Principal Software Architect (, WA, United States)

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Senior software architect responsible for coordinating across a portfolio of products that are deployed in Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) environments globally.

GE Vernova is the leading software provider for the operations of national and regional electricity grids globally. This includes a wide range of software products, from supporting electricity markets, enabling grid and network planning to real-time electricity grid operations.

This technical role partners closely with lead software architects in the cyber security, data, power transmission and power distribution domains to ensure secure, performant and composable designs and implementation across the technology portfolio.

Reporting directly to the VP of Engineering, this role will facilitate and drive architectural strategy and hands on activities across our GridOS Operate and Transact product lines. This individual will lead technical vision, planning and oversite of best practices to drive architectural patterns and large scale platform decomposition efforts to deliver on a modern, scalable and composable microservice architecture at scale.

Job Description

Grid Software (a division of GE Vernova) is driving the vision of GridOS - a portfolio of software running on a common platform to meet the fast-changing needs of the energy sector and support the energy transition. Grid Software has extensive and well-established software stacks that are progressively being ported to a common microservice architecture, delivering a composable suite of applications. Simultaneously, new applications are being designed and built on the same common platform to provide innovative solutions that enable our customers to accelerate the energy transition.

Responsibilities

• Formalizing Data Models and API Standards: Lead the formalization and standardization of data models and API standards, in alignment with our architecture core team, for our GridOS Operate and Transact applications, ensuring interoperability, scale, performance and efficiency.
• Architecture Reviews and Coordination: Contribute to writing Architecture Decision Records, participate in architecture reviews, as part of the Architecture Review Board, and communicate decisions for the GridOS Operate and Transact application teams.
• Knowledge Transfer and Collaboration: Work with the Architecture SteerCo and Developer Standard Experience teams to establish standard practices and design patterns for GridOS Operate and Transact platforms, applications and services, in alignment with our architectural standards for GridOS.
• Documentation: Ensure that data modeling and API standards are accurately documented and maintained in collaboration with documentation teams. Drive the use of contract-based development and testing models across the GridOS Operate and Transact engineering teams.
• Backlog Planning and Dependency Management: Work across GridOS Operate and Transact software teams to support backlog planning, identify, and manage cross-team dependencies as it applies to architecture standards and deliverables for GridOS Operate and Transact solutions.
• Provide Technical Guidance for Product Teams: Act as a mentor for junior technical team members and provide direction, oversight, and clear technical documentation for application architecture that is readily implementable by the Product Engineering teams.

Education Qualification

• Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or “STEM” Majors (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) with minimum 8 years of experience architecting large scale distributed systems in a product organization.

Key Knowledge Areas and Expertise

• Data Architecture and Modeling: Extensive experience in designing and implementing data architectures and common data models.
• Disaggregation of Systems into Services: Deep understanding of methods, strategies and patterns for modernizing existing monolith applications into a composable set of right sized microservices and API’s on live systems over time.
• API Standards: Expertise in defining and implementing API and service standards to ensure seamless integration and data exchange between systems. This should include experience defining contract-based development models between teams.
• Data Mesh and Data Fabric: Understanding of data mesh and data fabric principles, enabling software composability and data-centric design trade-offs.
• Services Architecture: Understanding of services architecture and software development for distributed systems and across hybrid cloud and on-prem deployments.
• Kubernetes: Understanding of Kubernetes, including software development in an orchestrated services architecture. This includes Kubernetes APIs, custom resources, API aggregation, Helm, and manifest standardization.
• CI/CD and DevSecOps: Experience with CI/CD pipelines, DevSecOps practices, and GitOps, especially in secure, air-gapped environments including hybrid deployments.
• Mobile Software Architecture: Knowledge of mobile software architecture for field crew operations, offline support, and near-real time operation is preferred

Additional Knowledge (Advantageous But Not Essential)

• Energy Industry Technologies: Familiarity with key technologies specific to the energy industry, such as Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA), Geospatial network modeling, etc.
• GE Solutions Experience: Experience in ADMS, OMS and Power Applications architecture and implementation
• Common Information Model (CIM): In-depth knowledge of CIM standards and their application within the energy sector.

This is a critical role within Grid Software, requiring a broad range of knowledge and strong organization, communication and collaboration skills to drive modern architecture, software standards, and principles across the GridOS Operate and Transact organization. This role requires a hands-on approach and direct experience designing modern highly scalable products, services and systems in a software product organization.

Additional Information

The base pay range for this position is 161,600-202,000. The specific pay offered may be influenced by a variety of factors, including the candidate’s experience, education, and skill set. This position is also eligible for a 20% Variable Incentive Bonus.

Healthcare benefits include medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage; access to a Health Coach, a 24/7 nurse-based resource; and access to the Employee Assistance Program, providing 24/7 confidential assessment, counseling and referral services. Retirement benefits include the GE Retirement Savings Plan, a tax-advantaged 401(k) savings opportunity with company matching contributions and company retirement contributions, as well as access to Fidelity resources and planning consultants.

GE Vernova offers a great work environment, professional development, challenging careers, and competitive compensation. GE Vernova is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.

GE Vernova will only employ those who are legally authorized to work in the United States for this opening. Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a drug screen (as applicable).