CLOUD SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT

At Knife River, we take care of our team because we know it's our people who make us successful. We are one of the 10 largest construction materials producers/contractors in the Country, and we are a PEOPLE-first company. Our team members are the key to our success, and we are committed to giving them the tools, training, and time to do their jobs productively and safely each day. Our goal is to build strong teams that, in turn, build strong communities. We are also a publicly traded company on the NYSE with the ticker symbol KNF and part of the S&P MidCap 400 index.


Cloud Solutions Architect willprovide complex level design and deployment of the Enterprise IT Azure cloud functions including system wide security, critical infrastructure, applications, data, and cloud environments. This role will lead complex projects and coaches/mentors other team members and ensures the success of enterprise-level application and infrastructure rollouts. This position determines and develops well-architected approaches, standards and solutions, conducts business reviews, documents current systems and develops recommendations of how to proceed with the environment and applicable applications. Cloud Solutions Architect will utilize Cloud based services to streamline existing processes, automate manual technology processes and investigate new capabilities to drive business value. This role works closely with users, business analysts, Business Unit IT, operations, vendors and fellow Team Members to ensure the IT architecture delivery is secure, reliable and performance focused. Cloud Solutions Architect will be responsible for development of the essential core design of features, technology roadmap, cloud operating model and meeting the needs across various applications throughout the organization.


LOCATION: Bismarck, ND or in a geographic location near a Knife River location. This role has the opportunity to be on-site, remote, or hybrid depending on location.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in computer information systems or a related field or equivalent experience; and
• Seven years of Information Technology experience with proven record of increasing work responsibility and leadership.
• 3-5 years building well-architected and best practice cloud solutions within Azure Cloud. Combination of Infrastructure and Application solutioning.

Key Skills and Competencies:

• Developing, implementing, and overseeing Azure-based solutions
• Designing cloud and hybrid systems using Microsoft Azure
• Core understanding of Cloud best practices and cloud standardization in an enterprise setting.
• Overseeing the cloud computing strategy, including cloud adoption plans, application design, and management
• Ability to adapt and balance the needs of four diverse business units with distinct technology requirements. Effective analysis and project management.
• Understanding of Infrastructure-as-code deployment and best practices, preferably Azure Automation.
• Independent judgement and creative thinking.
• Providing direction, technical task decomposition and coaching to technology engineering and support teams.
• Deep Hands-on cloud experience.
• In-depth knowledge of principles, practices and procedures relating to business applications with specialized skills in many areas.
• Specialized training and in-depth knowledge of company applications.
• Proven analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent listening, verbal and written communications skills.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external customers.
• Demonstrated a broad knowledge of data sources, data flow, system interactions, computer equipment and software applications in the development, enhancement, and implementation of enterprise systems on premise and in the cloud.
• Understanding of and ability to apply controls to support the enterprise security framework (CIS 20 CSCs)
• Experience selecting and implementing security technology to support an enterprise security framework.
• Understanding of and ability to maintain confidentiality of all company information.
• Effective team building and communications skills.
• Effective analysis and project management.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Microsoft Azure Experience - Azure Solutions Architect, Azure Database Administrator Associate or similar
• Certifications related to Critical Infrastructure, Security or Cloud.
• Experience supporting an Enterprise environment.

Job Responsibilities:

• Develops, manages and maintains cloud enterprise architecture aligned to support business strategy for multiple environments including test, development, production and disaster recovery.
• Determines and develops secure cloud architectural approaches and solutions, conducts business reviews, documents current systems and develops recommendations of how to proceed with the application of security controls and network connectivity whether they are on-premises or in the cloud.
• Developing an enterprise cloud training program for engineering and operations.
• Leads complex cloud infrastructure, application and security projects and assists other others with planning, analysis, design, programming and testing tasks of complex software systems as required. Provides direction for and creates documentation to describe program development, logic and application interfaces.
• Reviews, analyzes, evaluates and modifies existing, new or proposed business processes and system applications and related devices to determine feasibility and cost effectiveness of enhancements.
• Provides production support to address application errors encountered during processing. Such support may require on-call duties extending beyond normal business hours. On-call duties are shared with other team members on a rotating basis as determined by the manager.
• Oversees the development, preparation of cloud related test plans, test data and documentation. Performs required testing to ensure the system functions in accordance with the business requirements established by the user.
• Develops program specifications and provide direction through all phases of the developer software delivery life cycle for a project team consisting of system analysts, programmers, users, contract programmers and consultants. Performs project administration and control to effectively communicate project status to management.
• Responsible for identification, development, implementation, maintenance and integration of data security measures.
• Keeps abreast of emerging technologies related to assigned areas of responsibility and seek ways to improve application processing efficiencies.
• Assists in training and coordinating work with other team members to expand the knowledge base of the entire team as pertaining to current and future roadmap initiatives.
• Responsible for defining the overall architecture of the cloud operating model consisting of cloud - landing zone, security, developer, data and governance, in order to fulfill business requirements. Such design includes a breakdown of the system components, how these components interact together and generally what technologies they employ. Acts as a highest-level technical expert, addressing problems of systems configuration, system integration, compatibility and maintenance.
• Contributes to the preparation of capital and O&M budgets for Enterprise IT. Supports business unit budgeting process.
• Provides a lead role in a team environment and prioritize resources and needs.
• Performs other tasks and special projects as assigned.

Other Requirements:

• May be required to maintain a valid driver's license.
• Requires travel: Minimal (up to 10%)

How To Apply:
Knife River is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, age, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status or any other protected category under applicable state/federal law.

Subject to pre-employment drug testing and background checks.

If unable to apply online, please mail completed application to:
Knife River Corporation
Box 5568
Bismarck, ND 58506

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.