Integration Architect (Gig role) at Eskom Pension and Provident Fund

Description

Design, develop and translate solution design into technical architecture 

• Strong ability to provide written and/or verbal explanations on design and technical/functional solutions.
• Work closely with the Solutions Architect to obtain detailed business / user requirement specifications that inform the technical design so as to model the pieces of an infrastructure and their points of integration.
• Ensure that new technology solutions are designed in accordance with architectural standards; for optimal access and usefulness; to leverage existing technologies; and to understand enterprise-wide impacts to people, process and technology.
• Assist with roadmap creation, to address gaps and move the domain towards its solution architecture, in support of future business growth and innovation.
• Apply architectural and engineering concepts to design a solution that meets operational requirements, such as scalability, maintainability, security, reliability, extensibility, flexibility, availability and manageability.
• Identify the technologies to employ based on price, performance, service agreements and business constraints.
• Serve as technical owner and point of contact for domain specific solutions in the Production environment
• Prepare proof of concept in collaboration with the Solution Architect - if required.
• Ensures that throughout the development phase, the process is documented including the development procedures for application use and security.
• Manage technical risk by identifying and advocating for the best possible solution as well as Identify inefficiencies or gaps (data integrity, security, performance, manageability, etc.) in third-party software solutions.
• Participate in client project meetings and scoping calls as a key technical resource
• Participate in Architecture Review Board forums
• Provide technical leadership and hands-on expertise across the integration architecture domain, ensuring the design, review, and approval of robust, scalable, secure, and resilient integration solutions.
• Establish and enforce integration architecture standards, guide complex technical decision-making, and drive the adoption of best practices across APIs, middleware, event-driven architectures, cloud integration platforms, and AI-enabled integration capabilities. 

Testing, Reviewing and implementation of technical integration

• Compile detailed technical specifications based on the technical designs which will inform implementation.
• Write custom code for software integrations as required or necessary (e.g. Web Services, API).
• Converts a design into a complete information system including acquiring and installing the systems environment, creating and testing databases, preparing test case procedures, preparing test files, coding, compiling, refining programs and performing test readiness review and procurement activities
• Examine program errors in logic and data and make necessary recommendations to correct the program.
• Work with the Solutions Architect, Project and Technical teams to assist with the installation and deployment of the application.
• Support implementation preparation, implementation of the solution into a production environment and resolution of any problems identified in the integration and test phases.
• Supports all the code sets and implementations that have been implemented in production in accordance to business requirements.
• Write and distribute the task descriptions in a production environment to operate and maintain the designed and implemented solution. This includes post implementation process reviews.
• Ensure technology solutions are production ready and meet the defined specifications and that the solution can be maintained via production support methodologies and resources.
• Ensure technology solutions are monitored and assessed for performance and sustainability through periodic health checks (such as capacity planning, incident and problem reviews)
• Assume ownership of problems and incidents and communicate critical situation status
• Review the ongoing implementation solution for improvement opportunities.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Facilitate communications between IS workgroups and business stakeholders for technical issues and/or major changes, acting as the technical domain subject matter expert
• Provide technical expertise to propose level of effort estimates (LOE), work breakdown structures and technical resource planning for proposed and current work to support the Project Management Office (PMO) and Demand Management process.
• Contribute to the design & evolution of architectural principles and preferences in relevant forums.
• Builds a trusted advisor relationship with key stakeholders ensuring they are proactively and effectively advising on solution design, risks and issues.
• Manage the planning of resource and overview of constraints in collaboration with key stakeholders to ensure that service delivery demands are met.
• Attend various Group & Business specific architectural design forums and present technical designs and detailed business cases for approval.

Project Execution  

• Implement and maintain an effective system of internal controls and delegations of authority to the ensure successful implementation of technical designs and integration.
• Supports a key implementation teams through the preparation of technical plans, integration and application of design principles that comply with enterprise and solution architecture standards.
• Work as part of embedded delivery teams to conduct solution reviews, code reviews, testing and other disciplines associated with solution design & delivery.

Cross – functional skills transfer 

• Keep current and informed of domain related technologies and best practices
• Identifies development needs and pro-actively and selects effective solutions to address own gaps to facilitate continuous improvement of self and team.
• Creates an environment conducive to cross-functional skills transfer.
• Provides technical guidance, shares knowledge and expertise and coaches employees to find their own solutions

REQUIRED MINIMUM EDUCATION/TRAINING

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science or related discipline

REQUIRED MINIMUM WORK EXPERIENCE

• At least 6 years job-related experience
• Experience with SOA, ESB, XML and/or Web Services integration technologies
• Proven track record of successfully delivering SOA/middleware integration projects such as demonstrate experience modelling reusable business objects and services; forward thinking about the recommended services and anticipated business needs
• Experience in application containerisation using containerisation technologies such as Docker, Kubernetes, Openshift etc.
• Experience in using of multiple messaging protocols such as JMS, AMQP, MQTT etc
• Experience in using messaging systems such as RabbitMQ, Tibco EMS, Oracle AQ and WebLogic
• Experience using event streams, Kafka.