Network Infrastructure Architect III

Awarded a Healthiest Employer, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona aims to fulfill its mission to inspire health and make it easy. BCBSAZ offers a variety of health insurance products and services to meet the diverse needs of individuals, families, and small and large businesses as well as providing information and tools to help individuals make better health decisions.

Drives the network infrastructure strategy for BCBSAZ. Direct and approve systems design, implementation and modification activities in conjunction with Network Team members, Network leadership, other IT technical engineers, IT leadership and Chief Infrastructure Architect.

Analyze design and architectural issues and adjust system design to solve problems in a dynamic environment; align business requirements with network technology alternatives and options. Provide perspective on leading industry trends and recommend new and emerging network technologies.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE AND ARCHITECTURE:

• Optimize network infrastructure and provide Subject Matter Expertise (SME) input into solution design, and optimization for network solutions in tandem with overall corporate infrastructure.

• Oversee the design, planning, implementation and maintenance of the companys network infrastructure and architecture.
• Establish networking environment by designing system configuration; directing system installation; defining, documenting, and enforcing system standards.
• Secure network system by establishing and enforcing policies; defining and monitoring access.

• Stay current with network technologies by participating in educational opportunities; reading professional publications; maintaining personal networks; participating in professional organizations.
• Report network operational status by gathering, prioritizing information; managing projects

• Ensure integrity of solutions and qualified state during their lifetime; conduct product evaluations and tradeoffs.
• Work with Chief Infrastructure Architect, Information Security Services, Corporate Integrity to maintain network security

SERVICE OPERATIONS

• Maintain familiarity with the administration of the companys network infrastructure in relationship to overall infrastructure.
• Maintain effective working relationships to ensure teamwork in achieving corporate goals. Ensure network service level agreements are established, monitored and managed effectively; identify, prioritize, and resolve issues with business areas and vendors
• Monitor quality performance, develop and maintain effective workflows, and seek to maximize system efficiencies.
• Review relevant production and operating policies to ensure that the most efficient processes are in place and determine tactical plans to improve processes and services that can be streamlined and/or improved.
• Perform cost, risk, supportability, effectiveness, and architectural compliance analysis on network systems

Strategy

• Develop and drive Network technical strategy; apply and promote technology that optimizes the portfolio of corporate infrastructure technologies, tools, products, and applications in tandem with the Chief Infrastructure Architect.
• Establish and meet short and long term department goals in accordance with overall company objectives and divisional strategic planning.
• Work with business leaders and subject matter experts to use technology to improve business processes, promote the strategic use of network technology, and enable workforce utilization and efficiency.
• Deliver assessment services, develop business cases, design solution architecture, and recommend multi-phased, complex migration programs that address technology, people/organization, and process change.
• Ensure re-use of existing services, solutions and components wherever possible to minimize development or acquisition of new solutions; ensure new solutions are designed and developed in a cost-efficient manner, and meet service quality.
• Partner with other engineers and technology leaders to identify points of leverage, integration, and resource sharing.

Project Management

• Develop timelines, work estimates, cost projections, and manage projects to approved guidelines; review and consult on design and technical approach of projects to ensure consistency.
• Provide analytical and programming support and planning for Network projects, initiatives, and systems.

OTHER

• The position requires a full-time work schedule. Full-time is defined as working at least 40 hours per week, plus any additional hours as requested or as needed to meet business requirements.
• Position may require evening, weekend, or on-call schedules, depending on project requirements and/or system status.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES

Required Job Skills

• Intermediate skill in use of office equipment, including copiers, fax machines, scanner and telephones.
• Intermediate PC proficiency
• Intermediate proficiency in spreadsheet, database and word processing software
• Strong ITIL foundation
• Expert technical skills related to Network components.
• Advanced Knowledge of Network hardware, software, operating systems, and applications.
• Knowledge of Microsoft, UNIX, and LINUX operating systems.
• Experience working with high volume, transactional, large capacity systems in a 24x7 environment.
• Robust experience and knowledge in current technical architectures.

Required Professional Competencies

• Ability to take appropriate risks, using available data.
• Ability to build synergy with a diverse team in an ever-changing environment.
• Anticipate downstream technical needs and steer architectural designs to appropriately factor in considerations.
• Strong analytical skills to support independent and effective decisions.
• Strong verbal and written communications skills and the ability to interact professionally with a diverse group of executives, managers, and subject matter experts.
• Highly skilled at designing and implementing multiple tier architecture solutions, developing high-performance and secure systems and system integration
• Work effectively with management, project managers, business analysts, developers, engineers, architects, system administrators, and QA to conceive, design, and deliver successful software solutions.
• Able to operate at varying levels of abstraction including business and product strategy, design, and implementation

Required Leadership Experience and Competencies

• Provide leadership, promote teamwork, meet objectives and exercise independent judgment
• Experience leading and implementing projects and working collaboratively with other departments
• Ability to prioritize tasks and work with multiple priorities, sometimes under limited time constraints.

PREFERRED COMPETENCIES

Preferred Job Skills

• Expert knowledge designing highly redundant, scalable, multi-tier Network systems from front end to back end.
• Knowledge of HIPAA security and privacy standards.

Preferred Professional Competencies

• N/A

Preferred Leadership Experience and Competencies

• N/A

Our Commitment

BCBSAZ does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status or any other protected group.

Thank you for your interest in Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona. For more information on our company, see azblue.com. If interested in this position, please apply.