Solution Architect - Automation and Controls

Job Description Summary

The Automation Solution Architect is the overall technical solution owner for a next generation, domain agnostic controls platform-supporting applications across marine, utility, rail, microgrid, and other sectors.
This role combines systems engineering, architecture, and leadership responsibilities. The architect is accountable for the end-to-end technical solution and engages directly with customers and stakeholders to define, validate, and evolve the solution.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities

1. Architecture Ownership

• Define and maintain the end-to-end solution architecture (functional, technical, integration, and data architecture) for Power Management, Vessel Management, Microgrid, IOT and associated SCADA/HMI systems.
• Ensure alignment of architecture with enterprise standards, cybersecurity standards, and relevant marine/microgrid regulations.

• Act as the primary design authority for the solution, making key technical decisions and trade-offs.
• Chair or participate in design reviews, architecture boards, and risk reviews.
• Approve critical design changes and manage technical debt.

• Own system-level non-functional requirements (performance, reliability, safety, cybersecurity, scalability, maintainability).
• Ensure these requirements are decomposed and verified across components and subcontractors.

• Define the technology roadmap for the solution, including modernization, standardization, and obsolescence management.
• Support lifecycle management from concept through commissioning, operation, and decommissioning.

• Lead technical discussions with customers, class societies, and partners to define solution architecture and requirements.
• Translate customer needs into architectural decisions and technical requirements.

• Serve as the primary point of contact for all technical aspects of the solution.
• Make go/no-go recommendations on solution feasibility, risk, and readiness.

• Lead cross-functional architecture/design teams including controls, software, cyber, networking, and commissioning.
• Coordinate with Product Management to align releases/features with architectural constraints.

• Conduct component and product integration.
• Manage product and systems requirements, specifications, and flow down.
• Drive validation and verification activities for the overall product/system, including system-level testing.
• Define product requirements for the module/component/subcontractors and partners teams.
• Manage the interface between components and execution organizations.
• Drive CTQ/Risk trades within the teams designing the components.
• Manage the overall product configuration and configuration control system.

• Work with Product Managers to translate requirements to the development team.
• Act as the interface between Product Managers, Program Managers, Developers, and Validation team.

• Develop specialized knowledge in their discipline.
• Serve as a best practice/quality resource.
• Have awareness of the latest technical developments in their area.
• Contribute towards strategy and policy development and ensure delivery within the area of responsibility.
• Have in-depth knowledge of best practices and how their area integrates with others.
• Have a working knowledge of competition and the factors that differentiate them in the market.

• Education: Master's/Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (Electrical, Electronics, Software).
• Experience:
  • Significant experience in system architecture or technical leadership of complex industrial/marine solutions.
  • Experience defining and maintaining system/solution architectures.
  • Proven track record of leading complex, multi-disciplinary engineering solutions from concept to commissioning.
  • Development and commissioning experience for Power management and Vessel management systems in Vessels, Microgrid architecture, Industrial systems.
  • Working-level experience in SCADA and HMI systems would be an added advantage.
  • Able to specify Controllers, HMI, Cyber, Networking requirements for complex industrial or Marine systems meeting Class, ISA18.2/IEC 62682 rules.

• Communication and Leadership Skills:

• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal and leadership skills.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze and resolve problems.
• Demonstrated ability to lead programs/projects.
• Ability to document, plan, market, and execute programs.
• Established project management skills.
• Familiar with usage of Confluence, Jira, and Project management tools.

• Business Acumen:
  • Able to translate business and commercial constraints into architectural decisions and technical trade-offs.
  • Able to balance technical excellence with cost, schedule, and risk to deliver high-value solutions for customers.
  • Able to present complex architectures and trade-offs clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders, including customers and senior leadership.
  • Adept at navigating the organizational matrix; understanding people's roles, can foresee obstacles, identify workarounds, leverage resources, and rally teammates.
  • Understand how internal and/or external business models work and facilitate active customer engagement.
  • Able to articulate the value of what is most important to the business/customer to achieve outcomes.
  • Able to produce functional area information in sufficient detail for cross-functional teams to utilize, using presentation and storytelling concepts.
  • Possess extensive knowledge of the full solution catalog within a business unit and proficiency in discussing each area at an advanced level.
  • Six Sigma Green Belt Certification or equivalent quality certification.
• Leadership:
  • Demonstrated working knowledge of the internal organization.
  • Foresee obstacles, identify workarounds, leverage resources, rally teammates.
  • Demonstrated ability to work with and/or lead blended teams, including 3rd party partners and customer personnel.
  • Demonstrated Change Management/Acceleration capabilities.
  • Strong interpersonal skills, including creativity and curiosity with the ability to effectively communicate and influence across all organizational levels.
  • Proven analytical and problem resolution skills.
  • Ability to influence and build consensus with other teams and leadership.