Chief Solution Architect - IT App Services

Summary of Job Purpose: Responsible for the shaping of the solution for the client and providing independent governance of the delivery of the solution

Key Accountabilities:

- Visionary: Maintains a longer term vision when investigating new technologies or applying existing technologies to solve business problems; looks for emerging trends in both business and technology and communicates the applicability of the technological trends to what is happening within the relevant lines of business.

- Leads, shapes, structures and drives medium and large consulting assignments. Solicits and is receptive to input and feedback from team members, pursues continuous learning with others in teams, works to create and maintain cooperation among team members, and adapts behavior and communication style to be effective in the situation. Treats all team members with respect.

- Generates client interest in solutions other than the current, proactively positions the company for additional/added value work.

- Participates in proposals, creates content and/or solution. Ensures quality estimates, leveraging past data, experience, other forms of estimation, other teams, etc.

- Developing effective working relationships within third party vendors and delivery functions in client organization to ensure overall strategic and architectural alignment. Reporting the progress and issues to client, the account team and Cognizant Lead architect

- Aligning the solution being recommended with the client Strategic direction, managing exceptions, and effectively communicating solutions and their justification to relevant stakeholders

- Communicating strategies, policies and complex technical issues to both business and technical audiences. Comfortable to present and run workshops at Mid to Senior IT management levels

- Contribution to Organizational Knowledge, Process, Reusable artifacts

- Support for ASG Initiatives (ROI, Community Development, SI Certification, Onsite/Offshore Models, Career Development, Delivery Assurance)

- Participates in the hiring process in terms of interviewing candidates, participating in ASP recruiting days etc.

Key Competencies:

- The Solution Architect applies advanced analysis skills and experience in principles of software design to define appropriate customer solutions. To be credible he or she must have current and deep experience with implementation of large software systems. The Solution Architects are expected to maintain effective product group relationships.

- Understanding of competitive technology enables the Solution Architect to properly assess feasibility of migrating customer solutions from, and/or integrating with customer solutions hosted on various platforms. Advanced domain knowledge in one or more vertical industry is also an asset.

- Large enterprise deployment experience in complex heterogeneous environments.

- Very good peer and client relationship managing skills. Working with multiple stakeholders in a complex federated business and IT environment.

- Excellent influencing and facilitation skills, in particular problem solving/troubleshooting activities.

- Ability to work effectively under pressure in a resilient and flexible manner

- Confident in building a personal network across Cognizant and the client organization

- Confident interpersonal skills yet sensitive to other people’s needs and reactions. Consultative approach

- Is capable of becoming recognized as an expert within Cognizant and can develop this profile within the client organization Knowledge:

- Architecture Professional with strong emphasis on Applications, Data and / or Technology Architectures and understanding of Enterprise Architecture.

- Excellent understanding of Design Patterns, XP, .NET, Java/J2EE or similar industry standards best practices.

- Java: Servlets, JSF, Spring, JUnit, Hibernate, Log4j or other logging framework

- SQL Development: Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, stored procedures, triggers, PL/SQL

- Web: HTML, JavaScript, CSS, XML, jQuery, JSON, Ajax

- Fluent English language skills (written, spoken) are a pre-requisite.

- EU passport holder who is flexible to travel the Benelux.

- Fluent Dutch or French language skills (written, spoken) are an advantage.

Experience:

- 15 years of relevant designer/architect experience.

- Full software development lifecycle experience

- Lead Architect on multimillion euro programmes

- Work across a diverse range of Industry domains

- Experience of some of Integration, ERP, supply chain, eCommerce applications

- Previous consulting experience

- Experience in working in complex multi-national organization

- Proven Business and IT experience ideally supported with relevant professional qualifications (Bachelors Level with commensurate experience)

- Senior Level Architect on medium sized programmes of work across a diverse range of Industry domains including bespoke solutions and large scale design and implementation of COTS packages

- Proven experience on Architecture lifecycle management , frameworks including modeling at various levels of granularity

- Proven track-record of delivering Architectural solutions across a complex and diverse application Qualifications:

- TOGAF and SOA Certification are strongly preferred

Murali