System Architect - Toronto - CNA Insurance

Description

Overview

You have a clear vision of where your career can go. And we have the leadership to help you get there. At CNA, we strive to create a culture in which people know they matter and are part of something important, ensuring the abilities of all employees are used to their fullest potential.

The System Architect (SA) has overall technical authority for one or more programs/Agile Release Trains (ARTs) within the Data and Actuarial portfolios. The SA works closely with an Enterprise Architect and Product Management to ensure ongoing alignment of technical and business outcomes. They also work with Technical Architects, as needed, to ensure architectural outcomes are within required guardrails. The SA owns the creation, maintenance and communication of the Architectural Runway, along with oversight through implementation by one or more development teams. The SA is an expert in architectural design and development, incrementally building the associated mindset and behaviors across stakeholders with which they work.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Performs a combination of duties in accordance with departmental guidelines:

• Builds and continually refines detailed Architectural Runway and Vision, and Enabler Epics in collaboration with various stakeholders, for applications, data or infrastructure architectures.
• Contributes to and influences the program increment roadmap, backlog and prepares architectural outcomes for program increment planning.
• Incrementally builds and shepherds the agility mindset, values, principles, and practices across teams.
• Owns measurable velocity, specifically around overcoming hurdles, implementing new designs, and implementing best practices
• Guides and negotiates with Developers/Engineers, Business Analysts, Product Manager/Owner, and Enterprise Architect to ensure architectural alignment
• Engages with Technical Architects as needed for support and guidance, working with them and Enterprise Architects to ensure technical standards, procedures and methodologies are adhered to and/or provide feedback where changes are needed
• Actively engages in all Agile events, collaborating, coaching and guiding stakeholders to ensure ongoing alignment with the Architectural Vision
• Influences and creates the ongoing Enabler Epics for maintaining and stabilizing all applications and pipelines; including upgrades of technology, frameworks, and infrastructure.
• Presents Architectural Overview at program increment planning, socializing and enabling Product Owners and teams to successfully complete associated Enabler Epics
• Negotiates Enabler Epic scope adjustments, as needed, and accepts them as they are completed
• Ensures technical guardrails are enforced via designs and pull request
• May perform additional duties as assigned.

Skills, Knowledge & Abilities

• Expert knowledge of design and implementation of enterprise workflow systems, distributed architecture, intranet/internet architecture, and communication architectures.
• Senior level knowledge of the system development life cycle, along with system and application program development technological alternatives and architecture methodologies for multi-platform environments.
• Solid understanding of coding principles and practices, experience managing code quality through pull requests and other processes
• Extensive experience at highest technical level of all phases of system architecture design using state of the art architecture, object oriented component analysis and development and proficiency in web-based systems architecture, service-based architecture and enterprise application architecture.
• Strong knowledge of contemporary technology and business trends that allows architecture to solve problems in a creative and cost effective manner.
• Expert understanding of Agile, architecture, SDLC, and testing practices with experience incrementally building and shepherding the scaled agility mindset, values, principles, and practices across teams and ARTs
• Excellent written, verbal and presentation skills. Able to communicate, collaborate and consult effectively with vendors, clients, peers, and IT management and staff
• Strong analytical, problem solving and negotiations/conflict resolution skills. Able to balance technical excellence with business results
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to coach, influence, guide and mentor teams, peers, clients and leadership in cross functional teams
• Extensive experience developing strategic system architecture plans and/or architectural runways and decomposing architectural initiatives into program Epics
• Extensive experience with information processing fundamentals, understanding of current and emerging best practices
• Proven experience identifying, analyzing and resolving system problems

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's Degree or Master's Degree (preferred) in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related discipline; or equivalent work experience.
• Typically, a minimum of 7 years work experience in technical delivery, including experience with systems architecture methodologies, concepts and frameworks like TOGAF
• Typically, a minimum of five years work experience with architecture in some of the following technology platforms (Java, .Net, Python, Tiered Architectures, Cloud Architecture)Experience with insurance or finance based products
• Applicable certifications preferred – ARCH, ASE, SDP
• Preferred experience with use of Jira, Confluence, and LucidSpark

Our Total Rewards philosophy reflects our commitment to building a high-performing, inclusive culture where every team member is empowered to grow, contribute, and thrive. We value the unique strengths and perspectives each individual brings to our business, our clients, and our communities. The base salary range for this position is $100,000 to $130,000, complemented by a comprehensive and competitive benefits package to help our employees – and their family members – achieve their physical, financial, emotional, and social wellbeing goals. Base salary determinations are based on various factors, including but not limited to, relevant work experience, skills, certifications and location. Please note that this posting is for an existing vacancy.

At CNA, we are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants. It is our policy to provide equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants based on job-related qualifications and ability to perform a job. If you require an accommodation during the hiring process or upon hire, please inform Human Resources. If a selected applicant requests accommodation during the recruitment process, CNA will consult with the applicant in order to provide suitable accommodation that takes into account the applicant's accessibility needs.