Expert Solutions Architect-Utility exp.

Expert Solutions Architect
Oakland, CA-Hybrid (1-2 days per week onsite)
Direct Hire
Position Summary
Provides the link between the Business Architecture function and Enterprise Architecture & Strategy function. Utilizes multiple Architectural Views to document the “as-is” (current) and “to-be” (future) technology needs. Ensures requirements are met in an efficient, sustainable and adaptable manner. Operates across organizational and computing areas driving efficient, standards-based architecture supporting client's business goals.
Job Responsibilities

• Partner with business, technology, and enterprise architecture stakeholders to understand current-state capabilities and define future-state solution needs across major transformational programs, notably Propel & Elevate, focusing on the following technical/functional portfolios: Engineering & Design, Integrated Planning, Grid Interconnection, Asset Management
• Acts as the primary technical lead in deploying Copperleaf in support of the Integrated Planning workstream of Propel
• Develop end-to-end solution architecture across applications, data, integrations, infrastructure, security, and business processes
• Create and maintain architecture artifacts, including current-state and target-state views, solution diagrams, roadmaps, and decision records
• Ensure proposed solutions align with enterprise architecture standards, cybersecurity requirements, regulatory needs, and client's business objectives
• Evaluate technology options and recommend solutions that are sustainable, adaptable, cost-effective, and operationally supportable
• Provide technical leadership and guidance to project teams through design, delivery, testing, implementation, and transition to operations
• Identify architecture risks, dependencies, gaps, and trade-offs, and recommend mitigation strategies
• Support governance reviews, architecture approvals, and stakeholder decision-making while staying current on emerging technologies and industry best practices
• Address complex problems that span functions and may manage projects or initiatives that are high complexity and risk.
• Is comfortable owning the outcome and has the courage to share unpopular viewpoints?

Qualifications
Minimum:

• Bachelors degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Business or related field or equivalent experience
• 7 years experience in Information Technology
• 4 years of solution architecture and project implementation experience in the following discipline: Asset Investment Planning (Copperleaf or equivalent), ERP (SAP or equivalent), or GIS.

Desired:

• Understanding of the utility industry or similarly regulated industries, including how technology supports business processes.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain technical concepts, risks, and tradeoffs to technical and non-technical audiences
• Ability to influence outcomes through expertise, analysis, collaboration, stakeholder partnership, customer focus, sound judgment, and a multidisciplinary approach
• Proven ability to apply multi-disciplinary approach to develop best-of-breed portfolio solutions
• Experience in one or more of the following technical/functional areas: estimating, engineering, customer billing, electric generation, utility operation
• Experience overseeing vendor-delivered software solutions or contractor development teams
• Architecture, security, or IT delivery certifications such as TOGAF, Zachman, DODAF, CISSP, ITIL, or similar
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS/Azure), enterprise integration patterns, CI/CD, automated testing, infrastructure as code, observability, and production support practices
• Experience using Microsoft Visio, Lucid chart or other TOGAF-based modeling tools
• Worked on or deployed the following solutions: Copperleaf, SAP, PLS-CADD, AutoCAD, AUD, Bentley ProjectWise
• Hands-on experience with AI, ML, or GenAI solution delivery, including LLM applications, RAG, agentic workflows, prompt engineering, evaluation frameworks, observability, APIs, or data pipelines.