Solution Architect (Systems Engineer 4)

Solution Architect (Systems Engineer 4)

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Solution Architect (Systems Engineer 4)

Salary

$98,072.00 - $159,078.40 Annually

Location

390 Robert St. N St. Paul, MN

Job Type

Full-Time

Job Number

2025-00209

Division

Regional Administration

Department

IS-Admin

Opening Date

09 / 19 / 2025

Closing Date

10 / 3 / 2025 11 : 59 PM Central

Description

Benefits

Questions

WHO WE ARE

We are theMetropolitan Council,the regional government for the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area. We plan 30 years ahead for the future of the metropolitan area and provide regional transportation, wastewater, and housing services.More information about us on our website. ()

We are committed to supporting a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

About the department :

Information Services is the central IT department supporting all divisions of the Metropolitan Council. Our 140 team members provide technology, practices and innovative solutions that enable the core services of the Council.

How your work would contribute to our organization and the Twin Cities region :

Solution Architect (Systems Engineer 4) will design secure, scalable, and resilient solutions, and will directly support the growth and digital transformation of Met Council, resulting in enhanced responsiveness to internal and external community members. This role will assist the IT team in delivering solutions that improve efficiency, enhance user experiences, and enable data-driven decision-making. Also accountable for ensuring that technology investments align with strategic objectives, maximizing value for the organization and positioning us as an innovation leader in the Twin Cities region.

This is a senior-level position that will mentor and guide teams, with the goal set of broadening the technical skill base of the Council's workforce, further contributing to strengthening the local talent pool. Indirectly, the Solutions Architect will contribute support to the regional economic growth by ensuring our services operate securely, efficiently, and sustainably benefiting both our internal teams and the broader community we serve.

Note : Position is based at our Robert Street office in St. Paul and requires some travel to various Council work sites in the Twin Cities metro area. Some Council work sites are not accessible by public transportation, so driving a Council vehicle may be necessary. Candidates must have a valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record.

Work / Life Balance : Enjoy a great work / life balance with flexible work arrangements, including a hybrid remote and onsite telework option

Health and Wellness : Insurance coverage starting on day one, access to an in-house clinic, and salary continuance for injury or illness

Retirement and Financial : Participate in the MN State Retirement System pension and take advantage of generous annual leave and 13 paid holidays per year

Professional Development : Opportunities for employee development through on-site training and tuition reimbursement

Transportation Perks : Free Metro Transit rides for employees

Additional Benefits : Various other perks to support your well-being and professional growth

This position is eligible for a hybrid (both remote and onsite) telework arrangement. Candidate's permanent residence must be in Minnesota or Wisconsin.

What you would do in this job

As a Solution Architect, you will play a pivotal role in bridging business needs with technical solutions by :

Partner with stakeholders to understand business challenges and define holistic solution architectures across software engineering, data, infrastructure, networking, and security domains.

Design end-to-end solutions that are scalable, secure, and cost-effective—leveraging cloud technologies (Azure preferred) and SaaS platforms as appropriate.

Create prototypes, proof-of-concepts, and reference architectures to validate approaches before implementation.

Guide technical teams through the delivery lifecycle, ensuring alignment to architecture standards, best practices, and business objectives.

Evaluate on a continual basis emerging technologies and recommending innovations that drive business value.

Act as a trusted advisor, effectively communicating complex technology concepts and persuading diverse stakeholders to adopt optimal solutions.

Balance short-term delivery needs with long-term architecture strategy, ensuring your designs fit the "big picture."

Prototype fluently and demonstrate new solutions to accelerate decision-making.

Document solution roadmaps, reference architectures, and implementation guidelines, and collaborate closely with technical teams to ensure the successful delivery of optimally designed solutions that adhere to established standards and best practices.

What education and experience are required for this job (minimum qualifications)

Any of the following combinations ofeducation(in Computer Science, Management Information Systems, or a related field) and experience in the software industryincludingsolution architecture and solution design.

High school diploma or GEDAND ten (10) years of experience and a minimum of three (3) years of solution architecture or solution design experience.

Associate's degreeAND eight (8) years of experience including three (3) years of solution architecture or solution design experience.

Bachelor's degreeAND six (6) years of experience including three (3) years of solution architecture or solution design experience.

Master's degreeANDfour (4) years of experience including three (3) years of solution architecture or solution design experience.

What additional skills and experience would be helpful in this job (desired qualifications) :

Advanced degrees such as a Master’s or MBA focused on technology, business or related fields.

Cloud architecture certifications (e.g., Microsoft Certified : Azure Solutions Architect Expert, AWS Solutions Architect Professional, Google Cloud Professional Architect).

Working experience with DevOps tools and practices, including CI / CD pipelines and infrastructure-as-code tools like Terraform, ARM templates, or CloudFormation.

Familiarity with containerization and orchestration platforms such as Docker, Kubernetes, and managed services like AKS, EKS, or GKE.

Deep knowledge of enterprise integration patterns, API gateways, RESTful or GraphQL APIs, and event-driven architecture frameworks (Kafka, Azure Event Hub).

Experience with data engineering, analytics platforms, and BI tools (Databricks, Azure Synapse, Snowflake, Power BI).

Strong grasp of security best practices, identity and access management, and zero-trust architectures.

Proven ability to lead large-scale, cross-domain architectural initiatives and develop enterprise reference architectures and governance frameworks.

Experience optimizing cloud spend and applying FinOps principles.

Excellent stakeholder management, with demonstrated ability to influence without authority, persuade diverse audiences, and lead cross-functional teams.

Comfort working in agile and fast-paced environments, adapting quickly to changing business needs and priorities.

Experience working with diverse populations of internal and external customers

What knowledge, skills, and abilities you should have within the first six months on the job :

Skill in problem-solving, critical thinking, and analytical skills to diagnose complex technical and business challenges and design effective solutions.

Skill in advanced written and verbal communication skills, enabling clear articulation of technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Ability to deliver exceptional customer service through building strong interpersonal relationships and understanding client needs.

Ability to prioritize and time management skills to balance multiple projects and competing demands in a fast-paced environment.

Skill in effective collaboration and communicating with diverse teams, business units, vendors, and leadership as a trusted technology partner and advisor.

Ability to influence without authority and be persuasive to overcome resistance and gain stakeholder buy-in.

Ability to work independently with minimal supervision while taking ownership of deliverables.

Ability to anticipate potential issues and take corrective actions to resolve and remediate risks before they escalate.

What you can expect from us :

We offer the opportunity to make a difference and positively influence the Twin Cities metropolitan area

We encourage our employees to develop their skills through on-site training and tuition reimbursement

We provide a competitive salary, excellent benefits and a good work / life balance

More about why you should join us! ()

Additional information

Union / Grade : AFSCME / Grade J

FLSA Status : Exempt

Safety Sensitive : No

Full Salary Range : $47.15- $76.48 hourly / $98,072 - $159,078 Annually

What your work environment would be :

You would perform your work in a standard office setting. Work may require travel between primary worksite and various locations on short notice to resolve computer system problems.

What steps the recruitment process involves :

We review your minimum qualifications.

We rate your education and experience.

We conduct a structured panel interview.

We conduct a selection interview.

Once you have successfully completed the steps above, then :

If you are new to the Metropolitan Council, you must pass a drug test (safety sensitive positions only), and a background check which verifies education, employment, and criminal history. A driving record check and / or physical may be conducted if applicable to the job. If you have a criminal conviction, you do not automatically fail. The Metropolitan Council considers felony, gross misdemeanor and misdemeanor convictions on a case-by-case basis, based on whether they are related to the job and whether the candidate has demonstrated adequate rehabilitation.

If you are already an employee of the Metropolitan Council, you must pass a drug test (if moving from a non-safety sensitive position to a safety sensitive position) and criminal background check if the job you're applying for is safety sensitive, is a supervisory or management job, is in the Finance, Information Services, Audit, or Human Resources departments, or has access to financial records, files / databases, cash, vouchers or transit fare cards. A driving record check and / or physical may be conducted if applicable to the position.

Security Policy :

This position involves direct access to Criminal Justice Information (CJI) as defined by the FBI CJIS (Criminal Justice Information Services) Security Policy. In accordance with section 5.12.1.1 of the FBI CJIS Security Policy, final candidates must agree to submit to a state of residence and national fingerprint-based record check.

If the result of the record check reveals criminal convictions, the nature and circumstances of those convictions will be reviewed by the Metropolitan Transit Police Department and / or the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to determine if access to Criminal Justice Information would be permissible. If it is determined that access to Criminal Justice Information would not be permissible, the candidate will no longer be considered for the position.

IMPORTANT : If you make a false statement or withhold information, you may be barred from job consideration.

The Metropolitan Council is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, and veteran-friendly employer. The Council is committed to a workforce that reflects the diversity of the region and strongly encourages persons of color, members of the LGBTQ community, individuals with disabilities, women, and veterans to apply.

If you have a disability that requires accommodation during the selection process, please email HR-OCCHealth@metc.state.mn.us.

Employer

Metropolitan Council

Address

390 Robert St. N.

St. Paul, Minnesota, 55101

Website

We believe our employees are a key to our agency's success! In order to attract and retain high quality employees, the Council provides a highly competitive benefits package both in choice and coverage levels. Some highlights about our benefits are listed below :

Guaranteed monthly retirement income through Minnesota State Retirement System pension fund

Opportunity to save additional funds for retirement on a tax-deferred basis through a voluntary deferred compensation (457) plan

Two or more medical plans from which to choose, with employer contribution towards premiums over 80%

Dental insurance, life insurance and vision insurance

The following benefits are provided to all employees as part of working for the Council. You will have access to free :

Well@Work clinic

bus / rail pass valued at over $1200 per year

parking at many job locations

fitness centers at many job locations

Employee Assistance Program

extensive health and wellness programs and resources

01

Applicant Instructions : It is important thatyour application shows all relevant education and experienceyou possess. The supplemental questions listed below are to further evaluate your education and experience and to determine your eligibility for this position. Answer each question completely, and please do not type "see resume" otherwise your application will be considered incomplete, and you will not receive further consideration for this position. The experience you indicate in your responses should also be consistent with the Work History section of this application. If you attach a resume and / or cover letter to your application, it will be reviewed at the education and experience review step. I have read and understand the above instructions regarding my application and supplemental questions.

Yes

No

02

How did youfirsthear about this job opening?

CareerForce Center

Community Event / Organization

Employee Referral

Facebook

Glassdoor

Indeed

Job Fair

LinkedIn

Metro Transit Bus Advertisement

Twitter

Website : governmentjobs.com

Website : metrocouncil.org

Website : metrotransit.org

Website : minnesotajobnetwork.com

Other

03

If you selected 'Other', please describe where you first heard about this job. if you selected 'Employee Referral' please enter the employee's first and last name, ID number (if known), and job title. Type N / A if not applicable.

04

Please select the option below that best reflects your level of relevant education and experience in the software industry :

High school diploma or GED AND ten (10) years of experience in the software industry, and a minimum of three (3) years of solution architecture or solution design experience.

Associate's degree AND 8 years of experience including three (3) years of solution architecture or solution design experience.

Bachelor's degree AND 6 years of experience including three (3) years of solution architecture or solution design experience

Master's degree AND four (4) years of experience including three (3) years of solution architecture or solution design experience

05

Please select the option below that best reflects your level of relevant education and experience.

Cloud Platforms : Azure, AWS or Google Cloud Platform (GCP)

Infrastructure as Code : Terraform, ARM Templates, CloudFormation, Bicep

Containerization & Orchestration : Docker, Kubernetes, AKS, EKS or GKE

Programming Languages : C#, Java, Python or JavaScript / TypeScript

DevOps & CI / CD Tools : Jenkins, GitHub Actions, Azure DevOps, CircleCI

Data Platforms & Analytics : Azure Synapse, Databricks, Snowflake or Power BI

Integration : RESTful APIs, GraphQL, Kafka, Azure Event Hub or RabbitMQ

Security & Identity : OAuth, SAML, OpenID Connect, Zero Trust Architecture

Networking & Infrastructure : VPN, Load Balancers, Firewalls, DNS

Architecture & Design : Microservices, SOA, Event-driven Architecture

None of the above

06

Please briefly describe your certifications or experience selected in the previous question. If you selected "None of the above," please type "N / A." If you type, See Resume you will not receive credit for your response.

07

Please describe your experience working with Azure systems and On-Premise infrastructure, including types of infrastructure and tasks performed. If this experience does not apply to you, please type "N / A." If you type, See Resume, you will not receive credit for your response.

08

Please describe your experience fostering equity, diversity, and inclusion competency and understanding. If this doesn't apply, please type "N / A." If you type, See Resume, you will not receive credit for your response.

09

Please describe work you have performed in the Microsoft Azure Cloud portal or in other hyper-scaling Public Cloud providers supporting infrastructure cloud operations. If this does not apply, enter "N / A." If you type, See Resume, you will not receive credit for your response.

10

Please explain a situation where you used your knowledge, skills, and experience to solve a public service industry need with technology. What was the outcome and how did it affect the organization? If this does not apply, enter "N / A." If you type, See Resume, you will not receive credit for your response.

11

This position is hybrid and based out of our 390 Robert Street office in St. Paul and requires working onsite at times during the week. Are you willing and able to meet this requirement?

Yes

No

12

This position will require some travel between various Council work sites. This may include areas that are not accessible by public transportation. Do you have a valid driver's license? This will be verified at background check step.

Yes

No

Required Question

Employer

Metropolitan Council

Address

390 Robert St. N.St. Paul, Minnesota, 55101

Website

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