IT ARCHITECT

POSITION OVERVIEW

Applications Accepted From: ALL PERSONS INTERESTED

Job Classification: IT ARCHITECT-APPLICATIONS

Posting Number: 37969

Department:
Houston Information Technology Services

Division:
Enterprise Applications Services

Reporting

Location:

611 Walker, Houston, TX 77002

Workdays &

Hours:

MONDAY – FRIDAY 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
* * Subject to Change

The IT Architect – Fire Applications will serve as a technical leader responsible for designing, implementing, and transforming enterprise application architectures to meet the City of Houston and Houston Fire Department’s evolving technology landscape. This role requires strong expertise in modern application frameworks, integration strategies, and cloud-based solutions, while ensuring continuity and modernization of legacy systems.

Key responsibilities include:

• Define and maintain enterprise application architecture standards, patterns, and best practices.
• Design scalable, secure, and high‑performing application solutions aligned with business requirements.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and recommend adoption strategies to modernize application ecosystems.

• Provide ongoing support for critical legacy applications to ensure stability and reliability.
• Develop and execute strategies to transform legacy architectures into modern, cloud‑ready platforms.
• Lead migration efforts from monolithic systems to microservices or modular architectures.
• Implement modernization roadmaps that minimize operational disruption while improving performance and security.

• Integrate legacy systems with modern platforms, APIs, and cloud services.
• Design and implement hybrid architectures that bridge on‑premises and cloud environments.
• Optimize application architecture for scalability, performance, and compliance in cloud‑native ecosystems.

• Provide architectural guidance to development teams throughout the software development lifecycle.
• Establish governance processes for application design, coding standards, and deployment practices.
• Conduct architecture reviews and ensure compliance with security and regulatory standards.

• Partner with business stakeholders, IT leadership, and cross‑functional teams to translate requirements into technical solutions.
• Document architecture diagrams, technical specifications, and integration workflows.
• Mentor team members and promote knowledge sharing across the organization.

• Optimize application performance through effective design and tuning.
• Implement robust security measures, including identity management, encryption, and compliance controls.
• Monitor and address architectural risks to ensure system reliability and resilience.

• Strong proficiency in enterprise architecture frameworks (TOGAF, Zachman, etc.).
• Advanced knowledge of application development technologies (.NET, Java, microservices).
• Notable expertise in cloud platforms (Azure, AWS) and containerization (Docker, Kubernetes).
• Highly skilled in API design, integration patterns, and middleware technologies.
• Previous experience in legacy system modernization and migration strategies.
• Deep understanding of security standards, compliance, and data governance.

There are no major sources of discomfort, i.e., essentially normal office environment with acceptable lighting, temperature, and air conditioning.

Requires a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Management and Information Systems (MIS) or a closely related field.

Holds multiple applications‑specific technical certifications: recognized as having mastery of a particular technical discipline.

A Master's degree in Computer Science, Management and Information Systems (MIS) or a closely related field may be substituted for up to two (2) years of experience.

At least ten (10) years of specialized experience in application systems analysis and development.

None

Preference shall be given to eligible veteran applicants provided such persons possess…