Manager Solution Architecture

At CN, we work together to move our company-and North America-forward. Be part of our Information & Technology (I&T) team, a critical piece of the engine that keeps us in motion. From enterprise architecture to operational technology, our teams use the agile methodology to automate and digitize our railroad ensuring our operations run optimally and safely and our employees can focus on value-added tasks. You will be able to develop your skills and career in our close-knit, safety-focused culture working together as ONE TEAM. The careers we offer are meaningful because the work we do matters. Join us

Job Summary

CNDS (CN Data Services) is seeking a Data Platform Architecture Manager to lead the delivery of the Data Platform and Systems Architecture practice and Data Platform Engineering delivery at CN. The role is responsible for leading technological roadmap discussions, data platform and system architecture, Data Platform System Design, Data Platform delivery and steering the organization towards innovative and secure Data Platforms to meet business requirements in collaboration with the leadership team.

Main Responsibilities

Team Management

People Management - management of direct reports, goals setting, career development, hiring, work assignments, team performance.

Talent Development - ensure people have clear skill growth objectives in alignment with strategic technology directions and required training resources.

Staff Aug Management - Manage the performance of staff augmentation partners to ensure timely staffing of top talent resources.

Ensure financial objectives are reached and tracked (OPEX/CAPEX).

Data Platform System Architecture & Platform Delivery

Architecture Review Board - Oversee the delivery of complex & critical solution architectures: Ensure processes and governance are understood and followed, works with other teams to facilitate collaboration, ensures involvement of the right architects, right SMEs and key stakeholders during the processes. Ensures that deliverables are meeting quality standards and delivered on time

Project Scoping - Translate business requirements into project delivery plans.

Project Staffing - Create agile delivery PODs with properly skilled architects

Project Delivery -Drive project execution and quality with regular engineering reviews.

Strategy, planning and management of data platform budgets.

Architecture Practice Management

Give overall direction and guidance for putting in place best-in-class architecture processes for designing large and complex systems. Assign and coordinate extensive workload based on project criticality and architecture complexity.

Ensure key architecture decisions made during projects aimed to maximizes the value and manage the risk of CN investment

Ensures that solutions are in line with enterprise and domain architecture content to support short and long-term business objectives

Ensure architecture solutions from the team are aligned with the requirements from the Reliability team and the Safety team

Drive change to enable enterprise and domain architecture strategies and positions

Represent Architecture in project management process improvement initiatives

Identify, promote, and lead process improvements.

Development and implementation of strategic planning for data platforms and systems Architectures.

Building and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders and influence, with a customer-centricity mindset for optimal expectations management.

Continuous communication planning and execution to keep all stakeholders informed and engaged.

Organizational Impact

Decision Making & Impacts

As this role focuses on leading a team to deliver business and technical solution, the organizational impact is substantial.

Level of Interaction/Influence

The following team interaction is expected:

I&T Directors, Senior Managers and peer managers

Product Manager group

Architecture group

Data Engineering

Data Design

Data Governance

Data AI

Information Architecture

Project Managers

Operations Team

Other Design Team

CN business partners (Signal & Communication, Intermodal, etc.) and other I&T teams

Employees Supervised/Org Structure

Manages a team of experts, specialists, analysts and consultants

Requirements

Education & Experience

Minimum 10-15 years overall work experience, with a gradual evolution from software development roles

Minimum 5 years experience leading teams and overseeing deliverables

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or equivalent degree

Skills/Knowledge

Data Platform architecture and system design

Define capabilities, principals, patterns, and positions

Define architecture and engineering standards, patterns & best practices.

Lead the delivery and rollout of data platforms into PROD and comply to service operationalization standards

Platform modernization strategies including features and enhancements

Define the platform roadmap and strategy with the Product Managers (PDM)

Platform integration

Platform integration planning, optimizations, and continuous improvement

Platform adherence to CN security policies and standards

Collaborate and support the Platform SOM and SM with cost management and forecasting

Define strategies for the cost-effective delivery of scalable and reliable distributed systems

Collaborate in definition and evolution of platform on-boarding process

Determine TCO and ROI of platforms by understanding business value and opportunities of IT costs reduction

Work with Enterprise Architecture to align and introduce new solution/technologies for the Enterprise

Work with other platform architects to ensure support of required capabilities in their roadmaps

Work with Solution and Systems Architects to ensure the platform is integrated into a new or existing solution efficiently

Work with Product Managers (PDM) and business to understand new requirements and business needs and concerns

Work with technology vendors to influence their roadmaps and strategies to support CN objectives

Actively participate and lead recurrent architectural & technical meetings with vendors

Communication planning to ensure the operations team understands the platform and the roadmap of the platform

Evaluate current and emerging technologies

Be a leader in the CN, fostering a culture of design thinking, brainstorming, efficiency, and balancing vision with practicality.

Influence CN leadership with effective communication of proposals, directions and strategic decision making.

Demonstrate leadership by helping colleagues participate in the platform development activities and get exposed adequately for further career growth.

Perform technological surveillance for continuous modernized and innovative platform capabilities.

Expert knowledge of Big Data Architecture is required

Expert knowledge of Databricks is required

Expert knowledge of Cloud Architecture - Monitoring, Networking, Security, Storage, Compute with GCP and Azure is an required

Strong experience all phases of software SDLC and DevSecOps technologies and practices

Strong experience leading practices and the work of others.

Strong experience with Agile/Scrum/Safe delivery management and planning

Strong ability to manage priorities in an evolving environment and to handle multiple demands.

Proven ability to organize team and workload in order to achieve objectives and targets

Strong organizational skills - tactful, resolute and committed in providing excellent customer service

Very good experience in the identification, assessment and management of solution and business risks/value

Very good influencing and communication skills with stakeholders at various levels

Good ability to work and develop partnerships effectively with colleagues, managers, suppliers and stakeholders in a variety of situations

Focused on continuous improvement, and able to anticipate future circumstances

Good ability to understand the long-term ("big picture") and short-term perspectives of situations

Knowledge of key regulatory guidelines as a definite asset

This position is posted as a grade 7. For internal candidates, note that the grade level of the position may adjust based on the employee's experience.

About CN

CN is a world-class transportation leader and trade-enabler. Essential to the economy, to the customers, and to the communities it serves, CN safely transports more than 300 million tons of natural resources, manufactured products, and finished goods throughout North America every year. As the only railroad connecting Canada's Eastern and Western coasts with the Southern tip of the U.S. through a 19,500 mile rail network, CN and its affiliates have been contributing to community prosperity and sustainable trade since 1919. CN is committed to programs supporting social responsibility and environmental stewardship. At CN, we work as ONE TEAM, focused on safety, sustainability and our customers, providing operational and supply chain excellence to deliver results.

For internal candidates, note that the grade level of the position will depend on the employee's experience.

About IT at CN

CN harnesses the power of information every minute of every day to make better decisions . click apply for full job details

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