University of Toronto

Solutions Architect

University of Toronto$123K — $158K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Technology, or related field.
  • 8+ years of experience in managing complex enterprise IT infrastructures.
  • Expertise in hybrid cloud solutions, preferably Microsoft Azure.
  • Proven success in leading significant campus-wide technology projects.
  • Strong experience with DevOps practices and infrastructure automation tools like Ansible, Terraform.
  • Demonstrated ability in AI solution design and secure data handling.
  • Excellent organizational and communication skills.

Responsibilities

  • Design and review complex virtual computing and storage systems.
  • Analyze system features to support critical infrastructure needs.
  • Define requirements for impactful, long-term projects.
  • Advise on implementation cost and feasibility.
  • Enhance project cost estimations and operations.
  • Lead a small team to manage workflows efficiently.
  • Develop and prototyping AI solutions based on campus requirements.

Benefits

  • Hybrid work arrangement available as per university guidelines.
  • Opportunity to work in a collaborative and innovative IT environment.
  • Engagement in significant university-wide technology initiatives.
  • Active participation in IT modernization and strategic development projects.
  • Professional development opportunities within the university setting.
Full Job Description
Date Posted: 07/24/2026
Req ID: 49599
Faculty/Division: UofT Scarborough
Department: UTSC:Info & Instructional Tech Services
Campus: University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC)
Position Number:
Existing Vacancy: Yes

Your opportunity:

Under the direction of the Manager, Systems, the Solutions Architect provides architecture and operational leadership for UTSC's campus-wide computing infrastructure and enterprise technology platforms. The role is responsible for the strategic design, management, and reliable operation of on-premises infrastructure, virtualization, storage, backup and recovery, hybrid cloud services, automation, and secure application and platform services supporting the campus's academic, research, and administrative missions.

The Solutions Architect develops short-term and long-term plans for complex enterprise systems, leads major campus-wide IT projects, and represents UTSC in university-wide technology initiatives. The role contributes to IT modernization by developing architecture roadmaps and standards, reducing technical debt, strengthening security and resilience, and advancing infrastructure as code, automation, observability, and lifecycle management. The incumbent is also responsible for the architecture, operation, and continuous improvement of the department's DevOps environment, ensuring that development, deployment, and operational processes are secure, repeatable, reliable, and supportable.

The role also provides AI architecture and solutions engineering leadership. This includes assessing campus needs, translating academic and business requirements into practical technical options, developing proofs of concept, designing secure integration and data-access patterns, evaluating vendor and University solutions, and helping move approved AI-enabled services into sustainable production support. The Solutions Architect works closely with campus stakeholders, central University groups, InfoSec, privacy, procurement, vendors, and project teams to deliver solutions that balance innovation, risk, cost, and operational requirements.

Your responsibilities will include:
  • Designing and reviewing highly complex virtual computing and storage infrastructure.
  • Analyzing, programming, and engineering system features in support of critical virtual computing and storage infrastructure.
  • Defining requirements and scope of complex projects with broad impact and long-term consequences.
  • Advising on cost, feasibility, and impact of different implementation solutions.
  • Removing tripping hazards.
  • Costing shop level projects.
  • Directing a small group in a limited area, including responsibility for scheduling and/or workflow.


Essential Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Technology, or an acceptable combination of equivalent education and experience.
  • Eight (8) years or more of progressively responsible experience designing, implementing, and managing complex enterprise IT infrastructure environments, including on-premises datacenters and virtualized platforms.
  • Demonstrated experience designing and reviewing infrastructure architectures involving virtualization, storage, backup and recovery, high availability, Linux/Unix and Windows platforms, and enterprise application or platform services.
  • Proven experience designing, implementing, and maintaining hybrid cloud solutions, preferably Microsoft Azure, integrated with enterprise identity, networking, security, and service management practices.
  • Demonstrated experience leading complex campus-wide or enterprise-level technology projects and contributing to IT modernization, platform standardization, automation, legacy system renewal, cloud readiness, and operational risk reduction.
  • Demonstrated solutions engineering experience, including requirements analysis, architecture options, proofs of concept, build-versus-buy evaluation, vendor assessment, and transition of solutions into production support.
  • Experience with platform engineering or DevOps practices, version control systems such as Git, and infrastructure automation tools such as Ansible, Terraform, or equivalent technologies.
  • Strong systems administration knowledge across Linux/Unix and Windows platforms, with proficiency in core network protocols, identity integration, web and application services, and secure infrastructure operations.
  • Experience with programming or scripting languages such as Python, PowerShell, or shell scripting, and familiarity with relational databases and application integration.
  • Strong understanding of information security principles and demonstrated ability to design secure, resilient, identity-aware, and data-sensitive infrastructure and platform solutions.
  • Experience using monitoring, observability, capacity planning, and performance metrics to guide architecture, service reliability, cost, and lifecycle decisions.
  • Demonstrated understanding of enterprise AI architecture and AI-enabled solution design, including secure data handling, identity and access controls, system integration, model and service evaluation, governance, operational support, monitoring, cost management, and responsible use of AI.
  • Demonstrated ability to provide technical leadership to cross-functional teams and work effectively with technical specialists, business stakeholders, vendors, and senior leaders.
  • Strong analytical, problem-solving, organizational, written, and oral communication skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and build consensus in a complex environment.
  • Applicants are also expected to show evidence of a commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and the promotion of a respectful and collegial learning and working environment.


Assets (Nonessential):
  • Experience supporting AI, analytics, data, automation, or research computing platforms in higher education, the public sector, or another complex environment.
  • Familiarity with enterprise AI platforms, education-focused AI services, productivity assistants, and developer tools, such as Microsoft 365 Copilot, GitHub Copilot, ChatGPT Edu, Claude for Education, Azure AI services, or comparable platforms, as well as solution patterns involving AI agents, orchestration, retrieval and grounding, multimodal AI, and secure enterprise integration.
  • Experience with containers, Kubernetes, container registries, secrets management, and secure software delivery practices.
  • Experience working with information security, privacy, procurement, legal, accessibility, or governance groups on technology risk, vendor review, and service adoption.
  • Experience developing technical roadmaps, business cases, architecture decision records, standards, or recommendations for leadership review.
  • Experience with IT service management platforms and operational workflow automation.


To be successful in this role you will be:
  • Accountable
  • Adaptable
  • Communicator
  • Decisive
  • Motivated self-learner
  • Organized
  • Proactive
  • Problem solver

Note:
  • This role is currently eligible for a hybrid work arrangement, pursuant to University policies and guidelines, including but not limited to the University of Toronto's Alternative Work Arrangements Guideline.


Closing Date: 08/17/2026, 11:59PM ET
Employee Group: USW
Appointment Type: Budget - Continuing
Schedule: Full-Time
Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone:
USW Pay Band 19 -- $123,756. with an annual step progression to a maximum of $158,256. Pay scale and job class assignment is subject to determination pursuant to the Job Evaluation/Pay Equity Maintenance Protocol.
Job Category: Information Technology (IT)
Recruiter: UTSC HR

Job descriptions are available upon request for internal applicants.

About University of Toronto

The University of Toronto is a public research university located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is the largest university in Canada by enrollment and one of the top-ranked universities in the world. The university offers undergraduate and graduate programs in a wide range of academic disciplines, including arts, sciences, engineering, and business. The University of Toronto is known for its research excellence and has produced many notable alumni, including four Nobel laureates. The university was founded in 1827 and has three campuses in the Toronto area.
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