Applications Architect - Senior

Job Title: Applications Architect

Location: Ontario, Canada
Work Model: 5 Days Onsite
Job Type: Contract

Job Description

We are seeking an experienced Applications Architect to lead the design, development, and implementation of enterprise application architectures for large-scale government initiatives. The successful candidate will provide technical leadership in designing secure, scalable, cloud-native solutions while ensuring compliance with enterprise architecture standards, governance processes, and public sector best practices.

The Applications Architect will collaborate with business stakeholders, solution architects, developers, infrastructure teams, security specialists, and project managers to deliver modern application and data architectures that support digital transformation initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design and implementation of enterprise application architectures for complex business solutions.
• Develop and maintain application, information, and data architecture artifacts in accordance with enterprise architecture standards.
• Design scalable cloud-native applications using Azure services and modern architectural patterns.
• Design and implement scalable data pipelines using Databricks to support enterprise analytics and data integration.
• Provide architectural leadership for application modernization initiatives utilizing microservices, RESTful APIs, and container-based technologies.
• Collaborate with security, privacy, accessibility, and infrastructure teams to ensure enterprise compliance.
• Facilitate architecture reviews, technical workshops, and governance approvals.
• Produce architecture deliverables required for project governance and architecture review committees.
• Develop enterprise integration strategies using API Management and cloud-native services.
• Support data ingestion, data mesh implementation, and enterprise information management initiatives.
• Mentor technical teams and provide architectural guidance throughout the project lifecycle.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and recommend innovative solutions that improve scalability, performance, and operational efficiency.

Required Skills & Experience

Information Architecture

• Minimum 5 years of experience designing and implementing enterprise applications and databases.
• Strong experience in Information Architecture, Data Modeling, and Business Intelligence Analytics.
• Experience providing architecture guidance and technical leadership across enterprise projects.
• Experience creating architecture deliverables for governance reviews and project approval gates.
• Hands-on experience designing and implementing scalable data pipelines using Databricks.
• Experience using CASE tools such as PowerDesigner and Microsoft Visio.

AI & Data Analytics

• Experience leveraging AI for data analysis and business intelligence, including:
• Prompt Engineering
• Machine Learning fundamentals and model utilization
• AI-driven automation for ETL and workflow orchestration
• Generative AI for summarization, reporting, and exploratory analytics

Cloud & Application Architecture

• Strong experience designing cloud-native applications on Microsoft Azure.
• Experience with Azure App Services, RESTful APIs, and API Management.
• Extensive experience designing Microservices Architecture.
• Experience with container platforms, specifically VMware Tanzu (formerly Pivotal Cloud Foundry).
• Experience with modular and composable application architecture.
• Experience designing enterprise integration solutions.

Data & Integration

• Experience with:
• Data ingestion frameworks
• Enterprise data pipelines
• Data mesh architecture
• Data storage and analytics platforms
• Enterprise integration patterns

Technical Environment

Experience across multiple technologies including:

• Java
• C#
• JavaScript
• Microsoft SQL Server
• Windows
• Solaris
• Mobile and Mid-tier platforms
• REST APIs
• HTTP, FTP, SMTP, TCP/IP, UDP, ICMP, and NTP protocols

Public Sector Experience

• Experience with Ontario Public Sector enterprise architecture governance.
• Knowledge of Target State Architecture (TSA).
• Experience with GO-ITS standards.
• Experience preparing enterprise architecture deliverables for governance committees.
• Experience working within large government digital transformation programs.

Soft Skills

• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent stakeholder management and facilitation skills.
• Strong presentation and documentation capabilities.
• Proven leadership and decision-making skills.
• Ability to negotiate, influence, and build consensus across technical and business teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with enterprise cloud modernization initiatives.
• Knowledge of MLITSD application patterns and infrastructure.
• Experience supporting omnichannel digital service delivery.
• Understanding of accessibility, privacy, and security requirements within government environments.
• Familiarity with Azure DevOps and enterprise collaboration tools.

Mandatory Requirements

• 5+ years of experience in enterprise application and database development.
• Hands-on experience designing scalable data pipelines using Databricks.
• Experience applying AI for data analysis, including Prompt Engineering, Machine Learning concepts, ETL automation, and Generative AI.
• Strong experience with Information Architecture and Data Modeling.
• Experience with Azure cloud-native architecture, RESTful APIs, and Microservices.
• Experience with VMware Tanzu (Pivotal Cloud Foundry).
• Public sector architecture governance experience, including Target State Architecture (TSA) and GO-ITS standards.
• Experience using PowerDesigner, Microsoft Visio, and other enterprise architecture tools.