Application Architect

About the Role

Our client is seeking an experienced Application Architect to lead the design, modernization, and long-term strategy for enterprise applications across Microsoft and Java-based platforms. This role is responsible for delivering secure, scalable, and maintainable application architectures while driving the adoption of modern development practices, cloud-native solutions, and AI-assisted software development. The ideal candidate will provide technical leadership, establish architectural standards, and mentor development teams throughout the software development lifecycle.

Responsibilities

• Design and architect secure, scalable, and high-performing applications using .NET (C#, ASP.NET Core) and SQL Server technologies.
• Develop enterprise solution architectures spanning multiple applications, APIs, databases, services, and integration platforms.
• Design and optimize SQL Server databases, including data models, advanced T-SQL, indexing, partitioning, query performance tuning, and high availability/disaster recovery strategies.
• Define enterprise integration strategies utilizing REST APIs, messaging technologies, authentication, and data exchange across Microsoft, Java, and third-party platforms.
• Lead the adoption of AI-assisted development practices using GitHub Copilot, including prompt engineering, code generation, refactoring, documentation, testing, and code reviews.
• Produce architecture diagrams, technical specifications, and design documentation while leading architecture reviews and technical planning sessions.
• Establish and enforce enterprise architecture standards, coding standards, reusable design patterns, and software development best practices.
• Ensure applications comply with security, accessibility (WCAG 2.2), privacy, and regulatory requirements using secure-by-design and zero-trust principles.
• Lead application modernization initiatives by designing migration strategies for legacy applications to cloud-native architectures.
• Assess technical debt and develop phased modernization roadmaps that align with long-term technology objectives.
• Design and implement modern software delivery practices, including source control strategies, branching models, CI/CD pipelines, automated deployments, DevSecOps, and environment management.
• Evaluate emerging technologies, frameworks, and commercial software solutions to support future enterprise architecture initiatives.
• Provide technical leadership during project planning, solution estimation, proof-of-concept efforts, and architecture review sessions.
• Mentor developers and technical teams on application architecture, modern development practices, and AI-assisted software engineering techniques.

Requirements

• 8+ years of professional software engineering experience developing enterprise applications.
• 4+ years of experience serving as an Application Architect or Solution Architect on enterprise .NET and SQL Server projects within complex environments.
• Expert-level experience with C#, ASP.NET Core, Entity Framework Core, Web API, and modern .NET development practices including clean architecture, dependency injection, minimal APIs, and asynchronous programming.
• Advanced experience with Microsoft SQL Server, including complex T-SQL optimization, execution plan analysis, indexing strategies, Row-Level Security (RLS), Dynamic Data Masking (DDM), and Always On Availability Groups.
• Daily professional experience using GitHub Copilot for .NET/C# development, including advanced configuration, prompt engineering, and team enablement.
• Proven experience migrating and transforming data from legacy systems into modern application data models.
• Strong experience implementing secure software development lifecycle (SDLC) practices, Microsoft Entra ID, managed identities, API security, and enterprise governance standards.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to collaborate effectively with technical teams, business stakeholders, and executive leadership.
• Experience working within public sector, utility, or other highly regulated environments with strict security, compliance, and accessibility requirements.
• Familiarity with legacy application modernization and enterprise content management/workflow platforms such as IBM FileNet and IBM Business Automation Workflow (BAW).
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert certification or an equivalent cloud architecture certification.