The University of Southern California (USC) department of Information Technology Services (ITS) is seeking a Technical Solutions Architect with an exceptional commitment to service excellence to join its team.   

As the Technical Solutions Architect you will be an integral member of the Office of the Chief Information Security Officer – Security Architecture team, collaborating with diverse and talented team members to help solve multidimensional information technology problems, improve customer experience, and generate value for our campus stakeholders across a broad base of departments and constituencies. 

This is a fixed-term position with an anticipated end date of two years after the hire date. Please note that this full-time role is eligible for all benefits/perks offered by USC to its employees, including but not limited to: medical, dental, vision plans, tuition assistance, paid sick/vacation/holidays.

THE WORK YOU WILL DO

The Technical Solutions Architect provides technical leadership, analysis and design facilitation across business, information, technical and solution viewpoints and enterprise architecture. Partners with business teams and stakeholders to scope projects and define high-level requirements. Develops appropriate enterprise level application and custom integration solutions. Ensures that system architectures are functional, robust and appropriate for the specific business and technical needs. Defines multiyear architectural evolution and roadmaps for University wide improvements that align with the reference architectures. Conducts research in emerging technologies and continuously identifies technologies with high-potential business value. Develops and integrates technology acceleration and innovation processes. Serves as a Subject Matter Expert.

The Technical Solutions Architect accountabilities:
 

Technical

• Provides technical leadership, analysis and design facilitation across business, information, technical and solution view-points and enterprise architecture. Contributes to the effective integration of the enterprise architecture process with other related processes (i.e., investment, enterprise program, and IT portfolio and project management) for the University.

• Contributes to and integrates technology acceleration and innovation processes with the overall project management practices, Engineer-to-Engineer processes, and software development lifecycle.

• Serves as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) to individual projects in the areas of IT architecture and technology selection decisions.

• Serves as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) in two of the following 3 domains IAM, Software Engineering, and/or Infrastructure to individual projects in the areas of IT architecture and technology selection decisions.

Solutioning

• Partners with business teams and stakeholders to scope projects and define high-level requirements. Develops appropriate enterprise-level application and custom integration solutions including major enhancements and interfaces, functions and features and validates that the proposed solution architecture supports the stated and implied business requirements. Drives solution architectures from ideation through release and support.

• Ensures that system architectures are functional, robust and appropriate for the specific business and technical needs. Reviews technical team deliverables for compliance with architecture standards, guidelines and leverages best practices. Plans and leads transitions to integrated infrastructures, identifying training needs and delivering training as needed. Ensures delivered solutions are monitored, have a support plan, and adequate business controls. Provides architecture and technical support during production incidents.

Strategic

• Contributes to multi-year architectural evolution and roadmaps for University-wide improvements that align with the reference architectures.

• Conducts research in emerging technologies and continuously identifies technologies with high-potential business value and specifies their appropriate usage in developing business solutions. Conducts technology trends studies and publishes trend reports on an annual basis.

• Performs other related duties as assigned or requested. The university reserves the right to add or change duties at any time.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Candidates for the position of the Technical Solutions Architect must meet the following requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree; however, combined education/experience may substitute for minimum education

• 7 years of directly related experience

• Recognized subject matter expertise in at least one IT discipline (Networking, Information Security, High Performance Computing, Cloud Computing, Software Engineering, IT Infrastructure)

• Excellent presentation and communication skills

• Demonstrated ability to lead in a highly matrixed, heavily federated organization through a combination of influence, partnership, and authority

• The ability to create original concepts/theories for various projects and to work independently

PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS

The ideal candidate for the position of Technical Solutions Architect meets the following requirements:

• A graduate degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Business Administration or Management

• Recognized subject matter expertise in multiple IT disciplines (Networking, Information Security, High Performance Computing, Cloud Computing, Software Architecture and Development, IT Infrastructure)

• Strong analytical, research and conceptual skills

• Ability to develop and maintain key relationships to achieve business objectives essential

• Extensive knowledge in the use of Project Management and Enterprise Architecture methodologies and tools

• Strong leadership skills with the ability to provide leadership, guidance, teaching and training skills

• Knowledge of applicable laws/policies/principles/etc. with ability to providing consultative interpretation of policies/analyses/trends/etc.

• Negotiation, networking, organization, planning, scheduling; research, problem identification and resolution skills

• Public speaking/presentations skills

THE ITS TEAM

The ITS vision aligns strategy, business, and services; affirms ITS cultural values; empowers cross-functional teamwork; embraces world-class best practices; and promotes innovation, excellence, agility, and efficiency. To achieve this vision, ITS is committed to providing a modern technology infrastructure that is resilient and delivers the performance necessary to meet the demands of a growing customer base, training in the latest technologies for its highly productive and motivated workforce, outstanding customer experience, and technology services that are aligned with the university’s mission to provide exceptional learning opportunities for students. ITS is creating a workplace where employees can develop cutting-edge skills, take pride in the services they provide, and have access to the roles and career paths that align to their abilities and potential. We are looking for top talent to join us on our journey.

ITS CULTURE

USC’s ITS organization represents a diverse and talented team, committed to supporting a collaborative culture and delivering secure and innovative IT services that are core to the mission of the university. We are also committed to creating and maintaining meaningful partnerships across the university. At ITS, we act with integrity in the pursuit of excellence; embrace diversity, equity and inclusion; promote well-being; engage in open two-way communication and are accountable for living our values. ITS strives for a supportive and inclusive culture that encourages employees to do their best work every day and where individuals are recognized and celebrated for their contributions. 

ABOUT USC

USC is a leading private research university located in Los Angeles – a global center for arts, technology and international business. As the city’s largest private employer, responsible for more than $8 billion annually in economic activity in the region, we offer the opportunity to work in a dynamic and diverse environment, in careers that span a broad spectrum of talents and skills across a variety of academic schools and units. As a USC employee, you will enjoy excellent benefits and perks, and you will be a member of the Trojan Family ‐ the faculty, staff, students and alumni who make USC a great place to work. The University of Southern California values diversity and is committed to equal opportunity in employment.

Come join the USC ITS team and work as a trusted partner in shaping an environment of innovation and excellence.