Business Architect

The Solutions Design Department (DCS) is responsible for the application architecture of IT solutions for Property & Casualty Insurance (DGAG) division. This department is seeking a versatile Solutions Architect Consultant to work on business and IT development projects.

As a Solutions Architect Consultant, you will play a key role in defining, designing, and developing the division's technological solutions. You will be responsible for addressing business needs, ensuring the alignment of solutions with the existing architecture and target directions, and producing the required architectural deliverables.

You will collaborate closely with business stakeholders, managers, and members of project teams and squads

The client is seeking an Application Solutions Architect with proven expertise in the Guidewire suite (PolicyCenter, ClaimCenter, BillingCenter), at the minimum 5 years in this ecosystem, and at least 8 years in solution architecture within a project context. The role is based within the Solution Design Department (DCS) of Desjardins' property and casualty insurance sector. The candidate must produce complete architecture documentation, ensure compliance with Desjardins Group standards, and address non-functional requirements (security, performance, observability). Proficiency in Gosu and PCF page configuration is required, targeting a developer-architect profile that has progressed from the technical layer to design. The ability to mentor developers and serve as a Guidewire technical expert in the field is essential, not secondary. The client also expects strong communication skills with diverse audiences (business, Agile teams, management).

Main Responsibilities

• Identify and document the functional capabilities required to meet expressed business needs.
  
• Determine the applications and services involved in the solutions and assess their impacts (coexistence, dependencies, performance, security).
  
• Develop IT guidelines to support the selected solutions.
  
• Produce solution architecture documentation, including coverage of non-functional requirements.
  
• Describe and simplify the solutions using architectural diagrams and models (ideally in Archimate).
  
• Support teams in the detailed design and integration of solutions.
  
• Develop strategies for transition, coexistence, conversion, and offloading.
  
• Communicate effectively with various audiences: business, functional, developers, managers, scrum masters, and delivery managers.
  
• Ensure the solutions comply with Group's standards, guidelines, and policies.
  
• Practical knowledge of modern software architectures: microservices, event-driven, API-first, and continuous integration. Functional and technical understanding of application components (services, APIs, modules, dependencies).
  
• Ability to challenge or support software design decisions (patterns, anti-patterns, design impacts).
  
• Understanding of software quality issues: testability, observability, performance, coupling, application security.
  
• Define and enforce best practices for developing the Guidewire cloud solution.
  
• Mentor developers and serve as a technical expert for the Guidewire suite.
  

**If needed, expertise may be required outside the province of Quebec (Ontario, NB, NE)**

Desired Profile

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or equivalent.
  
• 8+ years of experience in a solution architect consultant role or related role.
  
• 5+ years of experience with the Guidewire suite (required).
  
• Significant experience as a solution architect consultant on projects. Excellent ability to manage priorities, plan work, and thrive in a matrix environment.
  
• Excellent communication skills (oral, written, and able to simplify complex concepts).
  
• Fluency in French (spoken and written).
  
• Intermediate to advanced level of English.
  
• Ability to quickly escalate critical issues when required.
  
• Proficiency with one or more architecture frameworks and the Archimate notation.
  
• Experience with inter-application integration (APIs, Web Services, event-driven architecture).
  
• Mastery of the concepts and methods for deploying application solutions on on-premises and cloud infrastructures (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS, and CaaS).
  
• Experience with microservices architectures. Proficiency with the Guidewire suite: PolicyCenter, ClaimCenter, BillingCenter
  
• Knowledge of Guidewire suite APIs
  
• Knowledge of Guidewire's Advanced Product Designer (APD) is an asset
  
• Proficiency with Gosu and Guidewire product page configuration (PCF)
  
• Holding at least one Guidewire certification (Associate/Specialist/ACE) is a significant asset
  

REQUIREMENTS QUALIFICATION TABLE

REQUIREMENTS

▸ 8+ years in solution architecture or a related role | Required experience | All prerequisites

▸ 5+ years with the Guidewire suite (PolicyCenter, ClaimCenter, BillingCenter) | Required | All prerequisites

▸ Proficiency in Gosu language and PCF page configuration | Required | All prerequisites

▸ Production of solution architecture documentation (including non-functional requirements) | Required | All prerequisites

▸ Knowledge of Guidewire APIs | Required | All prerequisites

▸ Proficiency with an architecture repository and Archimate notation | Required | All prerequisites

▸ Experience in cross-application integration (APIs, Web Services, event-driven architecture) | List of examples | Sufficient majority

▸ Proficiency in French (spoken and written) | Required | All prerequisites

▸ Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or equivalent | Required | All prerequisites

DESIRED

▸ Intermediate-advanced English | Required | All prerequisites

▸ Modern software architectures: microservices, events, API-first, continuous integration | List of examples | Sufficient majority

▸ Deployment on on-premises and cloud infrastructure (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS, CaaS) | List of examples | Sufficient majority

▸ Ability to mentor developers and serve as a Guidewire technical expert | Required | All prerequisites

▸ Experience in a matrix environment with priority management | Required | All prerequisites

ASSET

▸ Knowledge of Guidewire APD (Advanced Product Designer) | Required | All prerequisites

▸ Guidewire certification (Associate / Specialist / ACE) | One option is sufficient | All required conditions

WHAT WE DON'T WANT ▸ Architect without concrete Guidewire experience (theoretical knowledge or training only). ▸ Purely developer profile without documented solution architect roles in projects. ▸ Generalist consultant profile without a background in property and casualty insurance. ▸ Candidate with less than 5 years of experience with the Guidewire suite (explicit elimination threshold from the client). ▸ Profile without proficiency in Gosu or PCF configuration.