Solution Architect - Intermediate (Contract to Hire)

Job Description

Job Description:\n\nJob Title: Solution Architect - Intermediate (Contract to Hire)Location: Columbus, OHWork Model: Hybrid — Tuesday through Thursday onsite; Monday and Friday remoteRate: $80–$88/hourContract Duration: October 19, 2026 – October 18, 2027Contract-to-Hire: YesEmployment Type: W-2 OnlyWork Authorization: U.S. Citizens Only | Green Card holders also eligible; no visa sponsorship available Position Overview We are seeking an experienced Solution Architect-Intermediate to provide end-to-end technical architecture leadership for enterprise application and technology initiatives within a large utility environment. The initial focus of this role will be supporting the implementation of a new SaaS-based project information management platform for a major construction organization. The solution will help standardize project-management capabilities across multiple companies within the enterprise and will require integration with several cloud-based and on-premises applications. The Solution Architect will provide broad ownership across application architecture, systems integration, cloud and on-premises infrastructure, networking, cybersecurity, data, and operational readiness. Key technologies within the environment include MuleSoft, SAP, Salesforce, Ariba, and other enterprise applications. This person will serve as the primary technical design authority for assigned initiatives, owning solution architecture from initial discovery through implementation and transition to operations. The role is primarily focused on design ownership, technical decision-making, architecture documentation, and delivery guidance, although the ability to become hands-on when necessary is highly valued. The ideal candidate is comfortable working across technical domains, challenging incomplete designs, identifying hidden dependencies, coordinating technical specialists, and translating complex business needs into complete and implementation-ready solutions. Key Responsibilities Solution Architecture & Technical LeadershipServe as the architecture lead and primary technical design authority for assigned projects and initiatives.Own end-to-end solution design from discovery through implementation and transition to operations.Lead architecture discovery sessions, technical design workshops, and solution-review meetings.Evaluate solution alternatives based on business value, cost, risk, complexity, maintainability, scalability, and supportability.Identify architecture assumptions, constraints, dependencies, risks, exceptions, and unresolved decisions.Ensure proposed solutions can be successfully implemented, operated, maintained, and supported.Drive cross-functional technical decisions through resolution.Maintain accountability for the overall completeness and consistency of solution designs. Technical Discovery & Business TranslationParticipate in business workshops and project discussions to understand business objectives, processes, and requirements.Identify both stated and unstated technical requirements.Translate business requirements into solution components and technical requirements.Recognize when business decisions create implications for:IntegrationsDataCybersecurityInfrastructureEnvironmentsNetworkingLicensingPerformanceOperational supportRegulatory requirementsAsk probing questions and challenge incomplete assumptions.Identify when additional technical specialists need to be engaged.Explain technical options, tradeoffs, risks, and recommendations clearly to business and technical audiences. Solution Design DocumentationDevelop, maintain, and coordinate approval of comprehensive Solution Design Documents.Produce architecture artifacts including:System context diagramsApplication architecture diagramsIntegration diagramsData-flow diagramsEnvironment diagramsDeployment diagramsNetwork diagramsDocument architecture decisions, assumptions, constraints, dependencies, risks, exceptions, unresolved items, and ownership.Maintain traceability between business requirements, non-functional requirements, architecture decisions, and solution components.Ensure solution documentation contains sufficient detail to support:Security reviewInfrastructure provisioningDevelopmentConfigurationTestingDeploymentOperational transitionUpdate solution designs as business requirements, implementation decisions, or technical conditions evolve. Application & Integration ArchitectureDesign solutions involving new and existing:SaaS platformsEnterprise applicationsCloud servicesOn-premises systemsThird-party applicationsDefine application interactions, integration patterns, data exchanges, and system dependencies.Design and evaluate integrations using:APIsMiddlewareEvent-driven architecturesManaged file transferBatch integrationsData-exchange patternsSupport enterprise environments involving MuleSoft, SAP, Salesforce, Ariba, and other applications.Evaluate interoperability between cloud, on-premises, and partner-hosted environments.Ensure integration designs align with enterprise standards and target-state architecture.Identify opportunities to reuse existing capabilities and reduce unnecessary technology duplication. Cloud, Infrastructure & Environment ArchitectureDefine technical environment requirements for:DevelopmentTestingQuality AssuranceUser Acceptance TestingTrainingProductionDisaster RecoveryIdentify infrastructure requirements and dependencies involving:HostingComputeStorageDatabasesMiddlewareNetworksCloud servicesEnterprise platformsSupport solutions that span both cloud and on-premises environments.Identify provisioning requirements, sequencing, prerequisites, dependencies, and ownership.Validate technical readiness before build, testing, deployment, and production transition. Networking & ConnectivityIdentify and document network requirements, including:FirewallsDNSRoutingProxiesPorts and protocolsCertificatesLoad balancingAllowlistsPrivate connectivityCoordinate with network and infrastructure teams to ensure connectivity requirements are understood and implemented.Identify network dependencies early enough to prevent delivery delays.Ensure third-party and cloud connectivity is appropriately designed and documented. Cybersecurity, Identity & RiskEngage Cybersecurity early in the solution-design lifecycle.Identify security architecture, privacy, risk, and compliance requirements.Address security considerations involving:AuthenticationAuthorizationSingle sign-onService accountsPrivileged accessIdentity lifecycleData protectionEncryptionSecrets managementSecurity loggingMonitoringDocument trust boundaries and applicable data classifications.Ensure cybersecurity findings and remediation requirements are incorporated into solution designs.Coordinate resolution or formal acceptance of security risks and architecture exceptions.Ensure third-party access and connectivity are appropriately reviewed and governed. Partner & Vendor Technical OversightLead technical discovery sessions with:System integratorsManaged service providersSoftware vendorsInternal technical teamsEstablish expectations for the quality and completeness of technical designs.Review architecture, integration, configuration, deployment, and technical documentation produced by delivery partners.Identify:Missing requirementsUnsupported assumptionsOwnership gapsDesign inconsistenciesConflicts with enterprise standardsChallenge vendor recommendations when alternatives may improve reliability, security, maintainability, supportability, or cost.Ensure third-party designs are incorporated into and consistent with the overall solution architecture.Track technical questions and issues through resolution.Clarify post-implementation support ownership across vendors and internal teams. Architecture Governance & Cross-Functional CoordinationWork with Enterprise Architects to align solutions with:Technology strategiesReference architecturesTarget-state architectureEnterprise standardsPortfolio directionPartner with Infrastructure Architects and domain specialists when additional expertise is required.Coordinate contributions from:InfrastructureCybersecurityDataIntegrationApplicationsNetworkingOperationsResolve cross-domain design conflicts, dependencies, gaps, and decisions.Escalate decisions requiring enterprise direction or exceptions to established standards.Prepare architecture materials for governance review.Coordinate architecture approvals and disposition of open issues. Non-Functional Requirements Ensure appropriate stakeholders define, validate, and document requirements related to:AvailabilityResiliencyScalabilityPerformanceCapacityCybersecurityPrivacyIdentity and accessMaintainabilityObservabilityMonitoringSupportabilityBackup and recoveryDisaster recoveryService continuityData retentionRecords managementRegulatory requirementsAccessibilityInteroperabilityUser experienceDeployment and release management Operational Readiness & TransitionDefine operational support requirements, ownership boundaries, escalation paths, and dependencies.Ensure solution designs address:MonitoringLoggingAlertingBackupRecoveryAvailabilityResiliencyPerformanceCapacityService continuityPartner with application support, infrastructure, service management, and operations teams to prepare solutions for production.Ensure technical documentation and knowledge-transfer requirements are completed before handoff.Support implementation, testing, cutover, stabilization, and production transition.Assist with resolution of architecture-related issues encountered during implementation. Initial Project Environment The initial project will involve implementation of a new SaaS project information management system designed to standardize project-management practices across a major construction organization. The platform will require integrations with multiple enterprise applications across cloud and on-premises environments, including:MuleSoftSAPSalesforceAribaAdditional enterprise applications The Solution Architect will provide broad technical ownership across application and integration architecture as well as the infrastructure, networking, cybersecurity, and operational requirements necessary to support the solution. Day-to-Day ResponsibilitiesLead architecture discovery and technical design sessions.Participate in business workshops to identify technical requirements and implications.Develop and maintain Solution Design Documents.Create end-to-end architecture diagrams.Define application interactions and integration patterns.Coordinate technical requirements across infrastructure, cybersecurity, networking, data, integration, applications, and operations.Review vendor and systems-integrator technical designs.Identify infrastructure, environment, security, and network dependencies.Facilitate technical decisions and drive unresolved issues to closure.Maintain architecture assumptions, risks, dependencies, and exceptions.Prepare materials for architecture-governance reviews.Validate solution readiness prior to build, testing, deployment, and cutover.Support implementation and transition to production operations. Required QualificationsBachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or a related technical discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.8+ years of Information Technology experience with emphasis in areas such as:Solution architectureApplication architectureSoftware engineeringSystems integrationInfrastructureTechnical deliveryDemonstrated experience developing comprehensive Solution Design Documents.Strong experience creating end-to-end architecture diagrams.Experience designing solutions spanning SaaS, cloud, on-premises, and third-party environments.Experience with application integration technologies, APIs, middleware, event-driven architecture, managed file transfer, and data-exchange patterns.Working knowledge of networking concepts including firewalls, DNS, routing, proxies, ports, protocols, certificates, load balancing, and private connectivity.Experience defining application environments, infrastructure dependencies, deployment requirements, and operational support needs.Experience reviewing technical designs produced by systems integrators, managed service providers, and software vendors.Experience identifying and documenting non-functional requirements.Experience coordinating technical contributions across infrastructure, cybersecurity, data, integration, applications, and operations.Understanding of cybersecurity principles, secure solution design, identity and access management, and data protection.Strong ability to identify technical requirements and risks from business-focused discussions.Strong communication, facilitation, influence, negotiation, critical-thinking, and stakeholder-management skills.Ability to challenge incomplete designs, resolve ambiguity, and drive technical decisions to closure.Ability to manage multiple concurrent assignments and prioritize work independently.Ability to work onsite in Columbus, OH Tuesday through Thursday. Preferred QualificationsExperience with MuleSoft or comparable enterprise integration technologies.Experience working with SAP, Salesforce, Ariba, or similar enterprise applications.Experience with Azure Integration Services, Boomi, Informatica, or comparable integration platforms.Experience with application portfolio management, rationalization, modernization, or cloud migration.Experience with microservices, container platforms, or cloud-native architecture.Experience applying Agile, DevOps, and IT service-management practices.Experience supporting large-scale enterprise technology-transformation programs.Utility or energy industry experience.Experience with architecture repositories and diagramming tools.Hands-on technical capability in addition to architecture leadership.Architecture or cybersecurity certifications such as:TOGAFMicrosoft Azure architecture certificationsAWS architecture certificationsSAP architecture certificationsCISSPComparable architecture credentials Key DeliverablesSolution Design DocumentsSystem context diagramsEnd-to-end solution architecture diagramsApplication architecture diagramsIntegration diagramsData-flow diagramsEnvironment diagramsDeployment diagramsNetwork diagramsArchitecture decision documentationArchitecture assumptions and constraintsDependency and risk documentationTechnical-readiness requirementsNon-functional requirementsTechnical design-review findingsArchitecture-governance materialsImplementation and cutover recommendationsOperational-transition recommendations Core CompetenciesSolution ArchitectureApplication ArchitectureIntegration ArchitectureEnterprise ArchitectureSaaS ArchitectureCloud ArchitectureHybrid Cloud / On-Premises ArchitectureMuleSoftSAPSalesforceAribaAPI ArchitectureMiddlewareSolution Design DocumentationArchitecture DiagrammingInfrastructure ArchitectureNetworkingCybersecurityIdentity & Access ManagementNon-Functional Requ