Application Architect

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Description

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• Collaborate with stakeholders to identify existing technology application landscapes, gaps, and specific user needs and requirements to articulate functional and non-functional specifications for relevant software applications.
• This includes incorporation of algorithms and models developed in collaboration with other experts and teams.
• Analyse and document as-is architecture and components of selected environments and platforms, including proprietary and open-source software, and provide proposals for reusing and developing new components and their integration with existing solutions.
• Work with the team to coordinate and create detailed design plans for scalable, secure, and performant software application development, including architecture, data models, user interfaces, and other technical specifications in line with departmental strategies and meeting functional and non-functional requirements.
• When required, write code, and develop test-driven software applications based on the design specifications, including its integration and verification within the existing or new systems and solutions.
• Design and execute system verification tests, including performance, maintainability, usability and stability and secure acceptance of the results by key project stakeholders.
• Evaluate, test, and troubleshoot software to identify and fix bugs and issues.
• Update shared architecture repository with model-based reference architecture, other modelling artefacts and building blocks down to the level of source code, interface specifications, packages, and binaries, where applicable.
• Define resourcing requirements (including required skillsets) and work closely with other staff, consultants and collaborators as required to ensure that the application aligns with project goals and timelines.
• Optimize software code and application performance to ensure efficient resource utilization and responsiveness.
• Coordinate and ensure ongoing support for developed applications where appropriate and in line with the department’s strategies and operational models, including troubleshooting and resolving user-reported issues and implementing updates or enhancements as needed.
• Liaise as needed with the WHO cybersecurity team and others to ensure appropriate security measures against vulnerabilities and cyber threats.
• This may include implementing encryption, access controls, and authentication mechanisms.
• Remain current with industry trends, new technologies, and best practices to improve software development processes and keep applications current and competitive.
• Assist in deploying applications to production environments and ensure smooth transition from development to production.
• Provide technical support to the department and ensure mechanisms are in place for stakeholders to address inquiries, issues, and requests related to developed applications maintained and provided by the department / division.
• Coordinate the development, integration and delivery of training material and workshops on the effective use of developed applications.
• Utilize various development and collaboration tools such as version control systems, issue tracking systems, and project management software to streamline the development process.
• Participate in code reviews to ensure code quality, maintainability, and adherence to coding standards and advise on technology decisions, conduct risk assessment, develop mitigation strategies and promote best practices.
• Contribute to advocacy and communication of work and activities through departmental mechanisms, including the authoring and publication of peer-reviewed literature.
• In collaboration with other team members, manage technology evaluation and selection and standard configurations.
• Provide technical advice, guidance and support to development teams.
• Communicate technical information to non-technical audiences.
• Perform other related responsibilities as assigned, including replacing and backstopping for others as required.

• Advanced university degree (Masters or higher) in Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, Information Technology, or related field.

• Advanced degree in health informatics, data science, bioinformatics, applied mathematics, computer science, computational linguistics, computational epidemiology, or related field.
• Certifications in software development and cloud technologies (e.g. CompTIA A+, CISSP, AWS Certified Solutions Architect, Azure Developer Associate, Certified Kubernetes Administrator, Red Hat Certified Engineer, Certified Docker Associate, IBM Certified Solution Developer).
• Certifications in project management (e.g. PMP, PgMP, PfMP, ACP, PRINCE2, Certified ScrumMaster).

• At least 7 years of relevant and recent (i.e., within the past 10 years) experience as an application architect, leading technical software development teams and coordinating activities with lead and solution architects to ensure that solutions developed in the scope of individual projects are aligned with the larger vision.
• Extensive demonstrated hands-on experience in software architecture, software development lifecycle and DevOps principles and practices, including the design and support of continuous delivery pipelines. This includes software design and development, integration, verification and deployment of application packages (including integration with relevant 3rd party dependencies), the use of distributed version control systems and quality control.
• Experience designing and optimizing applications for scalability and performance, particularly in high-traffic or resource-intensive environments.
• Demonstrated experience in complex international contexts involving technical, cultural and political elements.

• Demonstrated experience in the development of applications for the public health domain.

• Expertise in complex, scalable, modular architecture design and model-based systems engineering, with good understanding of interactions of application architecture with other system domains.
• Proficiency in designing information exchange components, including web-based and microservice architectures.
• Deep knowledge of software design patterns and development practices, DevOps, software testing, cybersecurity principles and best practices for mitigating cybersecurity vulnerabilities.
• Proficiency in various programming languages and frameworks, including REST endpoint specification and GraphQL, client-side frameworks and general-purpose 3GL such as Java and Python.
• Expertise in Cloud architecture including compute, storage, serverless and container (microservice) architectures, security, and federated identity and access management, as well as deployment and maintenance of applications in the Cloud.
• Skill in translating business requirements into effective solutions, including proposing alternatives.
• Good understanding of data architecture and database management systems.
• Experience with ORM technologies and their integration with relational and non-relational database management systems.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills for technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Familiarity with project management methodologies and tools.
• Good understanding of privacy, confidentiality, and security in software development, including awareness of related regulatory compliance requirements like GDPR and HIPAA.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and critical thinking skills.
• Adaptability to work independently and in a team environment.

• Expert knowledge of English.

• Intermediate knowledge of French.
• Intermediate knowledge of WHO Language.

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