Software Architect

Role Description

Do you have a passion for children and education? Would you like to positively impact families in need of help? We want to speak with you!

Step Up For Students empowers families to pursue the most appropriate learning options for their children. We unite communities to provide scholarships that open doors to a stronger future. With this support, students can choose the right learning environment and access resources to reach their full potential.

Our culture is rooted in two core values:

• Everyone is an asset
• Every event is an improvement opportunity

The Software Architect serves as a technical leader responsible for designing, guiding, and overseeing the implementation of enterprise software solutions. This role provides hands-on architectural leadership across multiple development teams, ensuring technology solutions are scalable, secure, high-performing, and aligned with business objectives.

Working closely with cross-functional stakeholders, the Software Architect drives architectural consistency and supports enterprise-wide integration initiatives. The role is accountable for ensuring solutions adhere to established software development lifecycle (SDLC) practices, architecture standards, security requirements, performance expectations, and privacy regulations.

As a forward-thinking technology advocate, the Software Architect shapes the organization's technology strategy by promoting modern architectural patterns, service-oriented design, and modular application development. This role identifies opportunities to improve system flexibility, reusability, and maintainability, enabling the organization to scale and adapt to evolving business needs.

Additionally, the Software Architect mentors and influences engineering teams, fostering technical excellence, innovation, and the adoption of best practices in software design, development, and architecture.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated success and a proven track record in professional/life experience in specific job functions, projects, or industries. Military service can substitute for professional experience and/or formal education requirements.
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering or a related field or equivalent demonstrated experience in addition to the minimum years of specified experience can substitute for the formal education requirements.
• 5+ years of technical leadership and software development experience.
• 2+ years of proven experience in software architecture roles.
• Deep experience with modern designing, developing, and maintaining Hosting Infrastructure (Cloud and Traditional) techniques and best-practices.
• Experience with current architectural patterns for High Availability, Performance, Scale Out architecture, Disaster Recovery, Security Architecture.
• Knowledge of cloud-based architectures, deployment, and operational aspects of Azure and AWS cloud.
• Ability to provide in-depth evaluation and analysis of unique complex technological issues and platforms.

Requirements

• In depth understanding of Azure and AWS cloud.
• Knowledge of JavaScript, JQuery, HTML, HTML5, CSS, CSS3, Web Programming Skills, cross browser compatibility, Web User Interface Design (UI), Security Principles, Object-Oriented Design, Web Services (REST/SOAP APIs), C#, .NetCore, MVC, MS SQL, Microservices, Azure Function Apps, Message Queuing.
• Demonstrative Software development experience in an Agile / Dev Ops environment using MS AZURE with CI/CD.
• Proven ability to Partner with Product, Engineering, Program Management, Operations and other stakeholders to successfully launch and maintain complex products.
• Hands on experience and ability to develop and maintain end to end solution process flows at both high and detailed levels.
• Proven ability to understand what the technology needs to do and will zero in on and mitigate risks that may inhibit the technology delivering what the business needs.
• Experience implementing event- or message-driven distributed architectures.
• Experience planning and shipping complex software releases in an agile software development lifecycle.
• Leadership skills; experience being a mentor and support to Software Engineers.
• Excellent analytical skills, ability to understand complex business issues and translate to solutions based on both quantitative and qualitative analysis.
• Excellent communication skills in verbal, written, and presentation settings with a range of audiences both business and technical, individual contributor and leadership.
• Consultative mindset in order to bridge gap between technology feasibility with business needs.

Interview Process

• Veriff Identity Verification
• Recruiter Video Interview
• Chief of Staff to CIO Video Interview
• Final Video Interview with CIO

Benefits

• Award-Winning Culture: Named one of the Best Companies to Work For four years in a row by Florida Trend and Workforce Research Group.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Enjoy medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus HSA, FSA, and Lifestyle Spending Accounts.
• Flexibility & Work-Life Harmony: Remote work options and unique time-off programs including 14 paid holidays, Care and Parental Leave, and our Flexible Leave policy.
• Growth & Development: From mentorship programs to management training and professional development opportunities.
• Supportive Professional Environment: Dedicated coaching team and employee-led committees.

Working Conditions and Equipment Use

• Work is performed indoors in a typical office environment - not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions.
• Valid driver’s license and proof of insurance may be required, depending on role responsibilities.
• Must be able to lift up to fifteen (15) pounds.
• Frequent use of office machines to include telephone, computer, and printer.

Step Up For Students is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity & inclusion in the workplace.