Solutions Architect

Role Description

The Solutions Architect is responsible for designing and implementing scalable, secure, and cost-effective technology solutions for BCBSKS. This position collaborates closely with business stakeholders, development teams, and external vendors to translate complex requirements into actionable architectural designs, ensuring the successful delivery of solutions across various platforms. Your technical expertise, combined with your ability to communicate complex concepts clearly, will help drive innovation and efficiency in our organization. As a Solutions Architect, you will lead the architectural design process, ensure alignment with industry’s best practices, and contribute to the continuous improvement of our technical landscape.

This position is eligible to work remotely, hybrid or onsite in accordance with our Telecommuting Policy. Applicants must reside in Kansas or Missouri or be willing to relocate as a condition of employment.

What you’ll do

• Solution Design: Collaborate with business stakeholders to understand requirements and design end-to-end solutions that meet both functional and technical specifications.
• Architecture Leadership: Lead the development of architectural frameworks and principles that ensure scalability, security, and performance in complex environments.
• Technical Expertise: Provide deep technical knowledge in areas such as cloud architecture, software development, data management, and integration, ensuring alignment with business objectives. Identify appropriate cloud-based tools and frameworks based on use case requirements.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Work closely with business leaders, product managers, and technical teams to translate business needs into actionable technology solutions.
• Collaboration with Teams: Work with cross-functional teams, including developers, operations, and security experts, to implement solutions and troubleshoot any issues that arise during the development and deployment stages.
• Cost and Risk Management: Design cost-effective solutions while ensuring the minimization of technical risks. Evaluate trade-offs and recommend alternative approaches when necessary. Identify cost management strategies to maximize resource utilization while minimizing unnecessary expenditures.
• Documentation: Create and maintain clear documentation for architectural designs, decisions, and best practices to support ongoing development and knowledge sharing.
• Continuous Improvement: Stay up to date with industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices to continuously improve the company’s architecture and solution delivery.
• Client and Vendor Interaction: Interface with external clients and third-party vendors to ensure that solutions align with both client expectations and vendor capabilities.
• Implementation and Integration: Oversee infrastructure implementations/integrations (on-prem, cloud, PaaS, etc.), providing guidance and support to ensure minimal disruption and a seamless transition.

Qualifications

• Experience with at least one of the major cloud platforms (AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud).
• Preferable experience with cloud and Azure.
• Knowledge of programming languages such as C#, Java, Python, or similar.
• Expertise in infrastructure technologies, including networking, servers, storage, and virtualization (VMware, Docker, Kubernetes).
• Experience with SQL and NoSQL databases (e.g., DB2, MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Cassandra).
• Understanding of security best practices and tools, including encryption, IAM (Identity and Access Management), and compliance frameworks.
• Broad knowledge of security technologies and controls such as Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems, intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS), public key infrastructure (PKI), antivirus, firewalls, and endpoint security.
• Understanding of DevOps practices and CI/CD pipelines is a plus.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, information technology or related field preferred. In lieu of degree, an additional 4 years’ progressive, relevant experience within direct or related field required.
• Minimum 6 years’ experience in IT, application development, or related field.
• Minimum 2 years’ experience in a leadership or senior level role.
• Relevant cloud certification preferred (i.e., AWS Certified Solutions Architect (Professional), Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert, or Google Professional Cloud Architect).
• Previous healthcare experience preferred.

Benefits

• Base compensation is only one component of your competitive Total Rewards package.
• Incentive pay program (EPIP).
• Health/Vision/Dental insurance.
• 6 weeks paid parental leave for new mothers and fathers.
• Fertility/Adoption assistance.
• 2 weeks paid caregiver leave.
• 401(k) plan matching up to 5%.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Health & fitness benefits, discounts and resources.

Compensation

$125,600 - $157,000

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas offers excellent competitive compensation with the goal of retaining and growing talented team members. The compensation range for this role is a good faith estimate, it is estimated based on what a successful candidate might be paid. All offers presented to candidates are carefully reviewed to ensure fair, equitable pay by offering competitive wages that align with the individual's skills, education, experience, and training. The range may vary above or below the stated amounts.

Our Commitment to Connection and Belonging

At Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas, we are committed to fostering a culture of connection and belonging, where mutual respect is at the foundation of our workplace. We provide equal employment opportunities to all individuals, regardless of race, color, religion, belief, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation, and related medical conditions), national origin, age, physical or mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information (including characteristics and testing), military or veteran status, family or parental status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas conducts pre-employment drug screening, criminal conviction check, employment verifications and education as part of a conditional offer of employment.