Full-Time
Guidewire Senior Solution Architect
Farmers Insurance
10,001+ employees
Multiline insurer of auto and home
Compensation Overview
$121.3k - $230.4k/yr
Canoga Park, Los Angeles, CA, USA + 1 more
More locations: Spokane, WA, USA
Hybrid
Hybrid role with at least 3 days in office and up to 2 days remote for employees within 50 miles of a Farmers corporate office.
 Sales & Solution Engineering (1) |
|---|
- Minimum seven years experience in designing and implementing solutions, including cloud-native, microservices, and event-driven architectures.
- Seven or more years of IT experience, with at least 7+ years specifically in Guidewire architecture across the full InsuranceSuite.
- Minimum 3-5 years of hands-on experience with Guidewire Cloud Platform (GWCP), including tools like Cloud Console and Advanced Product Designer (APD) and JDP.
- Hands-on experience migrating custom and/or Guidewire policy administrations from on-premises to Guidewire Cloud Platform.
- Deep understanding of Property and Casualty insurance, with a specific focus on US bureau commercial lines, circular updates, and regulatory filings (ISO CPP, Work Comp, Commercial Auto and Umbrella).
- Expert-level proficiency in Gosu, Java, REST/SOAP APIs, SQL, and modern cloud infrastructure (Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure).
- Experience working in Agile/Scrum environments, managing continuous integration/continuous deployment tools.
- Knowledge of integrating Guidewire with modern artificial intelligence and machine learning platforms (e.g., Amazon Web Services SageMaker).
- High School Diploma or equivalent; Bachelor's degree preferred.
- Foundational-level industry certification required upon hire.
- Architect or senior-level industry certification preferred within 12 months of hire.
- Professional-level Guidewire certifications.
- AWS or Azure Solution Architect certifications are highly advantageous.
- Certification in Enterprise Architecture (e.g., TOGAF).
- Target State Architecture: Design, build and maintain the end-to-end modernization roadmap, describing the evolution from legacy on-premises mainframe environments to a unified Guidewire Cloud future state.
- Commercial Domain Alignment: Partner with business leaders to translate complex commercial insurance requirements (e.g., multi-location policies, diverse risk assessments) into scalable platform configurations.
- Stakeholder Liaison: Act as a trusted advisor to key stakeholders, aligning technical modernization milestones with broader business value and organizational agility.
- Framework Governance: Establish and enforce standards for Gosu scripting, APD design, JDP UI/UX and the Guidewire data model to minimize technical debt and ensure evergreen compatibility.
- Complex Integrations: Oversee the design of robust integration layers using REST/Cloud APIs and messaging frameworks to connect Guidewire with third-party data services (e.g., LexisNexis, Verisk) and internal core systems, like Salesforce (CRM), Earnix (Rating) etc.
- Mentorship: Provide hands-on guidance to development teams, conducting critical code reviews, as needed and leading troubleshooting efforts for complex system issues.
- Cloud Migration: Lead the technical strategy for migrating on-premises legacy mainframe policy administration system to the Guidewire Cloud Platform (GWCP).
- DevOps & Automation: Establish CI/CD pipelines, automated testing strategies, and observability frameworks tailored for cloud-native Guidewire deployments.
- Performance Engineering: Optimize cloud-native implementations for high-speed, transaction-heavy commercial operations, ensuring security and regulatory compliance.
- AI-Driven Business Value: Design and implement "Agentic AI" pilots, such as the Underwriting Assistant, to automate manual triage and data enrichment.
- Emerging Tech: Hands-on experience with the 2025 Olos or Niseko releases, specifically focusing on advanced analytics, Autopilot Workflows, and new AI-driven extension layers.
- Communication: Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to simplify complex technical concepts for non-technical partners.
- Strategic Thinking: Experience in change management and large-scale digital transformation initiatives within the insurance sector.
- Ability to influence internal and/or external constituents.
- Possesses strong technical aptitude.
- This position requires deep expertise (example cloud-native architectures, zero-trust security, data governance, infrastructure automation).
- Ability to drive multiple projects to successful completion.
- Proven experience leading and delivering the architecture for large-scale, complex solutions spanning multiple teams, systems, or Agile Release Trains required.
- Effective leadership skills.
- Demonstrated experience mentoring other architects and driving architectural alignment across multiple programs.
- Professional-level Guidewire certifications.
- AWS or Azure Solution Architect certifications are highly advantageous.
- Certification in Enterprise Architecture (e.g., TOGAF).
Farmers Insurance Group offers auto, home, life, and business insurance plus related financial services, sold through a network of exclusive and independent agents across all 50 states. It underwrites policies, evaluates risk, issues premiums, and handles claims while providing ongoing service to customers. The company differentiates itself with a nationwide multiline product lineup and a distribution model focused on long-term relationships and high service levels. Its goal is to protect customers’ assets and finances while growing its business through sustained relationships and broad distribution.
Company Size
10,001+
Company Stage
Debt Financing
Total Funding
$300M
Headquarters
Los Angeles, California
Founded
1928
Your Connections
People at Farmers Insurance who can refer or advise you
Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Approved California homeowners plan boosts Home/Auto bundling discounts to 22%.
- Distressed-area expansion targets several thousand new policies over the next two years.
- Nearly 1,700 new agency owners should widen distribution and accelerate premium growth.
What critics are saying
- 2025 vendor breach exposed data for 1,071,172 customers and damaged trust.
- Rapid agent expansion can dilute underwriting discipline, retention, and service quality.
- California wildfire exposure and higher catastrophe severity pressure margins and reinsurance costs.
What makes Farmers Insurance unique
- National multiline carrier with exclusive and independent agents across all 50 states.
- Deep California presence, staying open for new home policies during market disruption.
- Scaled risk management using a $400 million catastrophe bond and diversified reinsurance.
Help us improve and share your feedback! Did you find this helpful?
Benefits
Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Life Insurance
Paid Time Off
Paid Parental Leave
Tuition Assistance
401(k) Retirement Plan
Bonus Opportunity
Hybrid Work Options
Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
↑ 4%1 year growth
↑ 4%2 year growth
↑ 4%Farmers Insurance(R) receives approval for new homeowners insurance rating plan in California, includes sizable 22% Home/Auto package discount. In addition, effective July 1, Farmers will introduce a new auto insurance rating plan that will also include robust discounts and improved coverage options WOODLAND HILLS, Calif., May 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - To strengthen its ongoing commitment to California, Farmers Insurance(R) has been granted approval by the California Department of Insurance to introduce a new homeowners insurance rating plan, which incorporates elements from Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara's Sustainable Insurance Strategy. Effective September 15, 2026, for new and existing customers with Smart Plan Home or Next Generation Home policies, the rating plan will include a significantly enhanced Home/Auto bundling discount (increasing from 15% to 22%) and savings for homeowners who implement various residential wildfire mitigation measures. Overall, the new homeowners insurance rating plan will adjust rates upwards by a statewide average of 1.5%. However, new or existing customers who choose to bundle will generally experience decreasing rates. "We continue to see encouraging signs that the California insurance marketplace is strengthening and we want to be well-positioned to grow and provide improved coverage offerings to California consumers," said Behram Dinshaw, president of personal lines for Farmers Insurance. "Together, our new homeowners and auto rating plans provide consumers with multiple opportunities to save, especially through increased discounts for bundling policies." The newly approved homeowners rating plan incorporates key elements of the Sustainable Insurance Strategy and is expected to add several thousand new policies in the next two years in areas identified as distressed by the California Department of Insurance. Since earlier this year, Farmers has begun reaching out to homeowners in distressed communities and has observed nearly a 10% year-over-year increase in new business writings within these areas. "Farmers is proud to be one of the few home insurers that never stopped offering new home policies in the state and we remain committed to the California marketplace. It's also important to note that we have been able to stay in the market and continue to serve our customers because key stakeholders, including the California Department of Insurance, have remained steadfast in working toward meaningful solutions to reinvigorate the state's insurance marketplace," added Dinshaw. Customers will be required to meet all applicable underwriting guidelines to be considered for coverage. Consumers are encouraged to connect with their local Farmers agency owner to learn about the new coverage offerings and various available discounts. About Farmers Insurance "Farmers Insurance(R)" and "Farmers(R)" are tradenames for a group of insurers providing insurance for automobiles, homes and small businesses and a wide range of other insurance and financial services products. Farmers Insurance Exchange, the largest of the three primary insurers that make up Farmers Insurance, is recognized as one of the largest U.S. companies on the 2025 Fortune 500 list. For more information about Farmers Insurance, visit Farmers.com. SOURCE Farmers Insurance
Farmers Insurance plans historic, rapid expansion of agency force. March 31, 2026 Farmers Insurance has announced a plan to grow its agency force over the next year, and expects to appoint nearly 1,700 new agency owners - one of the largest single-year expansions in Farmers' history. The recruitment drive is aimed at fueling organic growth and revitalizing the insurer's distribution network. As part of the plan, Farmers is launching a new Elite Owner Program to attract high-net-worth agency owners with added support and financial incentives for rapid scaling. "We're doubling down on the entrepreneur model to drive our next chapter of growth," said Ken Walton, president of distribution at Farmers. "This is about thinking big and moving fast. By onboarding 1,700 new agency owners - including an Elite tier of well-capitalized business leaders seeking to build or expand their portfolio - we'll be injecting fresh energy into our distribution force." Farmers said the Elite program will "significantly ramp up agency appointments across the country" by bringing in owners with at least $500,000 in capital. They will be eligible for tiered levels of escalating benefits, such as enhanced support lines, priority service assistance, and additional startup and marketing incentives. Farmers said it anticipates these new agencies are likely to accelerate policy sales and premium growth at rates higher than agents appointed through other programs. New agent appointments are already up 34% through February, compared with last year. The aggressive recruitment efforts now are meant to coincide with improved market conditions so Farmers can ride the momentum, expand its reach in underrepresented areas, and stay ahead of evolving customer needs. Farmers will continue to recruit through its traditional programs, including its Retail and Acquisition programs, where prospective agency owners can start from scratch or purchase an existing agency, as well as specialized tracks like the Financial Services Agent (FSA) and Business Insurance Agent (BIA) programs. Was this article valuable?
Farmers Insurance has announced plans to appoint 1,700 new agency owners in 2026, representing one of the largest single-year expansions in the company's 95-year history. The recruitment drive aims to fuel organic growth and increase market share. The insurer is launching an Elite Owner Program targeting high-net-worth entrepreneurs with at least $500,000 in capital. The programme offers tiered benefits including enhanced support, priority service and additional startup incentives for rapid scaling. Early results show strong momentum, with new agent appointments up 34% year-over-year through February 2026. The Elite programme complements existing entry pathways including retail, acquisition and specialised tracks. The expansion follows Farmers' 2024 nationwide unification of its agency distribution model, strengthening mentorship frameworks to support new agency owners across all US regions.
Farmers Insurance has appointed John Pham as Chief Strategy & Risk Officer, reporting to CEO Raul Vargas. Pham will work to translate strategy into measurable business outcomes, focusing on execution discipline, operational excellence and technology-enabled improvement. Pham joins from GEICO, where he most recently served as Head of Strategic Business Initiatives, overseeing Operational Shared Services. He led improvements in contact centre automation, customer experience, enterprise learning and quality frameworks. In previous roles at GEICO, including Chief Information Officer, he managed large business units with profit-and-loss responsibility and implemented initiatives to drive profitable growth. Vargas said Pham's background in operational execution, customer experience and technology modernisation would strengthen Farmers' performance and deliver value for customers, agents and employees.
Farmers Insurance Group has closed a $400 million catastrophe bond through Topanga Re Ltd., providing multi-year, indemnity-based reinsurance coverage. The bond comprises $300 million in Class A Notes and $100 million in Class B Notes, both offering four years of per-occurrence protection against US named storms, earthquakes, severe weather and fire. The transaction, structured by Swiss Re Capital Markets and Howden Capital Markets & Advisory as joint bookrunners, aims to diversify Farmers' capital sources and integrate with its existing catastrophe reinsurance programme. This represents Farmers' second and largest catastrophe bond issuance to date. Chief Financial Officer Thomas Noh said obtaining multi-year collateralised capacity through Topanga Re is an important component of the company's risk management strategy. The notes were sold under Rule 144A of the US Securities Act.