Senior Cloud Platform Solutions Architect

GCI's Senior Cloud Platform Solutions Architect will overall be responsible for guiding and setting infrastructure service lines' technical direction and architecture in all aspects of the Software-Defined Infrastructure Life Cycle. This includes selection of the technology, product roadmap creation and maintenance, facilitating proof of concept trials, defining architectural runways and event horizons, identifying and articulating business value, and assisting with day two operations. This must be done while providing oversight and guidance to ensure software development best practices are used and aligning teams around a cohesive product roadmap. This role ensures collaborative, hands-on work with the various teams to ensure practical, well thought out solutions are selected, produced, and held to a high degree of quality, with a focus on customer centricity and business agility. These roles will not solely focus on departmental aspirations but companywide initiatives and work across multiple business units.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES AT ALL LEVELS :

Align engineers, Release and Solution Train Engineers, Scrum Master / Team Coaches, and Product Owners / Managers to a shared technical direction.

Elaborate the solution vision, validate technology assumptions, evaluate implementation alternatives, and converge on the final solution using architectural runways with defined event horizons. Define the solution context, its supporting infrastructure, and lifecycle processes. Communicate the solution context to the release and solution train engineers, those groups on the agile release train, and shared services, vendors, as well as suppliers (if applicable) to implement a viable solution.

Provide an architecture that supports the strategic direction and collaborate at planning interval (PI) boundaries as well as during execution of the work to provide context, often in the role of Epic Owner, to align the organization to the value the solution delivers.

Champion innovation and demonstrate technical relevance through Proof of Concepts (POC's) and Minimal Viable Products (MVP).

Formulate architectural intent for the solution through experimentation, then define the architectural concept of the solution. Include critical technologies and their use, the structure of the solution in terms of its subsystems, and any other context necessary for engineers to understand the architectural intent.

Define the architectural direction while fully understanding that the actual solution design will evolve due to the implementation and that the original architectural ideas will undergo multiple adjustments by being validated in practice.

Achieve progressive exploration of the solution intent and context, based on learning milestones established on the architectural runway.

Identify and respond to technology-enabled business opportunities by providing a solution definition that is practical and articulates the technical possibilities that represent value to the business.

Define solution capabilities with an understanding of the underlying architecture and technological strategies for implementation. Next, plan the necessary architectural enablers to support the business value. Articulate the business value of the proposition.

Evaluate technology tradeoffs by assessing various possible technology alternatives and implementation approaches. Seek a productive balance between the implementation cost and business value. Define compliance requirements and solution non-functional requirements (NFRs) based on the business need and necessary technology tradeoffs. Example NFRs are regulatory compliance and standards, security policies, and other immutable guardrails for the solution to adhere to.

If a System Team is available, enable solution integration testing by providing guidance on the optimal development infrastructure. Assist the System Team with solutioning how to perform continuous deployment and integration using the infrastructure available. Verify with the System Team the solution adheres to the non-functional requirements (NFRs), particularly related to security and compliance.

Own the creation of the solution roadmap using a highly collaborative process.

Evolve the roadmap utilizing ongoing communication, coordination, and cooperation across different people and teams involved in engineering the development of the solution.

The roadmap of the solution should match the reality and constraints of what the teams on the release or solution train deliver by relying on load versus capacity, flow metrics, and unforeseen impediments to forward progress.

Define and communicate architectural changes as well as their impact on those engineers involved in the development effort.

Prepare and update the architecture vision and roadmap.

Define architectural enablers and runway utilizing a rolling-wave process that creates reasonable certainty, clarity, and detail for near-term needs while supporting flexibility for the future.

Participate in Pre- and PI Planning to communicate the architecture vision. Transform the architectural intent into a realistic, actionable set of steps factored into the PI objectives by collaborating with the release and solution train engineers.

Support continuous exploration by providing an architectural runway for the solution. Note that the runway may contain unknowns which need to be resolved to enable the intended business capabilities.

Regularly review solution increments by participating in System and Solution Demos to ensure that the architectural enablers are achieving their purpose.

Collaborate with engineers on the solution design to balance architectural intent against the reality of implementation.

Interact with other architects to collaborate on solution design and familiarize the organization with an end-to-end view of the solution.

Participate in establishing agile release train flow of customer value by defining improvements to the value delivery process.

Foster built-in quality by assisting those on the agile release train to establish effective quality practices and build continuous delivery capability through frequent integration and testability. Note that the solution NFRs may constrain the choices and the solution architect helps the engineers navigate the tradeoffs to enable frequent integration and testability of the solution.

Participate in the design and evolution of the Continuous Delivery Pipeline (CDP). Provide guidance regarding technologies and tools to power the CDP. Improve continuous deployment by mitigating the integration across solution components.

COMPETENCIES :

ACCOUNTABILITY- Takes ownership for actions, decisions, and results; openly accepts feedback and demonstrates a willingness to improve.

Lead by example on all fronts. Own and manage priorities and individual tasks without direct supervision. Take the initiative and seek out opportunities. Assess and accept risks and learn from mistakes.

BASIC PRINCIPLES - Interacts with people in a way that builds mutual trust, confidence, and respect; adheres to GCI's Code of Conduct for Employees - the Basic Principles.

COLLABORATION - Works effectively with others to accomplish common goals and objectives; maintains positive relationships even under difficult circumstances.

Build and maintain effective working relationships with leadership, peers, customers, and vendors. Work to resolve problem relationships directly.

Guide development teams in a manner that creates success and allows for future self-sufficiency. Foster innovation and promote teamwork.

COMMUNICATION- Conveys thoughts and expresses ideas appropriately and professionally.

Create clear and concise written documentation for various audiences, including developers, business analysts, and business users.

Use a blend of written communication techniques, including detailed documentation, diagramming, and slide presentations.

Take the initiative to communicate with teams, including remote team members.

Initiate and deliver presentations to internal groups on domain topics.

COMPLIANCE - Follows internal controls; protects confidential information; abides by GCI's Code of Business Conduct & Ethics.

CUSTOMER FOCUS - Demonstrates commitment to service excellence; gives high priority to customer satisfaction.

Provide a professional level of service to both external and internal customers.

Take ownership and accountability of problems and facilitate finding a solution, involving other groups as necessary.

RELIABILITY - Consistently follows through on assigned tasks as expected; demonstrates timely attendance at meetings, training, and other work obligations.

RESULTS - Uses a combination of job knowledge, initiative, sound decision making, innovation, adaptability, and problem solving.

Experience with Cloud services platforms utilizing enterprise-selected tools.

Experience with High Availability concepts and direct experience with successful implementation of highly available and scalable solutions.

Understanding of Agile practices and solution roadmaps.

Experience with automation and orchestration tools and disciplines such as Kubernetes, Ansible, vRealize Automation, or similar.

Experience with virtualized and cloud compute platforms such as VMWare, Amazon Web Services, and Azure.

Experience with network delivery architectures such as NSX, IP Fabric, and dedicated cloud connections, not limited to Direct Connect and Express Route.

Knowledge and\or experience with containerization technologies and full lifecycle management of them.

Knowledge and\or experience Service Registry and Discovery tools where relevant.

Understanding of contemporary architectures such as micro-services and containers.

SAFETY & SECURITY - Supports a safe work environment by following all workplace safety rules and guidelines; complies with applicable Security policies and procedures.

Proficient computer skills and MS Office knowledge (e.g., Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel) to complete job duties effectively.

Network Focus :

The Cloud Platform Solutions Architect with a Network Focus plays a key role in designing, implementing, and optimizing cloud-based network solutions that support the telecommunications infrastructure. This role requires deep expertise in cloud networking, hybrid cloud environments, SDN, and NFV, ensuring high-performance, secure, and scalable network solutions. The architect will collaborate with cross-functional teams, including cloud engineering, DevOps, security, and operations, to align cloud network solutions with the company's strategic objectives.

Key Responsibilities :

Cloud Network Architecture & Design :

Design, develop, and implement scalable and secure cloud networking solutions across public, private, and hybrid cloud environments.

Lead the architecture of Software-Defined Networking (SDN) and Network Function Virtualization (NFV) to optimize network performance.

Ensure cloud networking solutions adhere to industry's best practices, regulatory compliance, and security standards.

Network Integration & Optimization :

Integrate cloud-native networking services with existing on-premises and legacy network infrastructure.

Optimize network traffic flows, latency, and bandwidth for high-performance telecommunications services.

Drive automation and orchestration of cloud network provisioning using Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC).

Security & Compliance :

Implement network security best practices, including zero-trust architecture, encryption, and segmentation strategies.

Ensure compliance with industry regulations and security standards such as NIST, ISO 27001, and GDPR.

Work with security teams to manage firewall policies, VPNs, and identity access management within cloud environments.

Collaboration & Strategy Alignment :

Work closely with cloud engineering, DevOps, security, and telecom network teams to align cloud network strategies with business goals.

Provide technical guidance to stakeholders on network capabilities, constraints, and architectural decisions.

Contributes to the long-term cloud networking roadmap, ensuring alignment with emerging technologies and industry trends.

Troubleshooting & Performance Monitoring :

Lead troubleshooting efforts for network-related issues within cloud platforms, ensuring minimal downtime and optimal service performance.

Utilize monitoring tools and analytics to proactively identify and resolve potential network bottlenecks.

Define and track key performance indicators (KPIs) for network reliability, security, and efficiency.

Key Activities :

Design and deploy highly available, resilient, and scalable cloud networking solutions.

Lead proof of concepts (POCs) for new cloud networking technologies and methodologies.

Develop technical documentation, network diagrams, and architecture blueprints.

Automate cloud network provisioning using Terraform, Ansible, or CloudFormation.

Evaluate and implement edge computing and 5G network capabilities within cloud environments.

Stay up to date with advancements in cloud networking, SDN, NFV, and SASE.

Mentor and guide junior engineers on cloud network best practices.

Technical Knowledge & Expertise :

Cloud Platforms : AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, OpenStack

Networking Protocols : TCP / IP, BGP, OSPF, MPLS, VXLAN, HTTP / HTTPS

Cloud Networking Services : AWS VPC, Azure Virtual WAN, Google Cloud Interconnect, Direct Connect

Security : Zero Trust, VPN, WAF, IPS / IDS, Network Segmentation

Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) : Terraform, CloudFormation, Ansible

Network Automation : Python, Bash, REST APIs

Load Balancing & Traffic Management : AWS ELB, Azure Front Door, GCP Cloud Load Balancer

Container Networking : Kubernetes (CNI), Istio, Service Mesh

SDN & NFV : Cisco ACI, VMware NSX, Juniper Contrail, Open vSwitch

Monitoring & Performance Tools : Prometheus, Grafana, Nagios, Splunk

Additional Competencies :

Strategic Thinking - Ability to design cloud networking solutions aligned with long-term business goals.

Problem-Solving - Strong troubleshooting skills in resolving cloud network performance and security issues.

Collaboration & Communication - Ability to work with cross-functional teams and communicate complex solutions effectively.

Innovation & Adaptability - Staying ahead of emerging cloud networking technologies and trends.

Project Management - Managing cloud network architecture initiatives from planning to execution.

Preferred Experience :

Experience with 5G, IoT, and Edge Networking in cloud environments.

Industry certifications such as :

AWS Certified Advanced Networking - Specialty

Microsoft Certified : Azure Network Engineer Associate

Google Cloud Network Engineer

Cisco CCNP / CCIE (Cloud / Enterprise)

VMware NSX-T Certification

Experience working in a multi-cloud or hybrid cloud networking environment.

Additional Job Requirements :

This senior level Architect requires being an expert in the discipline with the ability to make technical decisions independently on significant design problems. Capable of working on more complex projects and managing small to medium projects. Expected to serve as a liaison with multiple business units and teams providing technical leadership and oversight.

Minimum Qualifications :

Required :

• A combination of relevant work experience and / or education sufficient to perform the duties of the job may substitute to meet the total years required on a year-for-year basis

High School diploma or equivalent.

Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, or related field.

Minimum of ten (10) years of experience in a Telecommunications or Computer Sciences / Enterprise field, to include a minimum of two (2) years in a supervisory or management position; may be substituted with equivalent demonstrated functional leadership experience.

Preferred :

Industry Certifications (non-technical) : TOGAF, CEA, Certified SOA Architect, CITA, EACOE, Open CA, FEAC, SAFe.

Industry Certifications (technical) : CCNA, CCNP, JNCIA, JCNIP, VCP, VCAP, VCDX, AWS CSAP, AWS CDA, Azure.

Telecommunications experience.

Other relevant telecom industry or job specific certifications.

DRIVING REQUIREMENTS :

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS and WORKING CONDITIONS :

Work is primarily sedentary, requiring daily routine computer usage.

Ability to work shifts as assigned, work in standard office / home office setting, and operate standard office equipment.

Ability to accurately communicate information and ideas to others effectively.

Physical agility and effort sufficient to perform job duties safely and effectively.

Ability to 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 be able to work with a diverse group of people and customers.

Virtual workers must comply with remote work policies and agreements.

The company and its subsidiaries operate in a 24 / 7 environment providing critical services to Alaskans and may need to respond to public health and safety matters or other business emergencies. Due to business needs employees may be contacted outside of the core business hours to respond to the immediate emergency. As such, you will be requested to provide emergency after hours contact numbers, to include your home and cell phone numbers if you have those services.

Culture, Engagement, and Connection : At GCI, we foster an environment where the unique perspectives of our employees, customers, and fellow Alaskans are celebrated. We add value to our community by nurturing and empowering each member of our workforce, ensuring equal opportunities for every Trailblazer.

EEO : GCI is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability, veteran status, or any other status or classification protected under applicable state or federal law.

DISCLAIMER : The above information on this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.

All employees of GCI work in support of the GCI Mission Statement and Declaration of Principles which are located on the GCI Career page and Employee portal.