Software Application Architect

 

Job Summary

The Software Application Architect plays a crucial role in shaping the technical direction of an application, ensuring that it meets both functional and non-functional requirements while adhering to best practices and industry standards. In a Scaled Agile Environment (SAFe), the role of a software application architect takes on additional responsibilities and considerations to support the principles of agility and scale.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Collaborate closely with Agile teams, Product Managers, Product Owners, Scrum Masters, and other stakeholders to align architecture decisions with the Agile Release Train's (ARTs) goals and priorities.
• Identifies and defines architectural epics or features that provide an architectural runway for Agile Release Trains (ARTs) and ensures these are prioritized on the backlog.
• Creates high-level and detailed system architecture designs, considering scalability, performance, and security.
• Applies design patterns and best practices to ensure maintainability and extensibility of the software.
• Integrates threat intelligence into the organization's security tools, processes, and incident response procedures.
• Focuses on how different Agile Release Trains' (ARTs) systems and components integrate to ensure end-to-end system functionality.
• Ensures that the architectural decisions align with SAFe principles, such as the Lean-Agile mindset, customer-centricity, and delivering value to end-users.
• Participates in Program Increment (PI) planning sessions to assist in defining the architectural direction for upcoming iterations.
• Supports and contributes to implementing CI/CD pipelines to facilitate rapid and reliable software delivery.
• Collaborates with the Portfolio and Product Management function to ensure that architectural priorities align with strategic objectives.
• Establishes feedback loops to gather insights from Agile teams and inspect and adapt architectural decisions based on real-world implementation and feedback.
• Evaluate and select appropriate current or emerging technologies, frameworks, and tools for the application.
• Monitors and manages technical debt at the program and portfolio levels, working with Agile teams to prioritize and address.
• Ensures that the architectural decisions contribute to the overall quality and reliability of the software releases.
• Provides training and coaching to Agile teams on architectural concepts, decisions, and best practices within a SAFe context.
• Fosters cross-functional collaboration and knowledge sharing between Agile teams to promote a culture of continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• At least two years of experience with AWS cloud services and related offerings (AWS Glue, AWS Lambda, AWS Kinesis, AWS DynamoDB).
• Experience with system architecture diagramming tools.
• Excellent critical thinking, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong written and oral communication and interpersonal skills.
• Financial services industry experience (Capital Markets, Wealth Management) is preferred.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's Degree in a related technical field or equivalent work experience is required.
• 6+ years of experience in a technical role; previous experience as an architect or senior/lead developer preferred.

Systems & Technology

• Proficient in Microsoft Office.
• Expert knowledge/experience in the following is strongly preferred:
  - Full-stack solution design and implementation.
  - Designing and implementing high-performance, enterprise-scale distributed systems.
  - Loosely coupled, event-driven architectures.
  - RDBMS data modeling, query design, and optimization (MSSQL, Postgres).
  - Domain modeling and design.
  - Microservices architecture.
  - .NET, Python, and Angular programming.
• Experience with AWS cloud services and related offerings (AWS Glue, AWS Lambda, AWS Kinesis, AWS DynamoDB).

About Stifel

Stifel is a more than 130 years old and still thinking like a start-up. We are a global wealth management and investment banking firm serious about innovation and fresh ideas. Built on a simple premise of safeguarding our clients’ money as if it were our own, coined by our namesake, Herman Stifel, our success is intimately tied to our commitment to helping families, companies, and municipalities find their own success.

While our headquarters is in St. Louis, we have offices in New York, San Francisco, Baltimore, London, Frankfurt, Toronto, and more than 400 other locations. Stifel is home to approximately 9,000 individuals who are currently bu