Application Development Architect

Title: Application Development Architect 

Location: Rochester, NY; hybrid candidates considered with 2x quarterly on-site presence 

Reports to: VP of Operations 

The objective of the Role: The Application Development Architect will be responsible for leading the design and implementation of modern, cloud-native applications for our clients while serving as a technical leader within our professional services delivery team. This role combines deep expertise in backend development, modern application frameworks, and cloud-native architectures with the ability to guide client application modernization initiatives. The ideal candidate will serve as both a hands-on architect and technical mentor, driving innovation in application development practices while ensuring delivery of scalable, secure, and maintainable solutions. 

Top candidates will have the following: 

·       Passion for modern application development and cloud-native architectures  

·       Strong technical leadership skills with the ability to guide architectural decisions and mentor development teams 

·       Deep understanding of backend development frameworks, microservices architectures, and API design patterns  

·       Experience with containerization, orchestration, and cloud-native development patterns  

·       Strong customer relationship management skills with the ability to translate complex technical concepts to ·              business stakeholders  

·       Proactive approach to identifying technical debt and modernization opportunities  

·       Ability to balance hands-on development with architectural oversight and mentoring  

·       Experience working in agile development environments with CI/CD practices  

·       Natural proclivity for staying current with emerging application development technologies and best practices  

Required Experience for the Role: 

·       Minimum of 7+ years of experience in application development, with at least 4 years in senior or lead architect roles  

·       AWS Solutions Architect Professional certification or ability to obtain within 6 months  

·       Demonstrated expertise in backend development using modern languages such as Python, Java, Node.js, or Go  

·       Strong experience with cloud-native application patterns including microservices, serverless, and container-based architectures  

·       Hands-on experience with AWS application services including Lambda, ECS/EKS, API Gateway, EventBridge, and Step Functions 

·       Proficiency with modern application frameworks and libraries (Spring Boot, Django, Express.js, FastAPI, etc.)  

·       Experience with database design and optimization for both relational and NoSQL databases in cloud environments

·       Strong understanding of DevOps practices, CI/CD pipelines, and Infrastructure as Code  

·       Experience leading application modernization projects from legacy systems to cloud-native architectures  

·       Demonstrated ability to mentor junior developers and provide technical guidance  

Preferred Experience for the Role: 

·       AWS Developer Professional certification  

·       Experience with front-end technologies (React, Angular, Vue.js) and full-stack development  

·       Knowledge of event-driven architectures and messaging systems (SQS, SNS, Kafka)  

·       Experience with monitoring and observability tools (CloudWatch, X-Ray, Prometheus, Grafana)  

·       Understanding of security best practices for cloud applications and secure coding practices  

·       Experience with Infrastructure as Code tools (Terraform, AWS CDK, CloudFormation)  

·       Knowledge of compliance frameworks (SOC 2, HIPAA, PCI) as they relate to application development  

·       Experience with application performance optimization and scaling strategies  

·       Background in Agile/Scrum methodologies and experience with project management tools  

·       Previous experience in a consulting or professional services environment 

Responsibilities, including success measures and KPIs: 

·       Design scalable, secure, and maintainable cloud-native applications that meet client requirements  

·       Create and maintain application architecture documentation and design patterns

·       Develop standardized frameworks and templates for application development projects

·       Lead technical discovery workshops and architecture review sessions with clients

·       Provide hands-on development leadership for complex application development projects 

·       Conduct code reviews and ensure adherence to coding standards and best practices  

·       Serve as the primary technical consultant for application development engagements 

·       Conduct application assessments and provide modernization roadmaps  

·       Present technical solutions and recommendations to client stakeholders

·       Collaborate with sales and solutions teams on scoping application development projects 

·       Mentor junior and mid-level developers on modern application development practices

·       Contribute to internal knowledge base and development standards documentation  

·       Ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and meet quality standards

·       Collaborate with project managers to provide accurate effort estimates and technical guidance  

·       Participate in project retrospectives and contribute to process improvement initiatives  

·       Maintain billable utilization targets while delivering high-quality technical solutions           

Compensation Disclosure:

The salary range provided is a general guideline. When extending an offer, Innovative considers factors including, but not limited to, the responsibilities of the specific role, market conditions, geographic location, as well as the candidate’s professional experience, key skills, and education/training.