Senior IT Systems Analyst (Technical Architect – Communications Domain)

Job Overview

We are seeking a Technical Architect for Communications Domain to join the IT Strategy & Technology Planning Division. The communications domain in this document covers data networking, telecommunication and related aspects.

The IT Strategy & Technology Planning Division is responsible for providing IT strategic directions, technology roadmaps, investment strategies, service models, and solutions architectures covering all Digital & IT disciplines such as Computing, Communication, Application, and Information Protection.

The technical Architect primary role is to develop strategic Digital & IT roadmaps, define technology architecture required to deliver and enable core business capabilities; optimizing short- and long-term architecture plans, identifying new IT capabilities that leverage the installed base technologies and solutions, and developing plans and programs to introduce new IT services ensuring alignment with business demands and company digital transformation initiatives.

The technical Architect for Communications domain is expected to have broad understanding of various Digital and IT technologies with more deep understanding on communications related technologies such as LAN/WAN Corporate Network (e.g., IP/MPLS, SDN, SD-WAN, etc.), Terrestrial Fiber Optical Network Communications (e.g., TDM, SDH, DWDM, OTN), Terrestrial and Non-Terrestrial Wireless Network (e.g., Microwave, VSAT, HTS-LEO, HAPs, etc.), Private Mobile Radio (narrow/broadband) Networks (e.g.,  TETRA, LPWANs; LTE-M, NB-IoT, LoRaWAN, 4G/5G, etc.), Private and leased terrestrial public circuits & networks (e.g., IPVPN, MPLS, SD-WAN, etc.), communications (e.g. and Unified Communications.

Duties & Responsibilities

● Work with EA peers (e.g., enterprise, business, information, solutions and security architects) to analyze enterprise business context (business strategy and trends), as well as change requirements in other enterprise architecture viewpoints (such as business, information and solution) to derive the future-state Communications architecture. This includes defining the requirements, principles and models that guide technology decisions for the enterprise.
● Lead the analysis of the current technology environment to detect critical deficiencies, legacy and technical debt, and recommends solutions for improvement. In addition, lead the analysis of technology industry and market trends to determine their potential impact on the enterprise as well as on the enterprise technology architecture.
● Coach, mentor and collaborate with technical subject matter experts and EA peers to develop Communications architecture that enables and drives new business capabilities and operating models.
● Drives digital innovation by leveraging innovative technologies and approaches to renovate, extend, and transform the existing core technology base and IT estate.
● Defines high-level migration plans to address the gaps between the future and current state, typically in sync with the IT budgeting or other capital planning processes.
● Understand technology trends and the practical application of existing, new and emerging technologies to enable new and evolving business and operating models.
● Guide technology investment decisions based on analysis and evaluation to drive targeted business outcomes while ensuring nonfunctional requirements are met.
● Help the enterprise architect define metrics to measure and demonstrate enterprise technology value.
● Assist with designing the governance, assurance and standards activities associated with ensuring enterprise technology architecture compliance of projects and products.
● Oversee and facilitates the research, evaluation, and selection of technology and product standards, as well as the design of standard configurations.
● Identify the organizational impact (for example, on skills, processes, structures and culture) and financial impact of the enterprise Communications architecture.
● Understand, advocate and augment the business and IT strategies — and, more specifically, EA development and service delivery. Is prepared to “sell” the EA process (overall, not just for enterprise Communications architecture), its outcome and ongoing results, and to lead the communication or marketing activities needed to ensure enterprise success and use.
● Oversees, or consults on, technology implementation and modification activities (for example, projects and products), particularly for new or shared infrastructure solutions.
● Consults on application or infrastructure development projects to harmonize systems or infrastructure with the enterprise Communications architecture and identify when it is necessary to modify the Communications architecture to accommodate immediate or future project needs.
● Creates and delivers working, production-ready IT services that can be easily leveraged by agile teams.
● Works closely with the product managers, product owners and EA peers (e.g., enterprise, business, information, security and solutions architects) to enable infrastructure agility, scalability and resilience to support required product needs throughout product life cycles.
● Collaborates with business constituents, other EA team members, project teams and staff in various IT functional areas as needed to fulfill the responsibilities described above.
● Documents necessary enterprise Communications architecture design and analysis work, possibly including project postmortem documentation and metric collection.

Minimum Requirements

A. Master’s or Bachelor’s Degree in one of the following disciplines: Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Management Information Systems (MIS), Computer Information Systems (CIS), Engineering, Physical Sciences, Mathematics, Finance, Business Administration.
B. At least 10 years industrial work experience in complex Digital & IT environment such as digital transformation, systems analysis, programming, computing hardware, software implementation, and mission critical facilities; Knowledge of industry standard Enterprise Architecture (EA) Frameworks and tools. Six or more years of business experience in strategic and operations planning and/or business analysis or experience as an enterprise architecture consultant for the communications domain.
C. Excellent spoken and written English is essential. Knowledge of Arabic is desirable. Ability to compose and edit concise, well organized reports and presentations for various levels of management is also essential. The Digital & IT Architect must also often interface with senior Management of various companies, including CIO’s and CEO’s.  He must therefore be highly articulate in English (and preferably in Arabic) and be able to discuss Digital & IT Architecture and technology directions appropriately.
D. Requires a very high level of professionalism, maturity, multi-discipline technical knowledge and interpersonal skills to manage highly professional and senior personnel; must possess business knowledge and acumen so that appropriate Digital & IT solutions and directions are selected; excellent negotiation and influencing skills and ability to moderate discussions