Lead Consultant

Job Title: Lead Consultant- Global Hosting Services (Product Owner - AI & Microservice Platform)

Career Level - E

Introduction to role:

The Product Owner will ensure that AstraZeneca's technical solutions align with our defined reference architecture and technology standards. This role ensures consistent implementation of common architecture decisions across the business and IT. As a Lead Consultant, you will focus on long-term planning for 1-5 years, crafting architecture standards, roadmaps, and blueprints in various areas like Microservice Platforms, High Performance Computing AI Platforms, GPU-based platform support at Edge/Cloud/Hybrid Cloud, and Technical Domains. You will understand the implications of architecture requirements on current architectures and define/update future architectures using AstraZeneca's guiding principles. Additionally, you will support solution development efforts, participate in or lead IT initiatives, domain groups, and provide active guidance for better planning and decision-making.

Accountabilities:

The main aim of the Product Owner is to drive innovation in the realm of Microservice Platform/High Performance Computing AI Platform/GPU-based platform support at Edge/Cloud/Hybrid Cloud and Technical Domains Enterprise Edge & Hybrid Cloud technologies. The role will be accountable for providing enterprise thinking and solution design support in the Microservice Platform/High Performance Computing AI Platform capability and will also provide support/consultancy in other domains.

• Continually considers indicators of future in the present (i.e., Horizon 2 and 3 of the Three Horizon Approach to Innovation).

• Acquires and maintains current knowledge and awareness of community and industry developments in the domain of Microservice Platform/High Performance Computing AI Platform technologies.

• Takes ownership for and leads the development and implementation of technology roadmaps and strategies.

• Authors and reviews solution blueprints for projects or solutions that address business/application/data/infrastructure requirements.

• Works with Operations, Business Analysis, and Solution Engineering functions and supports functional & technical requirements management, including driving software/system selection processes.

• Ensures that solution architectures and designs are highly resilient and address business, application, information, and infrastructure architectural requirements.

• Accountable for architecting and designing comprehensive solutions that meet business requirements and are aligned to AstraZeneca’s Enterprise Architecture, in support of a given portfolio.

• Partners with Enterprise Architects, Project Managers, Business Analysts, and Solution Engineers to create solutions aligned with AstraZeneca architecture standards and principles, demonstrating common solutions and services, and meeting financial targets (cost and benefits).

• Accountable for solution evaluation and selection, buy vs. build decisions, and early-phase project estimates which contribute to the case.

• Provides technical expertise support to project teams and conducts AZ architectural reviews throughout the project lifecycle.

• Ensures compliance with existing EA guidelines and standards (e.g., AZ Architecture Engagement Process (ISPMM) and EA Software Standards).

• Contributes to project and service teams in the development, implementation, and maintenance of standard architectural components.

• Works with third-party suppliers as required and contributes to the creation of local or functional design documents.

• Verifies technical development and delivery are in alignment with the Architecture Roadmap, Blueprint, and Information Services Strategy.

• Documents all architecture analysis and design work.

• Develops strong knowledge and expertise in at least one architecture domain.

• Contributes to the development of the Architecture Capability within Information Services by documenting and sharing knowledge and standard methodologies with peer Architects and Engineers

Essential Skills/Experience:

• Relevant technical degree or equivalent.

• Proven development/design experience in at least one infrastructure technical domain.

• Detailed knowledge of Microservices Platform (Kubernetes/Containers/Serverless etc) and GPU-based AI platform and services based on On-Prem Private Cloud and how this can be applied to solve business problems.

• Experience developing innovative solutions, blueprints, and standards for solution design.

• Experience implementing and maintaining business solution architectures under any formal framework for their domain of architecture.

• Experience developing and managing relationships with 3rd party suppliers.

• Public and Private Cloud knowledge and awareness.

• Proven ability to lead Proof of Concepts and Proof of Value activities through to Pilot stage where appropriate.

• Experience developing Infrastructure as a Code, Platform automation skills.

Skills and Capabilities:

• Strong networking skills with good internal/external links and Open Source/Community awareness.

• Well-developed communication and facilitation skills.

• Ability to interpret and communicate technical information into business language.

• Awareness and ability to follow Agile practices, associated ceremonies, and processes.

• Awareness of developments in the Enterprise edge, understanding its potential impact on AZ IS.

• Core skills (or equivalence) to include a majority of the following; Kubernetes/Containers/Serverless etc., High Performance Computing/Scientific computing, Scripting, programming, Jira, Linux, Windows Configuration Knowledge in Ansible, Chef Infrastructure as Code, Kubernetes, Cloud (AWS, Azure, GCP), VMWare, Logging (EFK, Splunk), Monitoring (Prometheus), Database – Oracle/MS SQL /MySQL /MongoDB(Open Source), AI & ML techniques.

Desirable Skills/Experience:

• Demonstrates initiative, strong customer orientation, and cross-cultural working.

• Experience in developing/maturing an architectural practice.

• Development knowledge and experience of scripting or programming languages.

• Detailed knowledge of Microservices Platform (Kubernetes/Containers/Serverless etc).

• GPU-based AI platform and services based on On-Prem Private Cloud.

• Proven business insight.

• Understanding of the pharmaceutical/healthcare industry and competitor activity on a particular architecture and Information Management.

• Ability to work well in diverse, multinational teams with proven track record to influence others to achieve positive outcomes.

• IT Sustainability goals.

When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we ignite bold thinking with the power to inspire life-changing medicines. In-person working gives us the platform we need to connect, work at pace, and challenge perceptions. That's why we work, on average, a minimum of three days per week from the office. But that doesn't mean we're not flexible. We balance the expectation of being in the office while respecting individual flexibility. Join us in our unique and ambitious world.

Join a team with the backing and investment to win! You'll be working with innovative technology. This marriage between our purposeful work and the use of high-tech platforms is what sets us apart. Lead the way in digital healthcare from exploring data and AI to working in the cloud on new technologies. Join a team at the forefront. Help shape and define the technologies of the future with the backing you need from across the business.

Ready to make an impact? Apply now!

Date Posted

Closing Date

AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity.  We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills.  We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.  We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics.  We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements.