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NS - Fundamental - Infrastructure Architect London/Bristol

Employer
BAE Systems Digital Intelligence
Location
London, United Kingdom
Salary
Competitive
Closing date
8 Jul 2023
Reference
119582-en_GB

Job Details

Role Description

The role holder:

The Application Architect is responsible for the overall design of an application, or several applications, ensuring that the application meets its functional and non-functional requirements. The individual would typically be an experienced software Engineer, expert in one or more development languages and is therefore able to set the direction of the design, development and methods used for a development team.

The individual may work as part of a development or architecture team, depending upon project size, and is capable of managing a team of System Developers/Designers or Application Architects. They will be involved in aspects of estimation, planning and risk management, ensuring delivery to agreed timescales and quality standards.

Application architects select and tailor the processes appropriate to govern the technical quality of applications development as it is executed.

Typically architects will work with senior client stakeholders to understand, influence and shape requirements and solution approaches. They will deploy an excellent understanding of mainstream and emerging applications and providers with a flair for evangelism where they can apply innovative solutions involving both COTS and bespoke applications.

Application Architects must deliver solutions with consideration of through-life operation such as operational support and management, integration, change and extension, migration and re-platforming, productisation, re-use, withdrawal/retirement and disposal.

Key Accountabilities

The role holder:

The primary accountabilities of the Application Architect include:
  • The design of an Application (the complete set of software components that make it) to ensure that it meets all functional and non-functional requirements.
  • Overseeing the implementation of the application design in collaboration with other team members such as System and Software Designers, Data Architects, Security Architects and Functional Architects.
  • The production of estimates, costs and delivery timescales at appropriate points in the development lifecycle
  • The quality of the Application, with a particular focus upon the non-functional “ities” of the design including Security, Scalability, Reliability, Deployability
  • Internal stakeholder management within the project (e.g. solution architects, implementation team lead, test team lead)
  • Taking overall ownership of all application component(s); being known as subject-matter expert in all areas relating to application development design and implementation techniques, patterns and technology stacks.
  • Working as part of a team of Architects (larger projects) or System Developers/Designers (smaller projects) and has responsibility for managing other members in these teams
  • Acts as a Method Practitioner and Champion for application development methodologies
  • Defines the project engineering approach on projects
  • Supports the Solution Architect in producing estimates, costs and delivery timescales at appropriate points in the development lifecycle
  • Develops and polices automated quality, test and continuous integration capabilities to ensure that the approaches and test strategies are followed and only high-quality, maintainable solutions are developed.
  • Contributes to external and internal technology-related technical forums (e.g. Open Source communities, Practices and Professions, SIGs, Technical Forums) and demonstrates innovation and thought leadership
  • Expertise in one or more software / vendor domains, for example: Web & XML (HTML5), WS/SOA/REST, Integration (MOM, Spring), Containers (OSGi, JEE, WebLogic), Persistence and databases (Hibernate, NoSQL, Oracle, MySQL), CEP, Networking (Caching, Load balancing) and deployment models (SaaS, Cloud, Virtualisation)
  • Identifies and evaluates suitable application technologies, frameworks and application standards.
  • Produce high-level and low-level designs for application components, employing formal design techniques such as modelling (UML), simulation and modelling where necessary
  • Works with Functional Architects and Test Managers to ensure that requirements are suitable to be developed and tests are appropriate to verify them
  • May be responsible for code reviews and code quality (depending on the governance of the particular project or engagement)
  • May have limited responsibility for development of one or more software components (depending on the governance of the particular project or engagement)


Depending on the particular job being performed, seniority and experience an architect may typically have a range of these specific accountabilities:

Core Architecture - mid-level accountabilities
  • Able to define / apply and enforce the usage of modern engineering best practices and automated application lifecycle management (ALM) approaches including Configuration Management (SCM, branching strategies, release strategies), Build and Dependency Management (Maven, Ivy), Continuous Integration (CI) and deployment, Automated testing (Unit, Functional, Integration, Performance and Acceptance) and quality reporting (code coverage, standards compliance, systems complexity / heuristics)
  • Carries out / contributes to assurance and due diligence activities relating to products and suppliers.
  • Understands and leverages existing BAE experience, IP and expertise in similar providing solutions - working with other client teams, market, product and proposition experts
  • Helps define standards and patterns for the Software Development teams to use, reducing costs and increasing quality and re-uses BAE and industry standards where available
  • Contributes to external and internal technology-related technical forums (e.g. Open Source communities, Practices and Professions, SIGs, Technical Forums) and demonstrates innovation and thought leadership
  • Understands infrastructure and middleware technologies to a level that requirements can be specified to an Infrastructure Architect and decisions can be made as to the most appropriate platform for the Application
  • Works with Service Architects to ensure the designed application meets the Supportability needs and can be transitioned easily into Live Service


Core Architecture - top-level accountabilities
  • Responsible for the design and control of very large or complex Applications.
  • Works with suppliers and industry to influence design models for the development of new technology applications.
  • Works with partners and 3rd parties to develop effective implementation and procurement strategies.
  • Works proactively to determine ways in which the overall application estate can be improved in terms of its operational and cost performance.


Pre-sales
  • Works with Account Management and Sales functions to ensure that key sales messages for BAE solutions are accurately and authoritatively communicated within bids and pitches and to develop or qualify new opportunities
  • Understands and leverages existing BAE experience, IP and expertise in similar providing similar solutions - working with other client teams, marketing, product and proposition experts to incorporate the reuse of solution elements from multiple service lines.
  • Undertakes architecture activities for applications as part of response to RFI and RFP requests for clients
  • Consults with clients to evolve early solutions


Delivery/lifecycle management accountabilities
  • Shepherds all architectural activity related to applications through the project development lifecycle paying particular care to ensure that all quality processes, gates and controls are followed.
  • Sets standards for tools and techniques, advises on their application and ensures compliance. Takes technical responsibility for all stages in the architectural and engineering process. Prepares project and quality plans and advises systems development teams. Provides advice, guidance and assistance to less experienced colleagues as required.


Team leadership Accountabilities
  • Nurtures and guides the technical ability of lower grade Architects.
  • Manages a team of architects in architectural activities
  • Provides input into the performance reviews of development staff
  • Provides career guidance to development staff

Competencies

Please refer to the Engineering Career Development Framework for a detailed description of the technical competencies required within your Capability area. This will include an outline of the required:
  • Knowledge
  • Skillls
  • Qualifications

Behaviours
  • Information on the BAE Systems Company Behaviours is available here .
  • For further insight into how BAE Systems Behaviours can be applied to each grade within Engineering please refer to the Engineering Career Development Framework


The 3 key behaviours of focus for this role are:
  • Courage
  • Creativity
  • Integrity

Company

BAE Systems Digital Intelligence is home to 4,800 digital, cyber and intelligence experts. We work collaboratively across 16 countries to collect, connect and understand complex data, so that governments, nation states, armed forces and commercial businesses can unlock digital advantage in the most demanding environments.

At BAE Systems Digital Intelligence, we believe that digital technology is the key to unlocking our customers’ advantage. By advancing digital technologies, we open doors to worlds of opportunities, together. We work across 6 main areas, Cyber, Defence, Delivery & Advisory, FinCrime, Intelligence and Space. Come visit us at the expo, or our website, to learn more about our opportunities.

www.baesystems.com/cybercareers 

https://twitter.com/BAES_Digital

https://www.facebook.com/baesystemsdigitalintelligence

https://www.linkedin.com/company/baesystemsdigital

https://www.youtube.com/c/BAESystemsDigitalIntelligence

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