Solutions Architect

Department Marketing Statement:

There is a reason UCSB has been named the Best Place to Work by our local media for several years running. Whether our employees are on our stunning campus, or working remotely or hybrid, they tell us they value the flexibility, stability and rich benefits we offer. Come join us as we support the mission of one of the finest public institutions in the nation. UC Santa Barbara is consistently recognized for excellence across broad fields of study. Set alongside the glorious California coast, our dynamic environment inspires scholarly ambition and creativity. Information Technology Services (ITS), the Campus' central IT unit, contributes to UC Santa Barbara's mission of research, teaching, and community service by partnering with the Campus community to efficiently deliver IT infrastructure and enterprise application services to faculty, students, staff, and affiliates. Join us in supporting the technology making world class research possible!

Benefits of Belonging:

Working at UC means being part of this vibrant institution that shines a light on what is possible. People make UC great, and UC recognizes your contributions by making this a great place to work. Excellent retirement and health are just one of the rewards. Learn more about the benefits of working at UC and why You Belong at UC.

Brief Summary of Job Duties:

The Campus Cloud and Identity Services Team is a small, highly-technical group tasked with designing and building UCSB's managed cloud environments (including, but not limited to, components such account provisioning, networking, security guidelines, identity systems, monitoring, logging, and dev/ops pipelines) from service offerings such as Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, and Google Cloud Platform. These environments provide secure, reliable, managed accounts for the development, deployment and operation of UCSB's enterprise applications as deployed by all of UCSB's IT units. The Campus Cloud and Identity Services Team is responsible for the architecture and operation of the UCSB's central identity systems which are foundational technologies for UCSB's enterprise application offerings. These services are enterprise in scope providing services to over 30,000 individuals and are critical requirements of the campus's IT transformation goals. The Solutions Architect is responsible for Cloud computing initiatives within the organization and for directing the architectural aspects of a Cloud-focused team across all facets of IT and business. They must not only guide and strategize, he or she must also architect, design, facilitate, lead and direct Cloud initiatives on multiple fronts. They will provide leadership in developing a Cloud strategy and coordinate adoption. They will develop and coordinate the campus Cloud architecture. Demonstrates a keen understanding of institution-wide needs and long-term goals for use of Cloud technologies. Researches and prototypes emerging Cloud technologies and approaches. Works on issues that address future Cloud concepts, products or technologies. Understands and coordinates with institution initiatives when appropriate, as well as various IT technology standards, best practices and strategies for Cloud infrastructure growth. Serves as consultant to related management efforts as they pertain to Cloud usage. Having wide-ranging experience, the Solutions Architect applies architecture concepts to resolve the most complex issues with campus / OP-wide, institution-wide and / or multi-institutional impact. He or She is recognized as an expert in one or more Cloud technology and architecture. Works on most complex issues where analysis of situations or data requires an in-depth evaluation of variable factors This position ensures standards and framework compliance by providing well-documented standards, data models, and information system diagrams. Participates in the architecture review of all critical system designs and provides technical guidance in the selection and implementation processes. Interacts with the CTO as part of the Enterprise Architecture Group. Independently identifies opportunities and performs feasibility analyses, up to and including the most complex and advanced, on current and potential future projects. Reporting to the Director of Cloud and Identity Services, the Solutions Architect receives direction in the form of broad organizational objectives and translates these into design requirements, actionable tasks, or coordination efforts with other IT units. This IT architect will work to define end state solutions, starting with current conditions, with the ultimate goal of providing a compelling cloud services appropriate for UCSB's enterprise services and applications.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training.
• 10 years of in-depth experience in multiple IT disciplines within a higher education environment including technical architecture, network design, application development, middleware, servers & storage, database management and operations.
• 7-9 years of expert-level experience with Cloud technologies and public Cloud provider services and solutions.
• 7-9 years of demonstrated experience working with "infrastructure-as-code" DevOps techniques including templating, configuration management, and automated build pipelines.
• 4-6 years of experience with continuous improvement theory and strategy, encouraging prudent risk-taking, exploration of alternative approaches, and organizational learning.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Expert knowledge of data storage, processing, and analysis and how they are used in administrative, research and / or academic endeavors.
• Demonstrated ability to translate business needs into long-term architecture solutions.
• Expertise relating to the design and development of software across the organization.
• Expert understanding of Cloud Architecture in the context of SaaS, PaaS, IaaS, and the ability to address the unique security considerations of secure Cloud computing.
• Expert-level experience with the integration of highly-complex, diverse, enterprise-class systems.
• Ability to translate business needs into technical requirements driving the design of such systems.
• Significant experience in software development in at least one of the following: Python, Perl, Microsoft .Net, or Java.
• Exceptional analytical skills including the ability to analyze project, program and portfolio needs, as well as determine resources to meet objectives and solve problems for a variety of stakeholders.
• Demonstrated effective communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to communicate technical information to technical and non-technical personnel at various levels in the organization.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills in teamwork, facilitation and negotiation.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to understand business needs and how business systems can support those needs.
• Self-motivated and works independently and as part of a team.
• Demonstrates problem-solving skills.
• Able to learn effectively and meet deadlines.
• Demonstrated personal commitment to change through actions and words and to mobilize others to support change through times of stress and uncertainty.

Special Conditions of Employment

• Satisfactory conviction history background check
• Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for employer sponsorship currently or in the future.
• Telecommuting or Remote work may be an option for this position.
• UCSB is a Tobacco-Free environment

Misconduct Disclosure Requirement:

As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegation or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer. "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC's policies addressing some forms of misconduct:

• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
• UC Anti-Discrimination Policy
• Abusive Conduct in the Workplace

Job Functions and Percentages of Time:

30% Technical Architecture & Design

• Proposes and coordinates implementation of new Cloud technologies and innovative uses of Cloud technologies for campus IT.
• Expands the leading edge of UCSB's Cloud competencies to support the University's academic, research, and outreach missions.
• Has responsibility for overall architecture for UCSB's central Cloud and Identity environments.
• Maintains relationships with other IT architects on campus and elsewhere in the UC System to identify common requirements and synergies.
• Develops standards and best-practices for UCSB's Cloud and Identity adoption by developing well-documented use cases, design patterns, and data models for adoption by other IT units.
• Serves in an advisory / consultative role for major IT projects and Cloud initiatives.
• In collaboration with campus and UC-wide architectural groups, develops and shares guidance, road maps, principles, standards and best practices.
• Develop and coordinate Cloud architecture across a variety of disparate areas within the organization from application development to user experience.
• Advises on options, risks, costs vs. benefits, system impacts, and technology priorities.

30% Campus Cloud Architecture and Operations

• The Solutions Architect collaborates with other architects and service owners, as well as UC Santa Barbara IT and Business Executives to provide cost-effective, functionally optimal and architecturally sound solutions to department and University needs to maintain confidentiality, integrity, and availability of campus services.
• Working under general direction, proposes and coordinates the implementation and adoption of new Cloud technologies and services in support of the University's academic, research, and outreach missions.
• Designs and builds the Campus Core Cloud "Landing Zone" environments on platforms such as Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud Platform, and Microsoft Azure including compute, identity, networking, monitoring, data storage, and security components.
• Works independently analyzing project requirements and available options to create architected Clouds solutions that meet research, business, and academic needs.
• Identifies key metrics for system reliability, availability, cost, and deployment scale.
• Designs systems to monitor these metrics and alerting or taking automatic action in case of error conditions.
• Ensures the architecture of UCSB's Central Identity services meet the needs of on-premise and Cloud services for research, academic, and business applications.
• Recommend Cloud providers and architect Cloud services.
• Proposes and coordinates implementation of new Cloud technologies and innovative uses of Cloud technologies for campus IT.
• Advises on options, risks, costs vs. benefits, system impacts, and technology priorities.

20% Software Engineering

• Manages and/or directly performs engineering of following enterprise technology systems: Architecture and implementation for campus identity services including primary datastore, customer-facing directories, authentication and authorization systems.
• Identity integration with XaaS cloud services vendors such as Kronos, Pantheon, Google, Microsoft, and Amazon.
• User provisioning systems supporting Messaging/Collaboration (Connect) and XaaS cloud services (AWS, Azure, and GCP) Development of IaaS computing environments (Landing Zones) for AWS, GCP, and Azure Incorporation of sound security practices into all aspects of services developed within the Core Cloud Team Requires experience with a variety of technologies including: SQL and NoSQL servers - Perl, Python, and Powershell - LDAP, SAML2, and CAS - Linux and Windows servers - Serverless architectures - Network design and communications principles.

10% Lead Cultural Change for Cloud Adoption

• Lead in the formation of UCSB's Cloud Impact Hub: a center for professional development and knowledge transfer to build Cloud competency across UCSB.
• Educates and assists development teams to pilot, prove out, and implement Cloud architecture standards in campus applications.
• Build relationships with the functional architects in each area to influence each toward the changes necessary for successful cloud adoption.
• Must inspire a new culture and influence a change in behavior toward the adoption and consumption of Cloud services.
• Will facilitate the organization through thoughtful leadership to incorporate Cloud computing correctly and most effectively.

10% Documentation and Other Duties as Assigned

• Creates, compiles, and maintains comprehensive documentation of systems in the group's technology portfolio, including architectural designs.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Policy on Vaccination Programs

As a condition of employment, you will be required to comply with the University of California Policy on Vaccinations Programs. As a condition of Physical Presence at a Location or in a University Program, all Covered Individuals* must participate in any applicable Vaccination Program by providing proof that they are Up-to-Date with any required Vaccines or submitting a request for Exception in a Mandate Program or properly declining vaccination in an Opt-Out Program no later than the Compliance Date (Capitalized terms in this paragraph are defined in the policy.). Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.

For more information, please visit:

• UC Santa Barbara COVID-19 Information https://www.ucsb.edu/COVID-19-information
• University of California Policy on Vaccinations https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/5000695/

* Covered Individuals: A Covered Individual includes anyone designated as Personnel or Students under this policy who Physically Access a University Facility or Program in connection with their employment, appointment, or education/training. A person accessing a Healthcare Location as a patient, or an art, athletics, entertainment, or other publicly accessible venue at a Location as a member of the public, is not a Covered Individual.

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Statement

UC Santa Barbara is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age or protected veteran status.

For the University of California's Affirmative Action Policy, please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4010393/PPSM-20.

For the University of California's Anti-Discrimination Policy, please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/1001004/Anti-Discrimination.

Reasonable Accommodations

The University of California endeavors to make the UCSB Job site (https://jobs.ucsb.edu) accessible to any and all users. If you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please contact Katherine Abad in Human Resources at 805-893-4664 or email katherine.abad@hr.ucsb.edu. This contact information is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.

Privacy Notification Statement and Notice of Availability of the UCSB Annual Security Report Disclosures

Position Number: 40031219

Payroll Title: IT Architect 4

Job Code: 000531

Job Open Date: 2/4/25

Application Review Begins: 2/20/25; open until filled

Department Code (Name): IDCL (IDENTITY & CLOUD SERVICES)

Percentage of Time: 100%

Union Code (Name): 99 (Non-Represented)

Employee Class (Appointment Type): Staff (Career)

FLSA Status: Exempt

Classified Indicator Description (Personnel Program): MSP

Salary Grade: Grade 26

Pay Rate / Range: The budgeted salary range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $132,230 - $170,100/yr. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience; the budget for the position; and the application of fair, equitable, and consistent pay practices at the University. The full salary range for this position is $116,000 - $224,200/yr.

Work Location: SAASB - 4th Floor

Working Days and Hours: M-F; 8am - 5pm

Benefits Eligibility: Full Benefits

Type of Remote or Hybrid Work Arrangement, if applicable: Hybrid (Both UC & Non-UC locations)

Special Instructions:
For full consideration, please include a resume and a cover letter as part of your application.

Application Status: If you would like to check the status of your application, please log into the Candidate Gateway where you applied and click on 'my activities'.