Principal Systems Architect

  Principal Systems Architect

Are you looking to launch your Information Technology career? If so, then UPS is the place for you!

Once known as a trucking company. UPS is now recognized as a technology company with trucks and is poised for success. Spending more than $1 billion a year on information technology, UPS provides its customers unparalleled capability in tracking and distribution intelligence. This technological infrastructure also enables UPS to provide fully integrated Web-enabled, business-to-business solutions.

UPS Information Services, a leader in information technology, is currently seeking career-minded individuals to join our team. If you are highly motivated with a degree in Computer Science or related discipline, then UPS is a great place for you.

Job Description:

The Principal Systems Architect provides architectural direction for complex projects across multiple technical areas and business segments. He/She develops and drives the architecture vision and ensures alignment with business objectives. The Principal Systems Architect is a leader who provides enterprise-wide technology perspectives in support of business objectives. He/She anticipates future technology needs and business requirements to drive new technological approaches. This position conceives and sells technology solutions to Information Technology (IT) senior management. The Principal Systems Architect functions as a design authority. 

Job Duties:

• Engages with IT and business management (e.g., District, Portfolio, Application, etc.) to set business technology strategies.
• Drives the creation and adoption of reusable technology assets to improve efficiency.
• Reviews and approves projects to ensure conformance to stated architectural direction.
• Champions technology solutions to IT senior management (e.g., Architecture Review Board, IT Governance, etc.) to gain approval.
• Establishes and tracks metrics on architectural solution quality to improve the practice of architecture.
• Translates requirements into architectural components to develop solutions.
• Analyzes trends in technology to assess the impact of emerging technologies on the business, and to provide viable solutions that address technology and business needs.
• Reviews and approves architecture analyses and designs to ensure fulfillment of requirements.
• Guides project teams in the development of architectural artifacts that adhere to enterprise IT standards.
• Initiates and executes proofs of concept and builds prototypes to assess new solution approaches and technologies.
• Drives the evaluation and selection of technology products to meet strategic business initiatives.
• Coaches others to develop architectural skills.

Knowledge & Experience:

• Displays an understanding of the principles of open architecture and can make recommendations to improve foundation architecture; articulates standards and guidelines to members of the development community; consults to development  project teams; researches the design of new architectural components; assesses benefits and drawbacks of proposed changes.
• Creates well-reasoned action plans based on findings; demonstrates agility and resourcefulness in identifying creative and practical solutions; efficiently evaluates the quality of other’s analyses.
  Shares information about the strategy, structures, processes, procedures and key technical elements of the enterprise; translates knowledge of the interrelationships between technical elements into business strategies; plays a key role in the development of technology best practices and the pioneering of new approaches.
• Leverages technical knowledge to achieve business objectives; resolves technical issues that impede solution development; adapts technological information, facts, or data to varying situations or groups; recommends changes to technological approach based upon knowledge of trends and best practices.
• Uses multiple research methods to determine business requirements / critical elements of the problem to be solved; develops creative, workable solutions to complex issues, projects, and/or process designs; develops logical business cases; evaluates impact of solution on service, cost, and/or quality.
• Leads management and implementation of basic projects; communicates plan, schedule, baselines, and metrics to stakeholders and implementation team; provides scheduled reports and updates to stakeholders; manages progress to plan and makes necessary adjustments to schedule, resources and timeline; communicates changes to stakeholders; employs project management tools and technology (e.g., Microsoft Project, Program Management Group website, etc.) appropriately.

Skills:

General Skills

• Must have the ability to manage by influence, and be proficient in advocating ideas to IS and business leaders.
• Expert consultative skills.
• Strong oral/written communication skills.
• Expert ability to mentor others. 
• Expert strategic thinking skills.
• Expert ability to synthesize facts, trends, inferences, and key issues and/or themes in complex situations. 
• Expert understanding of the broader impact of work efforts across architectural system components, critical business processes and applications.

Technical Skills:

Core Skills:

• Structured Systems Analysis - Expert
• Object Oriented Analysis & Design – Expert
• Web Development Technologies – Advanced
• .NET/JEE Development – Advanced/Expert
• Mainframe Development – Intermediate/Advanced
• Data Bases – Relational and Non-relational  - Advanced
• Microsoft Office - Advanced 

Desired Skills

• Internet Development Architecture & Design – Advanced
• Client Server Architecture – Intermediate
• .NET environment - Advanced
• Data Communications - Advanced
• Data Modeling – Intermediate
• Technical Knowledge of Hardware  - Advanced

Educational Requirements:

Advanced degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related discipline or the equivalent in education and work experience. 
Typically requires 12+ years of solid, diverse work experience in information technology. 
Master or Distinguished level Architect certification from The Open Group is preferred.

*In addition to NJ, this position may be located in any of the following locations;  Louisville, KY, Alpharetta, GA, Timonium, MD.