Solutions Architect | Merchandising Applications

Solutions Architect | Merchandising Systems

Location: 5000 Kansas Avenue Kansas City, KS 66106

Department: Information Technology

Work Environment: Remote/Hybrid

AWG is looking for a Solutions Architect in Information Technology (IT) to provide architectural and leadership oversight for strategic, business-transforming technical solutions in IT service and support.

The Solutions Architect | Merchandising Systems is a premier customer-facing role serving as an advisor, subject-matter expert, and delivery partner for our customers. As an experienced Solutions Architect with a focus on solution implementation, you’ll be responsible for guiding our customers from concept to go-live. You are a passionate technologist who is up to date on the latest technologies, can dive into processes and love applying your skills to solve a customer challenge. More specifically you will be responsible for technical solutions related to AWG’s retail applications.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Deliver Solutions (30%)

• Translates business context to technology solutions that meets organization objectives
• Architect/design solutions that align with industry best practices, future business/technology strategy and AWG’s approved technology stack that address the customer’s needs.
• Collaborate with customers to understand their business problems or needs and desired outcomes.
• Participate in the Architecture Review Board, conduct architectural and code reviews.
• Champions a structured approach to business application solutions and supports the architectural aspects of all application projects in peer IT portfolios.
• Communicates the architecture to the stakeholders, collaborates and coordinates with existing domain architects in the formalization and adoption of IT standards and procedures.
• Develops /maintains Industry standards, guidelines and best practices for the core domain
• Drive activities that take place during solution ideation, solution design, and solution implementation.
• Identification and recommendation of appropriate architecture/solutions, estimating the work efforts, upgrades, replacements, or decommissioning options incorporating business and technology productivity, usability, and total cost of ownership

Support Availability and Services (25%)

• Serve as the subject matter expert and go-to resource for the functional domain , and drive major/key support challenges to successful solutions as appropriate
• Assist core/project team in solving key/major production support issues, define/develop and execute architecture optimizations based on the unknown/unexpected support issues
• Recommends and drive implementations of system enhancements to provide operational reliability and integration ensuring the business with consistent systems availability and quality
• Responsible for overall system-wide resiliency, scalability, stability and operational efficiency of solutions

Align Roadmap and Strategy (15%)

• Strategically aligns with the organization's vision and drives leadership to transformation for a better business outcome.
• Development of technical visioning plan in areas of expertise considering future business needs and emerging technologies
• Participates and contributes to the development of IT Roadmap aligning with business and IT strategy

Learning and Continuous improvement (30%)

• Drive resolution with technology vendors when support is needed.
• Responsible for the lifecycle of solutions, from selection, proof of concept including software currency, upgrades and/or technology retirement.
• Influences change to standards when necessary.
• Responsible for assisting in the establishment of an IT Architecture practice, and the adoption of an architecture and standards methodology
• Guide, Mentor and Lead Junior/emerging architects and developers.
• Evaluate technology acquisitions designed to optimize feature/function for long term supportability, vendor viability and total cost of ownership.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Experience in solution evaluation/selection and implementation for large scale, and complex environments
• Ability to work independently, self-starter, highly motivated, resourceful
• Strong passion to mentor and grow the skillsets of lesser-experienced developers
• 1-3 years of application architecture experience
• Demonstrated mastery of multiple technologies over career and ability to learn new technologies
• Solid experience with full SDLC – requirements, design, development, testing, and deployment using waterfall and/or agile methodologies
• Experience executing on the organizational operation vision and goals, in alignment with department leadership
• Excels in working remotely with remote team members
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Bachelor’s Degree in Software Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Information Systems, or related degree.
• 5+ years of Java development experience
• Ability to work as a committed member of a cross-functional team, sharing ideas and inputs from different perspectives in working towards delivering an exceptional product experience
• Experience serving as a technical coach, mentor, subject matter expert, and escalation point for our customers, IT teams, and colleagues.
• Accomplished interpersonal and communication skills, demonstrating a clear and articulate standard of written and verbal communications to various levels of audiences
• Experience in designing, developing, and implementing high performing, large scale, and complex systems including integration with third-party applications
• Strong experience working with relational databases

NICE TO HAVE/PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• COBOL Programming Language
• Knowledge of retail merchandising and/or wholesale industry.
• IBM Integration BUS (IIB)

Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. (AWG) is the nation’s largest cooperative food wholesaler to independently owned supermarkets, serving over 1,100 member companies and over 3,400 locations throughout 31 states from 9 wholesale Divisions. The consolidated run-rate sales for AWG are $12.3 billion. In addition to its cooperative wholesale operations, the company also operates subsidiary companies that provide certain real estate and supermarket development services, print and digital marketing services, health and beauty care, general merchandise, pharmaceutical products, specialty foods, and natural and organic products.

Benefits:

• Basic & Supplemental Life and AD&D
• Yearly Holiday Bonus
• Employee Assistance Program
• Wellness Program
• Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
• Health Savings Account
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Short-Term and Long-Term Disability
• 401(k) with 4% match along with 3 other contributions
• Medical, Dental, & Vision Insurance
• Paid Vacation, Holiday, and Sick Time