Lead Solution Architect

“We Power the Magic!” That’s our motto at Disney Experiences (DX). Our team creates world-class immersive digital experiences for the Company’s premier vacation brands including Disney’s Parks & Resorts worldwide, Disney Cruise Line, Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, and Disney Vacation Club.

The Lead Solution Architect will be responsible for designing and implementing technical architectures aligned with strategic goals, collaborating with stakeholders, and providing technical guidance for Disney's world-class cruise lines and other signature experiences. Tasks will involve ensuring all facets of the architecture discipline are addressed, including documenting and assessing architectural decisions, non-functional aspects, scalability, reliability, managing review processes, integrating systems for operations, enhancing guest experiences through technology, optimizing business operations, ensuring security and regulatory compliance and mentoring other architects.

What You Will Do:

Technical Architecture Design and Development:

Designing and developing technical architectures for complex systems, ensuring they meet or exceed the company’s security, compliance, resiliency and business requirements. This includes conceptualizing, designing, and implementing architectures to realize business outcomes.

Technical Leadership:

Leading design and development efforts, providing technical guidance and support to delivery teams throughout the project/initiative lifecycle. This may involve leading design workshops and demonstrating proof-of-concepts for proposed architectures.

Collaboration and Communication:

Collaborating with business groups, platform teams, and other stakeholders to understand requirements, communicate architectural decisions, and ensure alignment of technical architectures.

Architecture Evaluation and Optimization:

Evaluating the effectiveness of technical architectures, adjusting as needed, and continuously monitoring for improvements. This includes activities like query optimization, scalability, resiliency, extensibility, and validation testing.

Strategic Alignment:

Ensuring that architectures produced align with the organization's strategic goals and technology standards. Adopting Generative AI and Cloud Native technologies into solutions.

Security and Compliance Focus:

Ensure architectures are designed and implemented with security-first strategies, conducting architectural reviews across various technologies, and ensuring compliance with relevant regulations, legislation and other compliances.

What You Have:

• 7+ years of progressively related experience in Software Architecture and Software Development.

• Proven track record of delivering large and complex projects and initiatives.

• Experience in leading, coaching, and developing technical teams with diverse personalities.

• Comfortable working in a collaborative and fast-paced environment.

• Ability to build strong partnerships and maintain robust relationships, with a deep understanding of company policies and guidelines.

• Experience working with software vendors and contractors.

• Highly proficient in SmartSheets, ServiceNow, Jira, Tableau, GitHub, AppDynamics, Splunk, and Confluence.

• Familiar with Azure and AWS cloud technologies; GCP experience is a plus.

• Experience with scripting technologies and modern programming languages.

• Ability to operate and drive projects in a DevOps model, collaborating with both Operations and Development teams.

• Proven ability to influence business and technology leadership to drive positive outcomes.

• Strong situational analysis and decision-making skills.

• Experience with Agile methodologies such as Kanban, Scrum, and test-driven development.

• Knowledge of DevOps toolchains like Git, Harness/Jenkins, Nexus, Docker, and Kubernetes.

• Ability to structure lean and efficient processes.

• Strong leadership qualities and the ability to motivate diverse teams.

• Clear communication skills for guiding project teams and coordinating with vendors and management.

• Strong presentation and interpersonal skills.

• Solid analytical, computer science, and math skills.

• Executive presence with the ability to communicate compellingly to senior leadership.

• Proven change management skills and adaptability in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

• Self-driven individual who can engage stakeholders from other departments to achieve results.

• Experience in both Waterfall and Agile delivery methodologies.

• Knowledge of new and established software systems and the ability to train others.

• Strong organizational and time management skills to keep teams and projects on schedule.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in the cruise line travel industry or business

• Previous experience with Blue Dolphin

• Practical knowledge of scaled delivery methodologies (e.g., SAFe, Scrum at Scale)

• TOGAF Certification

• Agile SCRUM Master Certification

• Project management certification

• Familiarity with Disney's financial ecosystem (preferred)

• Familiarity with Disney's guest experience ecosystem (preferred)

• Background in systems development, operations, support, and sustainment

• Proficiency with Tableau and other reporting tools (e.g., cloud providers, SmartSheet) for report generation and automation

• Advanced skills in MS-Excel and MS-Word, and high proficiency in MS-PowerPoint

• Experience with Splunk, Grafana, Smartsheets and Application Dynamics for dashboard creation

Required Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Software, Electrical or Electronics Engineering, or comparable field of study, and/or equivalent work experience

Preferred Education:

• Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Software, Electrical or Electronics Engineering, or comparable field of study, and/or equivalent work experience

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