New

Solution Architect (Systems Engineer 4)

Metropolitan Council
$98,072.00 - $159,078.40 Annually
medical insurance, dental insurance, life insurance, vision insurance, retirement plan, pension
United States, Minnesota, Saint Paul
390 Robert Street North (Show on map)
Sep 19, 2025
WHO WE ARE We are the Metropolitan 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 of education (in Computer Science, Management Information Systems, or a related field) and experience in the software industry including solution architecture and solution design. High school diploma or GED AND ten (10) years of experience and a minimum of three (3) years of solution architecture or solution design experience. Associate's degree AND eight (8) years of experience including three (3) years of solution architecture or solution design experience. Bachelor's degree AND six (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. 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 https://metrocouncil.org