Solution Architect IIIBusiness Technology - Enterprise Architecture | WoodmenLife Location: Remote
Reports To: Manager, Solution Architecture
PLEASE NOTE: WoodmenLife will not sponsor applicants for work visas for this position. Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.
To be considered for this position, applicants must submit a resume that includes their full name, current residential address, email address, and phone number. Resumes that do not contain all required contact information will not be considered.
Role Summary The Solution Architect III serves as a trusted technology advisor responsible for designing and guiding the implementation of enterprise technology solutions that support WoodmenLife's strategic initiatives and modernization objectives.
This role works closely with Enterprise Architects, Cloud Architects, Product Owners, Engineering Teams, and Business Stakeholders to translate business requirements into scalable, secure, and maintainable architecture solutions.
The Solution Architect III serves as the architectural leader within an Agile Release Train (ART), ensuring solution decisions align with Enterprise Architecture direction while enabling successful delivery of business capabilities.
The Solution Architect III helps guide technology decisions, supports delivery teams, and promotes modern architecture practices across the organization.
What You'll Do Solution Architecture & Design - Design end-to-end solution architectures involving multiple applications, integrations, and technology platforms.
- Translate business requirements into scalable, secure, and maintainable solution designs.
- Define integration approaches utilizing APIs, messaging, and service-based architectures.
- Collaborate with Enterprise Architects and Cloud Architects to ensure alignment with enterprise standards and strategic roadmaps.
- Create architecture documentation, solution diagrams, and technical design artifacts.
- Document key architecture decisions, trade-offs, and solution rationale using Architecture Decision Records (ADRs) or similar architecture artifacts.
Architecture Leadership & Engineering Collaboration - Lead architecture across major initiatives and complex solution delivery efforts.
- Provide architectural guidance and mentorship to engineering teams.
- Support technical decision-making, design reviews, and architecture governance activities.
- Collaborate with development teams to resolve technical challenges and evaluate solution trade-offs.
- Communicate architecture decisions and design considerations to both technical and business audiences.
- Promote architecture consistency, reuse, and best practices across delivery teams.
- Mentor Solution Architects and engineers by promoting consistent architecture practices and architectural thinking across teams.
- Build the enterprise integration strategy, establish standards and reusable patterns, and ensure systems communicate consistently across cloud, SaaS, and on-premises platforms.
Modern Architecture & Cloud Enablement - Design solutions leveraging Microsoft Azure cloud services and SaaS/PaaS platforms.
- Apply modern architecture approaches including APIs, domain-aligned services, Event-Driven Architectures, and Service-Oriented Architectures (SOA).
- Support DevSecOps practices, CI/CD pipelines, and Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) deployment models.
- Partner with Cloud Architects to maximize enterprise cloud platform capabilities.
- Promote reusable services, platforms, and integration frameworks.
Agile Delivery & Enterprise Collaboration - Partner with Product Owners, Business Relationship Managers, and engineering teams within SAFe Agile Release Trains (ARTs).
- Participate in backlog refinement, planning, and solution decomposition activities.
- Ensure architecture considerations are incorporated into development and delivery planning.
- Provide architecture leadership throughout the solution lifecycle.
- Collaborate across business and technical teams to deliver strategic initiatives.
Innovation & Continuous Improvement - Evaluate emerging technologies and architecture patterns.
- Support initiatives involving AI, automation, data platforms, and digital transformation.
- Identify opportunities to improve scalability, maintainability, and operational efficiency.
- Contribute to architecture governance, standards, and best practices.
- Help advance enterprise architecture maturity and innovation capabilities.
Current Strategic Initiatives - Dynamics 365 CRM Modernization
- Digital Customer Experience Modernization
- Enterprise API & Integration Modernization
- Identity and Access Management Enhancements
- Cloud-First Transformation
- Technical Debt Reduction and Application Modernization
- Architectural Runway and Reusable Enterprise Services
- Automation and Process Optimization Initiatives
- AI-Enabled Business and Operational Solutions
Tools & Technologies - Event-Driven Architecture Technologies
- Modern Microsoft Development Ecosystem (.NET)
- iDesign Method-Informed Architecture
What You Bring Minimum Qualifications - Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or related field (or equivalent experience).
- 10+ years of progressive experience in software engineering, systems design, or architecture roles.
- 7+ years of experience in senior technical leadership, solution architecture, or lead engineering roles.
- Demonstrated experience serving as the lead Solution Architect for large, multi-system, or enterprise-critical initiatives.
- Experience designing solutions involving multiple applications, services, and enterprise integrations.
- Strong Microsoft technology background including Azure technologies.
- Experience architecting cloud-based and modern SaaS/PaaS solutions.
- Strong understanding of API and integration architectures.
- Experience with Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) and Event-Driven Architecture patterns.
- Experience supporting DevSecOps practices, CI/CD automation, and Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC).
- Understanding of identity, security, and access management principles.
- Experience working in Agile and/or SAFe delivery environments.
- Strong communication, collaboration, and stakeholder management skills.
Preferred Qualifications - Experience supporting cloud migration and modernization initiatives.
- Experience in insurance, financial services, or other regulated industries.
- Familiarity with enterprise architecture frameworks and governance practices.
- Experience with Dynamics 365 and enterprise business platforms.
- Exposure to AI, automation, analytics, and data platform initiatives.
- Azure certifications or architecture credentials.
Scope & Impact - Leads solution architecture for enterprise-wide initiatives and complex cross-system integrations.
- Influences technology decisions across delivery teams and business units.
- Serves as a trusted advisor to business and IT stakeholders.
- Promotes Enterprise Architecture standards and modernization strategies.
- Provides technical leadership and architectural guidance to engineering teams implementing solution designs.
- Helps shape WoodmenLife's future technology landscape and digital transformation roadmap.
Career Growth This role offers opportunities to advance into:
- Senior Architecture Leadership Roles
- Technology Leadership Positions
The role provides exposure to enterprise-wide initiatives, executive stakeholder engagement, strategic planning, emerging technologies, and architecture governance.
Leadership Insight from the Hiring Manager "My leadership style combines coaching leadership and servant leadership. I focus on empowering team members, removing barriers, developing talent, and fostering collaboration. I strive to align technology initiatives with business goals while helping teams deliver business outcomes through well-architected technology solutions. My goal is to build high-performing teams that continuously learn, innovate, and support WoodmenLife's strategic priorities."
WoodmenLife offers a competitive compensation package and a comprehensive benefits package. More information about our benefits can be found at: https://www.woodmenlife.org/careers/home-office/benefits/
