Staff Solutions Architect

Code for America

11d • $128,945 - $157,850 • Remote

About The Position

In this role, you’ll work with a team of designers, researchers, engineers, product managers, and policy experts across our delivery areas. You will spend time with key government agencies to build rapport with their technical team, understand their technical needs, and develop a shared understanding of how Code for America can help them achieve their goals. This will involve identifying and designing technical solutions to improve access to their programs.
Solutions Architects at Code for America are an integral component of all of our delivery areas. There are currently five focused delivery areas at Code for America:
Social Safety Net, focus areas include: food benefits, integrated benefits applications, and training & capacity building
Tax Benefits, which focuses on free trustworthy tax services and simplified tax filing
Artificial Intelligence, which focuses on responsibly applying AI to improve government service delivery
Criminal Justice, which focuses on Automatic Record Clearance
Rapid Response, which focuses on delivering critical resources to residents during crises
This role will report to the Solutions Engineering Manager and is expected to travel no more than 10% of the time.
Code for America is based in California and can employ those who reside full-time within the United States. This is a remote position.

Requirements

• 7+ years of experience as a Software Engineer, Solutions Engineer, or Solutions Architect with experience leading projects and interacting with customers.
• Recent back-end development, database, data-science and/or DevOps experience.
• 4+ years of experience coding backend systems and data infrastructure in an industry-standard language (Python, Java, C#, Ruby, etc)
• Recent experience integrating emerging technologies (e.g., generative AI models) into existing workflows or new solutions.
• Client-facing development experience that involves working with clients to pin down the details of specific customizations and document precise technical requirements.
• Ability to engage in research to learn about current systems and architecture, and then incorporate this knowledge to design new solutions and new architectures.
• Fast learning curve and capacity to get up to speed in new technologies quickly.
• Fundamentally curious and empathetic; able to thoughtfully balance partner, user, and team needs and identify solutions that move the work forward towards greater impact.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, with exceptional attention to detail.
• Passion for the mission of making government services better for people who need them most.
• Strong self-management skills and a proven ability to manage multiple engagements simultaneously.
• Tenacity and adaptability; able to navigate relationships and technical challenges and unblock themselves and their team.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working with or in government.
• Personal experience with or professional experience working within the justice system, social safety net, or other mission-relevant government services.
• Experience working with machine learning or natural language processing technologies.
• Experience with Salesforce or Robotic Process Automation software.
• Experience with government procurement processes.
• Active contribution to open-source projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical advisement, implementation, migration, and integration projects for government services.
• Implement proof-of-concept applications, software installations, and custom development projects.
• Work closely with clients to understand and map out detailed technical architecture, specifications, and requirements.
• Develop and implement training plans and documents to empower government agencies to improve and modernize the delivery of government services.
• Build and maintain relationships and develop technical champions within government and partner organizations.
• Work closely with cross-functional government partners to clarify problems and understand system constraints, and offer feasible and high-value technical solutions that consider the needs of all stakeholders.
• Collaborate with government partners and provide written resources to communicate complex technical concepts.
• Assist in plans for bridging the gap between government partner needs, existing environments, and long-term product opportunities for the organization, informing how repeatable solutions are created and work is increasingly productized.
• Develop government hand-off and sustainability plans to ensure states are able to continue their work after engagement has ended.
• Evaluate the technical landscape, document technical challenges, and draft assessments and recommendations.
• Provide solutions-oriented technical perspectives and expertise in service of improved government services for government agencies, organizational stakeholders, and other key audiences.
• Document and advocate for best practices and process improvements for technical solutions in their delivery area.
• Identify and execute opportunities to make their team more effective.
• Identify repeatable solutions to difficult technical/architectural challenges.
• Bring a technical solutioning lens to cross-functional conversations.
• Other duties as assigned

Benefits

• Leadership and teammates who share a strong work ethic and values, and who respect and care for one another
• A collaborative, cross-functional, hardworking, and joyful environment
• Laptop provided
• A one-time $700 payment for remote environment setup; $200 stipend (in first paycheck) and up to $500 reimbursement, in accordance with our equipment policy
• Cell phone and/or internet reimbursement of $50 per month
• $500 annual (per calendar year) stipend towards professional development; prorated at time of hire
• Up to $500 of professional development funds can be rolled over each year, up to a maximum of $1000
• Training / guidance for staff required to utilize AI as part of their role, plus opportunities for employees to gain AI-related skills to support job and career growth
• Employees receive a 100% employer match on the first 3% of contributions.
• Employees with 3+ years of service receive an additional 50% match on contributions between 3% and 5%, for a maximum employer contribution of 5%
• At least one no cost health insurance option for full-time employees for employee-only coverage
• A minimum of 80% of the cost of dependent coverage
• Code for America employees may work remotely across the US
• Code for America employees main residence must be within the US
• Full-time employees work 40 hours per week, Monday - Friday
• Collaborative working hours: we aim to hold all internal meetings between 10 AM - 3 PM PT. We expect all Code for America staff to be available during these set working hours
• Open personal time off (subject to manager approval), a minimum of 14 paid holidays, and an org-wide closure from Christmas Day through New Year's Day
• Paid sick time; up to 96 hours annually
• 17 weeks of paid parental and family leave
• 3 weeks of paid sabbatical after 5 years of service

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees