Technical Architect

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in Illinois.

📋 Description

• Take ownership of the complete application and technical architecture for reporting, analytics, data integration, and transaction processing solutions.

• Convert business, operational, and regulatory needs into sustainable system designs.

• Spearhead the modernization of outdated ETL processes, SQL logic, Linux/Unix scripts, and manual workflows into Python-based applications and automation.

• Provide proactive technical leadership throughout architecture, development, code reviews, testing, deployment, performance optimization, and production support.

• Create proof-of-concepts to compare different solution options and document quantifiable outcomes.

• Define the technical architecture encompassing web/UI, API and service layers, processing engines, databases, orchestration, scheduling, security, identity/access, monitoring, and backup/recovery.

• Lead BI and analytics initiatives, including enterprise report design, detailed reporting, reconciliation, data quality assurance, and modernization of legacy reporting systems.

• Establish engineering practices utilizing Azure DevOps or similar tools, covering epics, repositories, branching, pull requests, code reviews, CI/CD, release traceability, and production deployments.

• Implement AI and automation with proper governance to enhance analysis, conversion, documentation, and testing processes.

• Develop architecture diagrams, solution designs, technical specifications, data flow and interface documentation, roadmaps, estimates, risks, and operational support models.

• Guide and mentor architects, data engineers, ETL developers, BI developers, modelers, analysts, and testers.

• Present architectural options, risks, and recommendations to customer stakeholders and Optum leadership.

⛳️ Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering, information systems, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.

• Over 10 years of experience in information technology.

• Senior-level experience in application, solution, technical, or data architecture for large enterprise systems.

• Proven experience in architecting enterprise data warehouses, reporting, analytics, and claims or transaction-processing solutions from inception.

• Proficient in hands-on development with Python and advanced SQL.

• Familiarity with automation, data processing, troubleshooting, and code review practices.

• Experience designing application architecture including APIs, services, web components, databases, security, identity/access, job scheduling, monitoring, and environment management.

• Hands-on experience with BI/reporting tools such as BusinessObjects, Power BI, Tableau, SAS, or similar enterprise reporting solutions.

• Knowledge of implementing source control, branching, pull requests, CI/CD, and automated deployment in Azure DevOps or an equivalent platform.

• Demonstrated people leadership experience managing BI, data, and engineering teams.

• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills for diverse audiences, including customers and executives.

• Experience in healthcare payer, Medicaid, managed care, or health insurance is a plus.

• Familiarity with federal reporting, particularly CMS-64, quarterly expenditure reporting, reconciliation, certification, or similar state Medicaid reporting is advantageous.

• Experience with on-premises to cloud migration using Microsoft Azure, Azure Data Factory, Databricks, Data Lake Storage, Snowflake, or similar cloud data services is beneficial.

• ETL/ELT and data engineering experience with Informatica, Teradata, or comparable enterprise integration and large-scale MPP data warehouse platforms is a plus.

• Knowledge of applying AI-assisted engineering or automation to code conversion, source-to-target mapping, testing, documentation, and data quality activities within enterprise governance is a bonus.

• Experience in data modeling across conceptual, logical, and physical models, effective-dated reference data, dimensional models, and transaction lineage is a bonus.

• Proficiency in Linux/Unix scripting and job orchestration is a plus.

• Understanding of HIPAA, PHI, PII, security architecture, and public-sector compliance standards is an advantage.

• An advanced degree or relevant architecture, cloud, data, or agile certifications is a plus.

🏝️ Benefits

• Engaging projects that enhance systems impacting real lives.

• A people-first culture emphasizing support, autonomy, and community.

• Opportunities for professional growth.

• Meaningful work that provides purpose.

• A collaborative working environment.

• Hands-on strategic initiatives and client workshops.

• The chance to influence architecture, delivery, and solution decisions.