The Digital Foundry sets the strategy to accelerate the adoption of industry-leading practices across technology modernization domains, supporting a portfolio of enterprise-wide products and platforms that enable the activities of academic and administrative stakeholders across the university. The Digital Foundry team focused on three main pillars: 1) Human-Centered Product Strategy and Design, including product discovery, user research, accessibility, UX, and UI services. 2) Cloud and DevOps Strategy support the evolution of our cloud and engineering capabilities across infra, data, and product delivery teams championing a cloud-first approach coupled with automation and AI capabilities to deliver features faster and more reliably. 3) Solutions Architecture fosters the implementation of cohesive end-to-end solution architectures, ensuring baseline interoperability, reliability, scalability, and security capabilities are in place when architecting new solutions or updating existing ones. Position Summary
The Senior Solutions Architect will be responsible for designing and overseeing the implementation of cutting-edge technology solution architectures for university applications and products. This role will define the strategy for our "cloud native" and "modernization-ready" applications, providing blueprints for technology stacks and productization requirements, and ensuring alignment and cohesive approaches to solutions architecture across product teams.
The Senior Solutions Architect will develop high-level design patterns and architectures that promote scalability, reliability, interoperability, security, and performance. They will provide strategic direction on the selection of technologies, frameworks, and tools. Additionally, they will act as a subject matter expert during large-scale application rationalization, modernization, and cloud migration initiatives.
Collaborating closely with domain-specific architects (i.e., network, platform), they will design integrated end-to-end solutions. Furthermore, they will engage with stakeholders from various product groups to understand their unique application requirements, evaluate existing architectures, and propose innovative solutions that enhance efficiency, scalability, and user experience. The Senior Solutions Architect will provide visionary leadership and technical guidance to development teams to ensure the implementation of industry-leading architecture principles across the organization.
The Senior Solutions Architect will positively impact UCLA's operations and culture by designing and advising on effective product group solutions in service of the institution's academic mission. This team member will advance the University's mission by delivering exceptional architecture leadership and consistently across faculty, staff, and students. This role will execute UCLA's vision while modeling UCLA's culture and values.
Salary & Compensation
*UCLA provides a full pay range. Actual salary offers consider factors, including budget, prior experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business considerations. Salary offers at the top of the range are not common. Visit UC Benefit package to discover benefits that start on day one, and UC Total Compensation Estimator to calculate the total compensation value with benefits. Qualifications
Five years experience working in one or more of the following fields: information technology, data services, application services, IT architecture, IT service management, or related field. (Required)
Seven or more experience working in one or more of the following fields: information technology, data services, application services, IT architecture, IT service management, or related field. (Preferred)
Proven experience as a Solutions Architect or similar role, with a focus on designing solutions for enterprise and cloud environments across a diverse portfolio of platforms and applications. (Required)
Strong expertise in modern solution design and architecture, with a focus on enterprise systems and applications. (Required)
Experience in advising on and influencing cross-functional teams in the development and implementation of technology solutions. (Required)
Experience working in a project-based environment using leading project management practices including schedule management, status reporting, and communication of project risks and issues. (Required)
Experience participating in activities to advance an inclusive environment that values equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging. (Preferred)
Experience in complex higher education environments, serving academic and administrative functions of a large public university. (Preferred)
Demonstrated ability to translate business needs and technical requirements into architecture solutions leveraging industry leading practices. (Required)
In-depth knowledge of various technologies, platforms, and frameworks, including cloud computing, databases, web applications, and integration technologies. Proficiency in architecture modeling techniques and tools (e.g., UML, TOGAF). (Required)
Strong written and verbal communication skills and is able to communicate complex technical ideas to a diverse community of colleagues and stakeholders. Can relay technical information to audiences of technical and non-technical stakeholders. (Required)
Able to establish and advance positive working relationships and a strong rapport with a diverse community of colleagues including team members, stakeholders, and customers. (Required)
Advanced organizational skills and is able to balance competing priorities and deliver concurrent projects to various stakeholder types. (Required)
Advanced problem-solving skills; ability to uncover root of difficult problems and scope solutions based on knowledge of available resources and timelines as well as awareness of vision and strategy. (Required)
Seeks information from multiple and diverse sources to inform solutions. Demonstrated ability to make decisions with integrity. (Required)
Thinks creatively and introduces innovations such as the incorporation of new technologies or processes. Thrives in an ever-changing, fast-paced environment. (Required)
Education, Licenses, Certifications & Personal Affiliations
Bachelor's Degree information technology, computer science, public administration, business administration, communications, or related field or equivalent combination of experience/training. (Required)
Why work at UCLA? Benefits:UCLA offers a comprehensive benefits package, including an average of three weeks' vacation per year; an average of 12 days per year sick leave; 13 paid holidays per year; health, dental and optical benefits; life insurance; disability insurance; the University of California Retirement Plan with 5 year vesting and various voluntary UC Savings Plans. There are also special programs and privileges available, such as accessibility to cultural and recreational programs, athletic events, and the University Credit Union. The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.
