Solution Architect, Azure

We are Microsoft Industry Solutions and are passionate about delivering Microsoft's mission: "to empower every person and every organisation on the planet to achieve more".  

Microsoft Industry Solutions' mission is to lead and serve Microsoft's customers and partners as they realise their full potential through Microsoft software and services. Microsoft Industry Solutions and its partners bring the deepest expertise of Microsoft solutions—from enterprise planning to deployment and support—that helps our customers innovate to strategic advantage in their respective industries. 

The Solution Architect works with customer to lead and deliver complex multi-domain architecture, multi-workstreams with high ROI solutions focus on the Azure platform and Modern work platforms, Web Development, Data & AI and DevOps, as well as integrating with the wider focus areas of on – premises infrastructure, security and other applications. 

We are looking for an experienced Solution Architect to continue our growth and extend our capabilities in these areas. 

This role is flexible whereby you can work up to 50% from home.

Trusted Advisor 

• Develop a network of senior-level decision-makers to address problems and facilitate additional views. Act as an advisor to external stakeholders and provide direction to facilitate relationships. Stay updated on Microsoft's technologies, products, and services to communicate Microsoft's mission, strategy, and capabilities. 
• Use evidence-based arguments to articulate complex concepts simply and respectfully challenge decisions that won't produce optimal results. Encourage alternative approaches, resolve conflicts, and drive consensus. 
• Lead the adoption of Microsoft solutions based on understanding competitor solutions. Differentiate Microsoft's solutions in conversations to influence industry direction.  

Thought Leadership 

• Lead virtual teams by sharing ideas, insights, and strategic input with technical teams and internal communities. Use knowledge of Microsoft architectures and the competitive landscape. 
• Participate in external architect community events and share learnings with the internal team. Mentor junior colleagues on technical and non-technical concepts and best practices. Demonstrate deep industry knowledge and drive recognition for Microsoft solutions through presentations and engagements with external audiences. 

Architecture Design and Deployment 

• Gather and ratify requirements and constraints with stakeholders. Resolve ambiguities and document assumptions. Maintain traceability matrix and execute test plans. 
• Collaborate with the Account Team to understand the business solution. Build and document a costed Solution Approach. Lead implementation and ensure quality practices. 
• Identify and address technical blockers. Resolve escalations and plan forward in complex situations. Coordinate approaches into a single plan. 
• Identify and communicate business and technical risks. Define risk mitigation and contingency plans. 
• Uses structured approaches like Waterfall, Agile, and Iterative methodologies. Develop innovative solutions for multiple customers/partners. Maintain architecture documents and logs. 
• Lead teams of Architects to deliver value and clarity to stakeholders. 
• Define and document architecture to communicate the business solution's value. Lead discussions on cost and technology to determine customer interest. Prioritise ROI and cost-savings. 
• Collaborate with the Project Manager on governance and quality control. Demonstrate business value to customers. 

Understanding Customer/Partner Technical Environment 

• Understanding Customer/Partner Technical Environment. Gather insights from stakeholders and the primary business sponsor to shape and execute projects. Adapt business models and solutions to industry trends. 
• Collaborate with stakeholders to socialise the business solution and project approach. Make necessary adjustments based on customer feedback. 
• Represent the customer/partner as an advocate and share insights with Product Engineering teams to improve Microsoft technologies and offerings. 
• Generate and improve intellectual property. Identify valuable ideas and drive changes across business and technology areas. 

Practice Development 

• Promote the reuse of intellectual property and recommend best practices in pre-sales and delivery. 
• Participate and contribute to internal and external communities.  

About You 

• You are a driven self-starter who shows perseverance, a growth mindset, technical intensity and passion for endless learning. 
• You have the ability to define and articulate architectural design principles to teams and ensure teams can deliver your architectural solution. 
• You have the ability to lead a team of Architects delivering complex solutions to large customers. 
• You have executive communication skills and the ability to present technical ideas in business context. 
• You are able to deal with ambiguity and provide vision and tangible deliverables. 
• You are able to solve complex problems and evaluate architectural trade-offs with both technical and commercial lens. 
• You are able to suggest innovative technical decisions, get customers buy-in and deliver on commitments. 
• You have demonstrable focus on customer success. 
• You are able to navigate and defuse high-pressure situations comfortably and thrive in complex negotiations with both internal and external groups. 
• You are able to establish yourself as a trusted advisor for our customers and rapidly gain trust in the process. 
• You have a proven history of delivering complex Agile IT projects with changing environments. 
  

Minimum required Experiences 

• Minimum of 10+ years experience that includes at least 2 years of hands-on software development, infrastructure engineering, integration or systems architecture. 
• Experience developing solutions in key areas of multi - domain architecture such as cloud platforms, web, mobile, integration including API and event driven architecture, data, analytics, security, and DevOps with Subject Matter Expertise in one or more. 
• Understanding of industry verticals such as Public Sector. 
• Large enterprise program experience with Agile methodologies that are focused on business transformation or digital transformation. 
  
  This position requires verification of Australian citizenship due to citizenship-based legal restrictions. Specifically, this position supports Australian government agency customers and is subject to certain citizenship-based restrictions where required or permitted by applicable law. To meet this legal requirement, and as a condition of employment, the successful candidate's citizenship will be verified with a valid passport. 

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances.  We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request via the Accommodation request form.

Benefits/perks listed below may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Microsoft and the country where you work.