Architect- Data Platform USA at First Solar Inc in Perrysburg, Ohio

Job Description:

First Solar is leading the world’s sustainable energy future. We are an exciting work environment in one of the most important industries of the 21st century. First Solar is a leader in the development and manufacturing of thin film solar modules used in grid-connected solar power plants. Our cost-advantaged solar technology boasts the smallest carbon footprint, lowest life cycle water use, and fastest energy payback in the industry. We are delivering solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges including climate change, energy security, water scarcity, and the unsustainable growing consumption of natural resources. At First Solar, you will feel valued, appreciated and challenged, working side-by-side with some of the top minds in the industry. You will be regularly updated on the company’s goals, progress and achievements. First Solar maintains a culture where all associates work together to lead the world’s sustainable energy future. We believe in employee engagement, collaboration, well-being and productivity for all generations and emerging work styles.We’re changing the world. Now, let us start with yours. First Solar is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. First Solar’s policy is not to discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability or any other basis protected by application country, federal, state or local laws; the company prohibits harassment of applicants or employees based on any of these protected categories.

Basic Job Functions:

The Data Platform Architect will drive the data and analytics approach within an end-to-end solution, including configuration and development of data management, business intelligence, analytical, and visualization. In adherence to enterprise architecture standards, this individual will align the organization on best practices related to data management and governance; serve as a liaison between various IT and business stakeholders, process owners, project managers, analysts, developers, and other architects; improve the quality and value of core data assets; and respond to regulatory protection requirements.

Experience and Education:    

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Information Technology or related field with 7-10 years of related work experience


• Data management, data warehouse or business intelligence certifications a plus

Required Skills/Competencies:

• 4+ years of experience working in a formal IT department with a focus on enterprise level data management (extraction, transformation, master data management, governance), data stores/ warehousing and data modeling across multiple subject areas (finance, supply chain, manufacturing, warranty, customer, etc.)


• 3+ years of experience as a lead providing technical direction to a team of developers to implement a project, including offshore resources.


• 4+ years of experience supporting applications for medium-to-large size company, preferably with multiple locations and international footprint, 24x7 operations, and mature development practices (Agile Scrum, CMM-lv3, RUP, etc.).


• 3+ years of experience developing software on the Microsoft .NET platform using ASP.NET, C#, T-SQL or PL/SQL and relational databases.


• 3+ years of experience and knowledge of the spectrum of analytics solutions such as SaaS analytics solutions – Oracle Transactional Business Intelligence, SAS, as well as on-prem solutions like Tableau.


• 3+ years of experience with systems integration using enterprise application and cloud integration tools such as Azure Data Factory, Oracle Integration Cloud, BizTalk, Data Services, Mulesoft, Informatica, Boomi, etc.


• 3+ years of experience with Microsoft SQL Server, SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS), SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) and SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS).


• 1+ years of experience creating, communicating, and presenting technical concepts, documentation, and recommendations (such as Architecture Overview Diagrams and proposals, Sequence Diagrams, Data Flow Diagrams) to various stakeholder groups (e.g. business stakeholders, executives, managers, architects, and technical teams).


• 2+ years of experience architecting hybrid and fully cloud hosted data platform solutions with relational and non-relational databases using Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) or Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS). Examples include Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle Transactional Business Intelligence (OTBI), Azure Cloud Storage, Amazon S3, Google Cloud Storage, Cassandra and MongoDB.


• 2+ years of experience working in big data ecosystems utilizing distributed or massive parallel processing (MPP) architecture with structured and unstructured data. Distributed examples include Azure HD Insight, Hortonworks and Cloudera. MPP examples include Azure Synapse Analytics, Amazon Redshift, HP Vertica and IBM Netezza.


• Experience organizing and collaborating with various resources (both internal and external) to drive resolution of issues or completion of tasks/projects.


• Experience working within a customer-focused, team-oriented environment with effective and respectful communication and collaboration with all parties.


• Knowledge of data governance practices, business and technology issues related to management of enterprise information assets and approaches related to data protection.


• Understanding of risk data architecture.


• Understanding of fundamental technologies in a Microsoft environment: operating systems, networking, middleware, security, databases, etc.


• Understanding of network infrastructure and administration (Windows Server, load balancers).


• Understanding of Service Oriented Architecture concepts a plus (Message Bus, Service Repositories, Message Routing, Canonical Message Formats).


• Ability to share knowledge and train internal support team on designs to be implemented.


• Ability to stay up to date on industry technology skills and solutions.


• Ability to provide technical leadership, input to the Data Governance Lead, and direction to the Delivery Team.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Design and architect business solutions for data management based on best practices and company needs, and continually optimize it or recommend changes to direction with justification.


• Work in collaboration with Enterprise Architecture group on roadmap and strategy for enterprise data management and analytics, technology components, and appropriate governance.


• Create System Architect Diagrams as it relates to enterprise data management and analytical applications and databases. Conduct critical design reviews and formal assessment of solutions created from internal and/or external resources.


• Interface with other business departments and vendors using effective communication and a team approach, sometimes across time zones: Eastern, Pacific, European & Asian as needed.


• Serve as a liaison between business and functional areas and technology to ensure that data related business requirements for protecting sensitive data are clearly defined, communicated, and well understood and considered as part of operational prioritization and planning.


• Adhere to roles and responsibilities related to data governance and ensure clear accountability across the business for stewardship of the company’s principal information assets.


• Work in collaboration with the Enterprise Architecture group and the Information Security & Risk Team to facilitate the development and implementation of data quality standards, data protection and retention standards and adoption requirements across the enterprise.


• Follow a data retention schedule to ensure a minimal risk of a security breach.


• Meet with stakeholders to assess data assets status, needs, risks, goals and progress.


• Take responsibility for understanding user requirements, delivering analysis and problem resolution. Identifies, evaluates and recommends options, implementing as required. Collaborates with, and facilitates, stakeholder groups. Seeks to fully address business needs, enhancing the capabilities and effectiveness of personnel, by ensuring that proposed solutions are properly understood and appropriately exploited.


• Maintain an in-depth knowledge of technical specialties and provide expert advice for data and analytics.


• Recognize potential strategic application of IT and initiate ways to exploit IT assets to the benefit of the organization.


• Lead and take action to exploit opportunities that will have a measurable effect on operational effectiveness, with associated benefits to the business. Promote the benefits of addressing security during system development and apply secure development improvement practices.


• Define appropriate standards (corporate, industry, regulatory, national, and international) and ensure that they are adhered to.


• Monitor actions to investigate and resolve problems in systems and services. Assist with the implementation of agreed remedies and preventative measures.


• Undertake research and analysis in relevant areas to inform and develop strategy and plans.


• Performs other assignments as required; job description subject to change at any time.
  

Reporting Relationships:

• This position will report to a Manager - IT.

Travel:

• 0-5%, as needed

US Physical Requirements:

All positions in our office require interaction with people and technology while either standing or sitting. In order to best service our customers, internal and external, all associates must be able to communicate face-to-face and on the phone with or without reasonable accommodation. First Solar is committed to compliance with its obligations under all applicable state and federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. In keeping with this commitment, it attempts to reasonably accommodate applicants and employees in accordance with the requirements of the disability discrimination laws. It also invites individuals with disabilities to participate in a good faith, interactive process to identify reasonable accommodations that can be made without imposing an undue hardship.

Potential candidates will meet the education and experience requirements provided on the above job description and excel in completing the listed responsibilities for this role.   All candidates receiving an offer of employment must successfully complete a background check band any other tests that may be required.           

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement: First Solar is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values and respects the importance of a diverse and inclusive workforce. It is the policy of the company to recruit, hire, train and promote persons in all job titles without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity. We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a driving force in the success of our company.