Sales & Distribution Technology Solutions Architect

Solutions Architect, Sales & Distribution Architecture, Distribution Technology

Full-Time, Springfield, MA / Boston, MA / New York, NY
 

The Opportunity

As a Solutions Architect on the Wealth & Distribution Technology Architecture team, you will join a highly effective team of experienced and talented architects who collaborate to define and influence solutions across the sales & distribution value stream.
 

The Team

The Sales & Distribution Architecture team is uniquely positioned as a shared service in support of several support & delivery organizations that enable our two primary distribution channels.  Your Architect peers lead through accountability, coaching, collaboration, creativity, and knowledge to define the solutions that enable meaningful business outcomes and technical modernization for high priority initiatives.  Our team is motivated by the role that we play in influencing both business and technical strategies and the value that our partnership provides to the teams that we engage with to deliver.  We are in high demand and are growing as a result. 

The Impact:

The role includes keeping abreast of the industry and applying that knowledge to ensure we are architecting and designing solutions that meet future state business strategies. As a Solutions Architect you’ll have an opportunity to partner with other experienced technology resources to deliver solutions that transform our business processes. In this role, as well as all roles within MassMutual, you will demonstrate accountability, agility, a dedication to being inclusive, a strong business acumen, and will show courage, even in the most difficult situations. You will exercise your strong communication skills, as well as your passion for learning, leadership traits, resilience, and self-awareness.

In this role, you will be expected to:

• Partner with Enterprise Architecture to define and maintain the target operating model for delivery, including technologies, tools, and patterns.
• Partner with Enterprise Architecture to further the strategic vision and application roadmaps.
• Partner with Development Teams to translate architecture to design/code-level execution.
• Serve as the technical liaison between MassMutual business partners, industry vendors, and distribution partners, while working very closely with both business and technical stakeholders
• Identify end-to-end technical solutions based on business needs that utilize a service-based architecture incorporating API’s and Events for decoupling Digital and Backend application services.
• Capture future state technology vision in actionable, context-specific roadmaps.
• Partner directly with the specific technology subject matter experts and technical leads to ensure architecture standards are adopted and solutions are aligned with enterprise Technology stacks. 
• Architect Solutions are designed as reusable components (API’s/ Microservices) that compose an overall solution that’s flexible, scalable, performant, and providing excellent user experience.
• Be accountable for implementation of cross-functional solution architecture of all technologies in the Sales & Distribution technology stack.
• Understand and proactively assess the current state of the technology and identify gaps and overlaps.
• Ensure technologies are optimized, recommending investments and rationalization and if necessary, conducts technology assessment and selection.
• Possess deep industry understanding and a point-of-view of the services provided, and the technologies/products used in the industry to effectively make decisions on product usage and investment at MassMutual.

Typical day-to-day responsibilities include:

• Strong partnership & collaboration with Enterprise Architecture
• Creation and/or contributing to governed architecture artifacts, including Solution, Decisions, Strategies and Roadmaps.
• Hands-on collaboration with Development teams
• Project Team Meetings, status, planning, requirement reviews, etc.
• Design & Code Reviews
• Architecture/ Design Decisions & Technology Evaluations
• Industry Trends, Research, POC, Tools
• Test Plan Reviews
• Production Support Transition Reviews
• Contribute to our architecture community by attending and participating in Architecture & Design Roundtables, Architecture Review Boards, and Solution Architecture Guild meetings.

The Minimum Qualifications

• 5+ years development experience, capable of designing and implementing complex solutions.
• 8+ years of solutions architect or related experience (e.g. tech lead, lead designer)
• 2+ years of experience in sales & distribution related business processes and technologies, including at least one of the following sub-domains:  Marketing, Wealth Management, Distribution Management, Incentive Management (compensation, recognition), Broker Dealer Administration, Insurance Distribution.
• Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related technical degree
• Must be authorized to work in the US both now and in the future

The Ideal Qualifications

• Skilled leading and/or participating in system design and architectural activities including technical requirement writing experience and ability to lead collaboration sessions for important design reviews and decisions.
• Strong collaboration skills with the ability to work in a team-based environment including employees, vendors, and third-party contractors.
• Excellent mentoring skills and the desire to contribute to efforts beyond the scope of the day-to-day project work.
• Proven ability to provide technical leadership and guidance to less experienced team members.
• Experience in AWS cloud application design, development, and deployment.
• Experience with event streaming and web service protocols like SOAP, REST, JSON, or Kafka 
• Experience with data development, including database design, modeling, ETL and scheduling.
• General working knowledge of insurance data, investment data and /or financial data
• Experience in working with and enabling integrations with vendor / SaaS platforms
• AWS Certifications
• 7+ design & development experience including frontend, backend, database, and Integration technologies preferred.
• Strong knowledge of data modeling and ETL development including development patterns, and best practices
• Experience with one or more of the following platforms/technologies:
  • Vertica
  • Kong
  • Kafka
  • Salesforce
  • React / NeXTs
  • Content Management Platforms / Search Engines
  • Life, Disability Income and Annuity Order Entry
  • Investment Custodian Platforms
  • Needs Analysis / Financial Planning Software
  • DTCC
  • Fidelity NFS/ IWS
  • SAP
  • CI/CD Dev Ops
  • Kubernetes

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Salary Range:

At MassMutual, we focus on ensuring fair equitable pay, by providing competitive salaries, along with incentive and bonus opportunities for all employees. Your total compensation package includes either a bonus target or in a sales-focused role a Variable Incentive Compensation component.

Why Join Us.

We’ve been around since 1851. During our history, we’ve learned a few things about making sure our customers are our top priority. In order to meet and exceed their expectations, we must have the best people providing the best thinking, products and services. To accomplish this, we celebrate an inclusive, vibrant and diverse culture that encourages growth, openness and opportunities for everyone. A career with MassMutual means you will be part of a strong, stable and ethical business with industry leading pay and benefits. And your voice will always be heard.

We help people secure their future and protect the ones they love. As a company owned by our policyowners, we are defined by mutuality and our vision to put customers first. It’s more than our company structure – it’s our way of life. We are a company of people protecting people. Our company exists because people are willing to share risk and resources, and rely on each other when it counts. At MassMutual, we Live Mutual.

MassMutual is an equal employment opportunity employer. We welcome all persons to apply.

If you need an accommodation to complete the application process, please contact us and share the specifics of the assistance you need.

At MassMutual, we focus on ensuring fair, equitable pay by providing competitive salaries, along with incentive and bonus opportunities for all employees.  Your total compensation package includes either a bonus target or in a sales-focused role a Variable Incentive Compensation component.  For more information about our extensive benefits offerings please check out our Total Rewards at a Glance.