Technical Architect

Connecticut-Water-Service,-Inc.; Cromwell (CT); On-site; USD 107,000 - 192,000; Full time

Job summary

H2O America, based in Cromwell, CT, is seeking a Technical Architect to lead enterprise applications strategy and modernization. You will guide architecture, governance, and integrations across ERP, HRIS, and reporting, partnering with executives and vendors to deliver scalable, compliant solutions.

The role requires 10+ years in enterprise IT, strong leadership, and hands-on experience with cloud platforms, DevOps, and security practices.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 10+ years of relevant professional experience.
• Proven ability to lead strategic planning and define technical standards for applications.
• Holds relevant certifications required for the team’s need or directed by management.

Responsibilities

• Designs and implements scalable, secure, and resilient technical architectures to meet evolving enterprise demands and ensure operational continuity.
• Leads application governance and long-term strategic planning, developing application roadmaps, as well as enterprise standards, policies, and best practices to drive performance and growth.
• Leads major upgrades, migrations, and complex deployment initiatives (e.g. environment strategy, cutover leadership, rollback design, risk mitigation planning).
• Builds and improves automation frameworks, including developing advanced scripts and utilities that enhance monitoring, deployment workflows, and enterprise operational efficiency.
• Designs integration patterns (e.g. overseeing API workflows, message queues, ETL pipelines, and system-to-system interoperability).
• Leads performance engineering and optimization efforts (e.g. system telemetry analysis, tuning, driving optimization).
• Provides technical leadership for security initiatives (e.g. vulnerability remediation, identity architecture guidance, application of security frameworks).
• Oversees enterprise application backup, restoration, and disaster recovery architecture (e.g. scenario leadership, version control, validation cycles, resiliency improvement).
• Establishes and enforces technical standards, documentation practices, and configuration governance.
• Leads change management and release governance (e.g. high-impact change reviews, authoring of risk assessments, validating complex deployments).
• Advises leaders on enterprise technology strategy by evaluating emerging tools, platforms, and architectural enhancements.
• Leads vendor coordination and oversees compliance and ongoing evaluation to support enterprise goals.
• Develops and maintains architectural documentation (e.g. diagrams, data flows, integration maps, system topology blueprints, configuration/business process design).
• Communicates strategic priorities, presents to senior leadership, and manages stakeholder relationships as needed.
• Owns technology lifecycle governance, including capacity planning, end-of-life risk management, and platform modernization strategies.
• Works under minimal supervision with considerable latitude for independent judgment; completes difficult assignments without assistance.
• Regularly mentors junior team members and assist management with leadership responsibilities as requested.
• Maintainshighlevelof adherence to cybersecurity principles, ethics practices, and company policies.
• Required to complete occasional evening and weekend work to meet deadlines or address emergencies as needed.
• Performs other duties or special projects asrequiredor assigned.

Skills

Leadership

Enterprise Architecture

Cloud environments (Azure, AWS)

SQL

Education

Bachelor's Degree

10+ years of relevant professional experience

Tools

HTML/JavaScript

ERP/HRIS/CRM systems

Job description

H2O America is actively seeking talented, driven and effective applicants for the position of Technical Architect to join our dynamic team. We offer a challenging and rewarding work environment along with a competitive salary and an excellent benefits package.

H2O America is the parent organization of the following subsidiary companies: San Jose Water, Connecticut Water, Maine Water, and Texas Water. We sustain life by delivering high-quality water and exceptional service while investing in the health and vitality of the communities we serve.

Position Overview

This role is a subject matter expert who leads in the support, maintenance, and optimization of business applications to ensure reliability, performance, and alignment with organizational needs. This role acts as a bridge between technical teams, vendors, and business stakeholders—resolving issues, managing enhancements, and ensuring applications operate efficiently. They serve as a key advisor for junior members of the team and stakeholders. Success in this role balances technical expertise and strong leadership skills, stakeholder engagement skills, and analytical skills to enable operational excellence.

Team Overview: Enterprise Applications

This role is the senior technical leader for Enterprise Applications, overseeing the architecture, governance, modernization, integration, and lifecycle management of critical systems that support Finance, Human Resources, Legal, and Corporate Communications. The successful candidate partners with business leaders, vendors, and project teams to advance strategic initiatives, improve application performance, support regulatory compliance, and deliver innovative technology solutions across H2O America.

• Owns application lifecycle management, including roadmap planning, technical debt reduction, application rationalization, end-of-life planning, upgrade strategy, and vendor product evaluation.


• Designs and governs integrations across ERP, HRIS, ECM, reporting, and operational systems using APIs, middleware, ETL processes, and cloud integration technologies.


• Experience in regulated utilities, energy, water, public services, or similar highly regulated industries is preferred.


• Partners with Internal Audit, Compliance, and business stakeholders to maintain effective ITGC controls, support SOX audits, manage remediation activities, and ensure regulatory compliance.


• Identifies opportunities to automate manual processes through workflow automation, AI-enabled solutions, scripting, and low-code platforms.

Key Responsibilities

• Designs and implements scalable, secure, and resilient technical architectures to meet evolving enterprise demands and ensure operational continuity.


• Leads application governance and long-term strategic planning, developing application roadmaps, as well as enterprise standards, policies, and best practices to drive performance and growth.


• Leads major upgrades, migrations, and complex deployment initiatives (e.g. environment strategy, cutover leadership, rollback design, risk mitigation planning).


• Builds and improves automation frameworks, including developing advanced scripts and utilities that enhance monitoring, deployment workflows, and enterprise operational efficiency.


• Designs integration patterns (e.g. overseeing API workflows, message queues, ETL pipelines, and system-to-system interoperability).


• Leads performance engineering and optimization efforts (e.g. system telemetry analysis, tuning, driving optimization).


• Provides technical leadership for security initiatives (e.g. vulnerability remediation, identity architecture guidance, application of security frameworks).


• Oversees enterprise application backup, restoration, and disaster recovery architecture (e.g. scenario leadership, version control, validation cycles, resiliency improvement).


• Establishes and enforces technical standards, documentation practices, and configuration governance.


• Leads change management and release governance (e.g. high-impact change reviews, authoring of risk assessments, validating complex deployments).


• Advises leaders on enterprise technology strategy by evaluating emerging tools, platforms, and architectural enhancements.


• Leads vendor coordination and oversees compliance and ongoing evaluation to support enterprise goals.


• Develops and maintains architectural documentation (e.g. diagrams, data flows, integration maps, system topology blueprints, configuration/business process design).


• Communicates strategic priorities, presents to senior leadership, and manages stakeholder relationships as needed.


• Owns technology lifecycle governance, including capacity planning, end-of-life risk management, and platform modernization strategies.


• Works under minimal supervision with considerable latitude for independent judgment; completes difficult assignments without assistance.


• Regularly mentors junior team members and assist management with leadership responsibilities as requested.


• Maintainshighlevelof adherence to cybersecurity principles, ethics practices, and company policies.


• Required to complete occasional evening and weekend work to meet deadlines or address emergencies as needed.


• Performs other duties or special projects asrequiredor assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree and 10+ years of relevant professional experience.


• Proven ability to lead strategic planning and define technical standards for applications.


• Holds relevant certifications required for the team’s need or directed by management.


• Ability to translate business requirements into data models and reports.


• Experience managing vendor relationships and large-scale application upgrades.


• Advanced expertise in enterprise application management.


• Expertise in process modeling and workflow documentation.


• Expertise in business analysis methodologies (gap analysis, solution design).


• Proficiency with cloud environments (Active Directory, Azure, AWS).


• Proficiency in compliance requirements and internal control frameworks (e.g. SOX).


• Proficient in DevOps practices (CI/CD, automation, coding).


• Expertise in SQL for data analysis and reporting.


• Expertise in automation and scripting languages (e.g. Python, PowerShell, JavaScript).


• Expertise with application upgrades, integrations, and optimization.


• Proficiency in source control and familiarity with CI/CD workflow concepts.


• Proficiency in ERP, HRIS, CRM systems and Agile/SDLC practices.


• Proficiency in HTML/JavaScript to support troubleshooting.


• Demonstrated ability to mentor team members and lead cross-functional initiatives.


• Excellent stakeholder engagement, communication, analytical thinking, and project leadership skills.


• Knowledge of ITIL 4 processes preferred.


• Strong project coordination skills.

Location

55 Sebethe, Cromwell, CT 06416 USA

Salary

Texas: $98,861–$177,972
California: $130,674–$235,234
Connecticut: $106,886–$192,352
Maine: $106,886–$192,352

EEO Statement

Our company provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics.