28/03/2013
Job Title: Solution Architect
Job Purpose:
Responsible for the translation of business requirements into specific practical systems, applications or process designs for the Siemens PLM Software solution in line with the customer’s engineering and manufacturing processes and requirements. Act as the ultimate authority on the architecture design to address business problems. Provides direction for design, deployment and rollout activities either internally or at customer sites. Acts as a trusted advisor to customers, providing guidance through the complexity of requirements and solutions. Work with Architects, Project Managers, and other internal & external interfaces to ensure that the customer succeeds in their objectives.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Delivery:
• Plan workload activity against deliverables and monitor progress effectively, in conjunction with the Project Manager.
• Assist the Project Manager in the planning and effective application of change management principles to the project, where required
• Lead in the problem-solving of issues through to resolution, providing considered consultancy and viable solutions to the customer.
• Understand and take into consideration, risks, costs, benefits and possibilities offered by customization vs. configuration when making decisions.
• Develop relationships with the aim of being seen as a trusted advisor to customers and colleagues.
• Run workshops with the customer for requirements gathering, Fit/Gap analysis, solution design/definition, and design reviews.
• Work with the customer to define the project scope, and iterative plan for build and transition.
• Produce High Level Design Architecture, including the identification of Subsystems, integration points, and strategic solutions to meet customer requirements.
• Produce a detailed design from the High Level Architecture to include Sub-systems & Integration Design, Migration Design and Infrastructure Design
• Perform a technical account management role where required.
• Be proactive in developing internal processes and working with Product Management/Product Development to improve the capability of PLM products.
• Be confident discussing the breadth of the PLM
Documentation:
• Act as the Technical Authority to Project scoping documentation.
• Responsible for Planning phase documentation.
• Contribute to technical aspects of issues, constraints and risk assessment documents
• Contribute to technical aspects of configuration management and deployment plan documents
• Contribute technical aspects of Build and Close phase plan documents
• Document technical customisations on installations utilising Siemens project methodology (VDM) templates
• Accurately document software issues and enhancement requests
• Generate documentation on technical, functional and business process best practices
• Generate documentation for Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) and Statement’s of work (SOW)
• Articulate a viable solution in response to an incoming Request for Proposal (RFP).
Processes:
• Integrate Siemens PLM functionality with external business processes and software, when designing Process solutions.
• Work with others to satisfactorily resolve technical, business and application process issues
• Design business processes to meet customer requirements.
• Defining business processes / re-engineering processes (BPR)
• Promote and adhere to the key components of the VDM methodology.
Project:
• Adhere to, promote, and contribute to ongoing development of Siemens project methodology - PLM Value Delivery Methodology
• Generate, or provide input into the creation of, technical and functional specifications and align these with VDM templates.
• Understand, and provide the appropriate level of input to, project plans including project milestones and risk and issue management.
• Understand and be able to positively justify each project task and its relationship to the overall solution
• Generate the relevant level of project support documentation in line with VDM
• Where required, understand, participate in, or lead, the Value Discovery Analysis process
• Provide accurate and timely information to management team as required.
• Review technical implementation experiences with project delivery team.
• Contribute to the resource plan in conjunction with the project managers
• Keep in mind an overall understanding of the complete solution, so as to be able to advise where single changes can have multiple effects.
Customer:
• Establish and build effective relationships with customers
• Demonstrate thought leadership and effectively influence key contacts
• Provide information and feedback to customers in a timely, accurate and appropriate manner ensuring that key messages are communicated effectively
• Act as a trusted advisor to the customer on technical & commercial aspects.
Employees:
• Author, and support other team members in, the creation of Best Practice documents, Lessons Learned documents, White Papers, Internal Training, and Internal Process development
• Run team meetings and provide guidance to other team members
• Provide, where relevant, coaching, mentoring and guidance to others.
General:
• Meet agreed utilisation targets and record hours and expenses in an accurate and timely manner
• Uphold the professional integrity of Siemens at all times
• Adhere to, and promote, all core internal and customer processes relating to the effective undertaking of the role
• Ensure that all communication channels within the business are adhered to.
• Where relevant, take a lead role over other architects, consultants, and engineers on technical project activities
• Provide input, advice, and thought leadership where appropriate to team meetings.
• Undertake any other duties required by the company.
Key Interfaces
Internal
Consulting Director
Technical Resource Manager
Schedule Manager
Practice Group Leads
Consultants
Project Managers & Programme mgrs
Product Managers
Product Development •
External
Customers
• Contractors
• Partners / System Integrators
• 3rd Party Implementers
