General Communication

Senior Staff Architect (Rationalization & Standards)

General Communication$130K — $155K *
Information Technology
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (e.g., Computer Science, Engineering)
  • Minimum of 8 years of experience in architecture/technology
  • Experience in cross-domain architecture efforts
  • Proficient in architecture modeling, business alignment, and systems integration
  • Strong understanding of technology lifecycle planning and risk management

Responsibilities

  • Assess business objectives and current capabilities to inform architectural decisions
  • Develop target-state architectures and implementation roadmaps
  • Create architecture artifacts and evaluate fit-for-purpose solutions
  • Participate in architecture governance and standardization initiatives
  • Manage technical debt, dependencies, and architecture risks
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams on architecture guidance
  • Improve architecture practices and promote knowledge sharing

Benefits

  • Opportunities for professional development and training
  • Collaborative team environment with diverse perspectives
  • Involvement in high-impact architecture initiatives
  • Potential for remote work within company policies
  • Flexibility to work beyond traditional hours when necessary
  • Access to a comprehensive support structure for employees
Full Job Description
Job Description

This role owns the application portfolio and the roadmap, technology standards, buy vs build, technical debt and vendor simplification.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
  • Assess business objectives, customer needs, operational priorities, current-state capabilities, technologies, processes, operating models, risks, dependencies, architecture gaps, technical debt, lifecycle risks, and modernization opportunities.
  • Develop target-state architectures, transition states, and roadmaps that guide technology investment, solution design, and implementation planning.
  • Create architecture artifacts, models, standards, patterns, reference designs, principles, non-functional requirements, and design guardrails; evaluate alternatives and recommend fit-for-purpose solutions.
  • Participate in architecture reviews and governance forums, applying architecture standards, policies, principles, and industry practices.
  • Manage architecture risks, dependencies, technical debt, lifecycle considerations, exceptions, reusable assets, repositories, and technology rationalization efforts.
  • Partner with product, delivery, engineering, and operations teams to provide architecture guidance through planning, design, delivery, and operationalization.
  • Support road mapping, dependency management, implementation sequencing, decision facilitation, trade-off discussions, and alignment to intended architecture outcomes.
  • Improve architecture methods, tools, standards, governance practices, operating models, reusable patterns, communities of practice, mentoring, knowledge sharing, innovation, and simplification.

Discipline-Specific Focus Areas:

The core responsibilities and minimum qualifications outlined in this job description apply across the Architect job family. Discipline-specific responsibilities, technical competencies, and/or preferred qualifications are defined in the applicable addendum. See the corresponding discipline-specific addendum for additional details.

Enterprise Architecture:

Defines enterprise-wide business and technology direction, target-state architecture, capability alignment, governance standards, portfolio strategy, and technology roadmaps. Provides strategic guidance to align investments, modernization, and architecture decisions with long-term organizational objectives.

Solution Architecture:

Defines solution direction, design, standards, and roadmaps for business initiatives and technology solutions. Provides guidance to align business needs with scalable, secure, supportable solutions while balancing value, cost, risk, complexity, and long-term sustainability.

Platform Architecture:

Defines architecture direction, standards, governance, configuration, integration, and roadmaps for strategic enterprise platforms. Provides guidance to maximize platform value, promote reuse, minimize customization and technical debt, and support sustainable platform evolution.

Minimum Qualifications:

Title: Senior Staff Architect

Career Level:

Enterprise-scale influence; leads highly complex architecture spanning multiple domains and major initiatives.

Defines and forecasts architectural requirements for assigned platforms, domains, or enterprise capabilities. Leads architecture initiatives, contributes to platform growth and product/service development, consults with business and technology teams, and mentors less-experienced colleagues.
  • Analyze and define current and future architectural requirements aligned with organizational goals.
  • Lead or materially contribute to architecture initiatives supporting growth, scalability, performance, and innovation.
  • Support product and service development by integrating architectural standards and best practices.
  • Serve as a consulting architect on complex initiatives and provide technical guidance.
  • Develop architecture artifacts, roadmaps, recommendations, and governance inputs.

REQUIRED:

* A combination of education and relevant work experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the position may substitute to meet the total years required on a year-for-year basis.

Education*:
  • High school diploma or equivalent; this requirement is met by candidates who hold an associate or bachelor's degree.
  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, Business, Data Management, Cybersecurity, or related discipline.

Experience*:
  • Minimum of 8 years of relevant experience, including experience in at least two relevant architecture/technology disciplines.
  • Typical scope: Cross-Domain. Primary differentiator: Strategy.

Skills:

Leads complex modernization, transformation, and cross-domain architecture efforts. Defines future-state architecture and roadmaps and resolves significant organizational, technical, and operational challenges. Demonstrated proficiency appropriate to level in: Architecture modeling and documentation; business and technology alignment; systems design and integration; strategy and roadmap development; governance and standards management; relevant cloud, application, integration, infrastructure, security, or data technologies; technology lifecycle planning; and risk and dependency management.

PREFERRED:
  • 8 to 10 years of experience
  • Master's degree or PhD in a relevant field.
  • Project management experience.
  • Telecommunications experience.
  • Relevant telecom industry or job-specific certifications.

TOGAF, FEAC, Open CA, CITA, SABSA, CCAr, cloud certifications (AWS, Azure, GCP), security certifications (CISSP, CISM), Agile / SAFe certifications, or practice-specific certifications, as applicable.

Work Requirements and Conditions:
  • Work is primarily sedentary, requiring daily routine computer usage.
  • Ability to work shifts assigned in a standard office/home-office setting and operate standard office equipment.
  • Ability to accurately communicate information and ideas and make valid judgments and decisions.
  • Available to work additional time on weekends, holidays, before or after normal work hours when necessary.
  • Must work well in a team environment and with a diverse group of people and customers.
  • Virtual workers must comply with remote-work policies and agreements.
  • The company operates in a 24/7 environment providing critical services and employees may be contacted outside core business hours to respond to emergencies.

About General Communication

General Communication, Inc. (GCI) is a telecommunications corporation based in Anchorage, Alaska. The company provides a range of services, including wireless, cable television, internet, and data services. GCI is the largest telecommunications company in Alaska and has been recognized for its commitment to the state's communities and economy. The company has invested in various initiatives to improve connectivity and expand access to broadband internet in rural areas. GCI is also committed to sustainability and has implemented various initiatives to reduce its environmental impact.
Learn more about General Communication
Size
2,300 employees
Industry
Founded
1979

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