well as what protocols and interfaces are used for communications and cooperation between modules and components. Takes a lead role in the strategic planning and design of core business systems. Has in-depth knowledge of the entire computing architecture of the company. Stays abreast of new and emerging technology and its impact on core business systems.
• Internal Consulting - Business Architect, Information Systems Architect, Solutions Architect, and Technology Architect- 4: Able to influence others based on earned respect and experience. Effectively negotiates with others for resources, actions or buy-in to maximize win-win outcomes. Independently identified and negotiated work with clients which led to contracts. Acted diplomatically in sensitive client areas, effectively achieving results in less-than-ideal climates. Established client commitment and resources to meet client goals. Often a lead consultant in client engagements.
• IT Architecture Methodologies - Business Architect and Solutions Architect- 3: Demonstrates mastery of the ATO architecture methodologies in practical applications of a difficult nature. Possesses sufficient knowledge, training, and experience to be capable of successfully following ATO architecture methodologies without requiring support and instruction from others. Able to train and educate by setting the example, giving appropriate instruction, providing leadership, and generally raising the level of performance of others while on the job. Demonstrates an attentiveness and vigilance regarding violations of ATO architecture methodologies and takes appropriate action to remedy.
• IT Architecture Methodologies - Information Systems Architect and Technology Architect- 4: Demonstrates the uppermost levels of expertise in applying ATO architecture methodologies challenging and complex situations. Often takes a role in establishing methodologies for the company. May participate in advanced technology or architecture areas that establish ATO architecture methodologies for new products, services, and processes as they are brought into the company.
• Project Oversight - Business Architect, Solutions Architect, and Technology Architect- 3: Provides Project Oversight for a large or complex project and communicates with project managers and client management during the process. Acts as a sponsor for all project stakeholders and helps manage project acceptance. Has experience with project management and is knowledgeable of the organization’s project management procedures including estimating. Experienced in mediating conflicts regarding project content and delivery, communicating at management levels and assuring that projects are on time and within budget. Protects the interest of the organization as well as those of the parties involved.
• Project Oversight - Information Systems Architect- 4: Interacts with senior management to keep them informed and facilitates project completion through effective communication. Has in-depth project management experience with challenging projects. Sensitive to the needs of the participants while keeping the objectives of the organization in focus and maintaining project momentum. Recognizes incipient problems early and recommends appropriate solutions. Knows when to get involved and when to let a project evolve on its own.
• Strategic Thinking - Business Architect and Solutions Architect- 3: Possess a mastery level of understanding of Strategic Thinking demonstrated by the ability to forecast complex resource needs and recognizing risks, merge diverse points of view into a coalition with shared goals and objectives, identify relevant customers and stakeholders and gaining their commitment, demonstrate awareness of all major decision makers for current issues and operations, and understand the major business units of the company that relate to my work responsibilities.
• Strategic Thinking - Information Systems Architect and Technology Architect- 4: Considered a company expert in the area of Strategic Thinking demonstrated by the ability to display expertise in risk management, competitive analysis, financial planning, resource capacity management, emerging technologies and change management, understand and articulate the positions and issues of all influential decision makers on current objectives, evaluate the overall effectiveness of Allstate’s organizational structure, guiding principles, and operating models using industry and competitor benchmarks, recommend changes to Allstate’s products and services to address market conditions, and recommend process changes to better serve internal and external customers.
  Technology Industry Knowledge - Business Architect- 3: Demonstrates in-depth knowledge of the new technology and its impact on the systems infrastructure of the company. Demonstrates acute knowledge of industry trends, emerging technologies, competitors' products and services, regulations and legislation impacting the company. Attends industry seminars and forums on a regular basis. Successfully investigates, evaluates, recommends, and implements new technology to meet requirements of state-of-the-art systems and projects.
• Technology Industry Knowledge - Information Systems Architect, Solutions Architect, Technology Architect- 4: Demonstrates high levels of knowledge in new and emerging technologies. Contributes to strategic planning in areas which require expert knowledge and experience. Participates in advanced technology efforts for the company, evaluating and testing new products to determine their value and applicability to the organization. Often takes a lead role in critical situations where there is a need to apply knowledge of technological trends, emerging technology and/or new tools and products. Successfully selects and implements new technology to meet requirements of state-of-the-art systems and projects. Helps set standards and establish procedures relating to new technological products and services. Actively participates in outside professional organizations and forums.
  Thriving in Change - Business Architect, Information Systems Architect, Solutions Architect, and Technology Architect- 3: Possess a mastery level of understanding  of Thriving in Change as demonstrated by the ability to set the example, provide leadership, coach peers and team members, and raise the level of performance of others during changes that may disrupt productivity and cause degeneration of morale, handle ambiguity and uncertainty with self-confidence and maturity, adapt management style according to current situations and people needs, promote new solutions, recommendations and ideas by fostering a positive and productive climate, and demonstrate the ability to make decisions under time pressures and with limited information.

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National General prides itself on offering our employees a robust Total Rewards package which includes base salary.  The base range offered for the role is: $102,500 - $145,000 and may vary based on internal equity, and job-related skills, knowledge and experience; among other factors.  Other financial components may be added as part of the competitive compensation package, in addition to a full range of benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.

National General Holdings Corp. is an Equal Opportunity (EO) employer – Veterans/Disabled and other protected categories. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of any characteristic protected by law. Candidates must possess authorization to work in the United States, as it is not our practice to sponsor individuals for work visas.

In the event you need assistance or accommodation in completing your online application, please contact NGIC main office by phone at (336) 435-2000.