Manager Solution Architecture

Manager Solution Architecture, Brisbane

Rio Tinto is building a world-class software engineering capability 

Within our company-wide Information Systems & Technology function, we are building an internal software development and delivery team focusing on high-value and strategic products for the digital transformation of Rio Tinto. We are building this capability and capacity with the support of a strategic partnership with Endava, one of the world’s leading software engineering companies. We are recruiting for junior, experienced and leadership roles to establish this capability for scaling as we shift our technology landscape to products and platforms. We are building a culture that is value driven, diverse and inclusive, innovative and fun with challenging problems and opportunities to solve.

About the role

We are seeking a dynamic and highly experienced Manager Solution Architecture, as the successful applicant you are responsible for leading the solution architecture function and team for all products within the Product and Software Development (P&SD) team. You provide leadership to the solution architects and supporting them in finding and implementing the best solutions for specific business problems and opportunities. Reporting to the Senior Manager Products and Engineering you will support the team in bridging the gap between concept and implementation by acting as a channel between product ideas and technical architecture.

Product and Software Development focuses on delivering highly complex products through the use of distributed agile methodologies. The Manager Solution Architect will have driven agile teams and engagements within their previous organisations. As an agile practitioner, they should be able to organise the work of teams and “step in” from a coaching and development perspective. Finally, this role must show how they embrace continuous improvement as a personal and team principle.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with Product owners and UX teams in design thinking discovery processes with uses and business stakeholders.
• Lead development of current state and future state systems architectures. Ensure system architectures balance functional, service quality and systems management requirements, through collaboration with Product owners, platform teams and stakeholders to clarify value.
• Ensures that appropriate standards (corporate, industry, national and international) are adhered to.
• Advise on project delivery methods and tools, including the technical aspects of analysis, architecture, development, testing, continuous delivery, application management, infrastructure and operation, using Rio Tinto’s structure to support them in areas where they do not have deep knowledge themselves.
• Within product roadmap, assist in the preparation of technical plans and co-operates with delivery leads to ensure that appropriate technical resources are allocated.
• Provide advice on technical aspects of system development and integration, including the operational and maintenance aspects of systems under development, and proposed system recovery procedures. Ensures that relevant technical strategies, policies, standards and practices are applied correctly.
• The Manager Solution Architect will provide mentoring, coaching, advocacy and support to their direct team, and to people within the broader P&SD function.
• You will contribute to skill and capability development activities for the function as it scales, specifically related to growing and improving the technical capability in solution architecture.

About you

Essential

• 10+ years of experience in delivering quality software solutions
• Exceptional stakeholder communications skills, both written and verbal
• Experience defining organization-level IT strategy and roadmaps
• Experience working with Product Managers to elaborate and size long term roadmaps while balancing tech debt and features
• Experience championing design thinking and product mindset through solution design process
• Expertise with architecting, designing, delivering large systems implemented in one or more popular technology stacks (including those based on Java, .Net, Python, Ruby, JavaScript, etc).
• Can demonstrate exposure to a broad range of architectural patterns and styles (e.g. SOA, Microservices, Event-driven, Domain Driven Design, Structure monolith etc.)
• Experience in modernizing legacy architectures
• Knowledge of database architectures, data modelling, SQL and NoSQL approaches.
• Ability to conduct in-depth design reviews of large systems
• Experience crafting a broad range of solution architecture documentation, artefacts and models, and working through review boards and Enterprise Architecture governance
• Experience working in Agile delivery projects, programmes and engagements
• Understanding of DevOps culture, CI/CD practices and tools
• Able to demonstrate an inspirational, supportive leadership style, enabling technical delivery and the growth of team members

Desirable

• Experience leading and directing a solution architecture function for a large organization
• Advanced degree in computer science or related field
• Knowledge of functional programming in one or more languages
• Experience with one or more leading SaaS platforms such as Salesforce.com, Microsoft Dynamics 365
• Exposure to offshore development using both agile and other delivery techniques
• In-depth knowledge with one or more complex technical domains, including Distributed Cache Solutions, Message Queuing, Master Data Management, Machine Learning, Big Data, Data Visualization, Augmented Reality, Internet of things, etc.
• Wide exposure to a variety of programming languages
• Public speaking experience

What we offer

• Be recognised for your contribution, your thinking and your hard work, and go home knowing you’ve helped the world progress.
• An excellent base salary reflective of your skills and experience with annual incentive program.
• Comprehensive medical benefits including subsidised private health insurance for employees and immediate family.
• Attractive share ownership plan.
• Extensive salary sacrifice & salary packaging options.
• Career development & education assistance to further your technical or leadership ambitions.
• Exclusive employee discounts (banking, accommodation, cars, retail and more)
• Domestic relocation if required.

Every Voice Matters

At Rio Tinto, we particularly welcome and encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, women, the LGBTI+ community, mature workers, people with disabilities and people from different cultural backgrounds.

We are committed to an inclusive environment where people feel comfortable to be themselves. We want our people to feel that all voices are heard, all cultures respected and that a variety of perspectives are not only welcome – they are essential to our success. We treat each other fairly and with dignity regardless of race, gender, nationality, ethnic origin, religion, age, sexual orientation or anything else that makes us different.

Please note, in order to be successfully considered for this role you must complete all pre-screening questions.