IT Solutions Architect III / Senior | Infrastructure​

IT Solutions Architect III / Senior | Infrastructure

Our present and future success depends on the creative and dedicated people of our company who demonstrate the principles outlined in the APS Promise: Design for Tomorrow, Empower Each Other and Succeed Together.

Summary

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced IT Solutions Architect III/Senior to join our Solutions Architecture team. This role is responsible for designing, implementing, and optimizing scalable, secure, and resilient infrastructure solutions and enterprise support services across all major service domains: Core Infrastructure, IT Infrastructure Strategy, and Enterprise Support Services.

Key Responsibilities

Core Infrastructure – I&O Engineering & Operations

• Architect and deliver solutions for Compute & Storage, including Infrastructure Architecture, Enterprise Storage, Server Operations, Backup, Patch/Policy Management, and Performance Management.
• Lead Cloud initiatives, covering Cloud Solutions, Cloud Engineering, Cloud Security, and Cloud Operations.
• Oversee Data Center architecture and operations, including colocation and facility management.
• Ensure robust disaster recovery, business continuity, and infrastructure security measures are in place.

IT Infrastructure Strategy, Planning & Delivery

• Contribute to I&O strategy, intake, and action facilitation.
• Support vendor management, contract negotiations, and IT asset management (hardware/software).
• Drive automation initiatives and participate in the Automation Center of Excellence (COE).
• Lead demand and portfolio delivery, ITIL service management, and policy/compliance/risk management.

Enterprise Support Services

• Oversee end user support, including IT support, customer care, workstation engineering, and remote access management.
• Manage observability and network operations center (NOC) functions, ensuring proactive monitoring and rapid incident response.
• Lead infrastructure security (network security, IAM) and field services for workstations and remote users.

Strategic Alignment & Collaboration

• Align infrastructure and support services with the strategic direction of the Infrastructure & Operations organization.
• Partner with IT leadership, business stakeholders, and cross-functional teams to ensure infrastructure and support services meet evolving business needs and regulatory requirements.
• Develop and maintain documentation, standards, and solution patterns to ensure consistency and compliance across the enterprise.

Security & Compliance

• Design and implement infrastructure security measures to protect organizational assets and ensure compliance with industry standards and regulatory requirements.
• Conduct vulnerability assessments, patch management, and enforce data protection policies.

Minimum Requirements

Solutions Architect III | Network | Information Technology

• Bachelors' degree in Information Technology or related field PLUS seven (7) years of prior relevant experience or equivalent combination of education and directly related experience.
• Requires in-depth level of technical knowledge within a job area and working knowledge of other technical areas.

Solutions Architect, Senior | Network | Information Technology

• Bachelors' degree in Information Technology or related field PLUS ten (10) years of prior relevant experience or equivalent combination of education and directly related experience.
• Requires mastery level technical knowledge, typically obtained through advanced education and experience across multiple business areas or systems to improve technology planning and development.
• Deep technical knowledge in infrastructure, enterprise support services, and working knowledge of related domains.
• Relevant certifications (e.g., OCI Solutions Architect, Azure Architect Expert, VMware VCP, CompTIA Server+) are highly desirable.

Special Skills, Knowledge, Or Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Solutions Architect with a focus on infrastructure, enterprise support services, cloud, virtualization, and disaster recovery.
• Strong understanding of infrastructure protocols, technologies, and security best practices.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills, with the ability to balance technical and business considerations.

Major Accountabilities

• Leads and coordinates the technical and business discussions to drive the future architecture direction.
• Responsible for analysis, design, and development of architectural roadmaps and implementation plans.
• Supports, develops, and communicates policies, standards, guidelines, and procedures.
• Contributes to the development of software and other delivery platforms with reusable components.
• Partners with business leaders to understand business needs and provides technology options and considerations.
• Provides advice to internal clients and teams on future requirements, architecture decisions, and system optimization.
• Leads the technical design of systems and services, and communicates their design decisions.
• Contributes to designs applied to all aspects of business systems and/or infrastructure prototypes and eventual implementation.
• Validates architectural decisions on a day-to-day basis.
• Leads the research of emerging technology, industry, and market trends to identify potential impact to architecture.
• Provides guidance, coaching, and training to other employees within the job area.
• Manage major/complex projects at this level, involving delegation of work and review of work products.

Export Compliance / EEO Statement

This position may require access to and/or use of information subject to control under the Department of Energy's Part 810 Regulations (10 CFR Part 810), the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) (15 CFR Parts 730 through 774), or the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) (22 CFR Chapter I, Subchapter M Part 120) (collectively, 'U.S. Export Control Laws'). Therefore, some positions may require applicants to be a U.S. person, which is defined as a U.S. Citizen, a U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident (i.e. 'Green Card Holder'), a Political Asylee, or a Refugee under the U.S. Export Control Laws. All applicants will be required to confirm their U.S. person or non-US person status. All information collected in this regard will only be used to ensure compliance with U.S. Export Control Laws, and will be used in full compliance with all applicable laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of national origin and other factors. For positions at Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Stations (PVNGS) all openings will require applicants to be a U.S. person.

Pinnacle West Capital Corporation and its subsidiaries and affiliates ('Pinnacle West') maintain a continuing policy of nondiscrimination in employment. It is our policy to provide equal opportunity in all phases of the employment process and in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations. This policy of nondiscrimination shall include, but not be limited to, recruiting, hiring, promoting, compensating, reassigning, demoting, transferring, laying off, recalling, terminating employment, and training for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, disability, age, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, protected veteran status, or any other classification or characteristic protected by law.

For more information on applicable equal employment regulations, please refer to EEO is the Law poster. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of every person hired to work in the United States, refer to E-Verify poster. View the employee rights and responsibilities under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

In compliance with the Drug Free Workplace Act of 1988, the Company is committed to a work environment that is free from the effects of alcohol and controlled substances, and free from the abuse or inappropriate use of prescribed and over-the-counter medications. The Company requires employees to be subject to drug and alcohol testing that is job-related and consistent with business necessity, regulatory requirements and applicable laws.

Home Based: Home based employees primarily work from their home offices and come into an APS facility on an as-needed basis.

Employees are expected to reside in Arizona (or New Mexico for Four Corners-based employees). Working from a home office requires adequate technology and an appropriate ergonomic set up. Role types are subject to change based on business need.

Key skills/competency

• IT Solutions Architect
• Infrastructure Design
• Cloud Solutions
• Enterprise Support Services
• Disaster Recovery
• Network Security
• IT Asset Management
• ITIL Service Management
• Automation
• Risk Management