Nortal is a remote-first, global software consultancy specializing in modern custom software development. We employ CI/CD processes across agile, distributed teams delivering highly-performant, scalable, cloud-native applications for Fortune 100 customers. The North American headquarters are in Kirkland, WA. We have over 1100 employees world-wide.
Role Overview
Nortal Solution Architect is a person who plans and leads the technical solution and development effort on projects. They are responsible for the vision that underlies the solution, and the execution of that vision into the solution. The Solution Architect becomes involved with a project at the earliest stages and helps to discover, refine and convert requirements into a solution. A Solution Architect spends time researching and building proof-of-concepts to prove out their solutions, as well as providing clear and concise technical approach documentation for the delivery team(s) and business to consume. At Nortal, Solution Architects are hands-on throughout the project and will contribute to higher-level and technically challenging tasks. Solution Architects are also responsible for the delivery of the overall solution and therefore must work closely with the client stakeholders and tangential client projects or teams to their assigned solution to ensure success.
Supervisory Responsibilities
Leads and directs one or more teams of Software Development Engineers and/or projects. May supervise or train lower-level Software Development Engineers. Works under little direction or supervision.Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Constructs appropriate solutions with fast and slow, large and small data. Architects test platforms to support distributed systems. Identifies performance issues with software applications and troubleshoots performance problems in distributed systems. Creates architectures for clients and provides guidance on existing architecture, including technical architecture design and review. Owns all aspects of project quality in the software development lifecycle (SDLC) from requirements to deployment of an application or distributed system. Enhances system architecture to improve continuous software integration and deployment model within a DevOps environment. Sets up the foundation of an agile process for clients. Identifies new opportunities to leverage technologies for the organization and collaborates with Technical Directors to assess and implement them. Constructs clear and concise documentation to explain technical concepts and approaches across a wide range of consumers, including technical and non-technical audiences. Independently performs discoveries and assessments. Identifies systematic problems and solutions for the client. Extracts a value-based solution to solve the technical and business concerns. Creates work breakdown structures for new projects. Sets up agile practices and tooling for new projects (i.e. SCM, Slack, Wikis, Harvest, Jira).Performs maturity assessments of client CI/CD processes. Participates in public speaking opportunities and writing tech articles. Ensures code, design and architecture quality practices are being met.Mentors other developers on best practices. Works with sales on new project opportunities including scoping then creating proposals and SOWs. Develops new business approaches with sales to drive client and project leads.Technical Skills
Understands how frameworks influence deployment, solution lifecycle management and software delivery teams. Understands how operations are affected by library and language choices. Understands different types of programming methodologies (functional vs. object-oriented, imperative vs. declarative) and scenarios where each would be applicable. Able to define a full DevOps lifecycle for distributed systems. Promotes guidance on architecture to clients. Possesses a broad range in technical abilities and continually seeks out special interests in other technology. Comfortable with modern web frameworks and technologies. Comfortable with cloud infrastructure and technologies. Ability to discuss technologies, approaches, and pros and cons on the following topics: security, authentication/authorization, logging aggregation, monitoring, metrics, stack-based infrastructure delivery, immutable infrastructure and API gateways. Consultative Skills
Has the ability to scope out opportunities within a project and sell the project in meetings with the client. Earns respect and trust of leadership as a vital technical resource for collaborative decisions in the client organization and Nortal. Ability to construct appropriate feedback when presented with differences of opinion or direction. Builds consensus and acts as a tie-breaker where needed. Strives to become a trusted advisor to customers, remains flexible and puts customer needs first.Solidifies and expands Nortal's presence at client companies through networking.Feels comfortable with whiteboard sessions.Education and Experience
Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or equivalent. 10+ years of hands-on experience contributing on teams delivering 2 or more projects. Has a “polyglot mindset” with experience and expertise in more than one programming language.Expert Java skills.Has experience leading teams and technology efforts on multiple projects. Experience with containers (i.e. Docker) and at least one cloud platform (i.e. AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure cloud platforms or similar). Several years of previous consulting experience is highly desired. Experience designing and implementing solutions that coordinate many disparate systems and a wide range of data types. Hands-on experience with Agile SDLC for more than 6 years. Experience with CI/CD processes.Nortal America Is An Equal Opportunity Employer And All Qualified Applicants Will Receive Consideration For Employment Without Regard To Race, Color, Religion, Sex, National Origin, Disability Status, Protected Veteran Status, Or Any Other Characteristic Protected By Law.
This position is based in the Greater Seattle Area - but can also be remote from Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, North Carolina, South Carolina, Oregon, Texas and Virginia, and from British Columbia and Calgary, Canada.
Nortal is a multinational strategic change and technology company. We simplify and optimize naturally complex processes to create a Seamless Society.
