Solutions Architect

Introduction

The Department of Information Technology (DoIT) provides support to state agencies, the Executive Office of the Governor, the Governor’s coordinating offices, and a variety of independent agencies within the Executive Branch.

Striving to provide the highest level of customer service to its internal and external customers, DoIT supports Maryland’s agencies and commissions through its leadership and strategic direction for Information Technology and Telecommunications, establishing a long range, target technology architecture, encouraging cross agency collaboration and advocating best practices for operations and project management.

• This is a contractual position with limited benefits

GRADE

STD 0025

LOCATION OF POSITION

100 Community Place, Crownsville, MD

Main Purpose of Job

The Solutions Architect plays a pivotal role in the governance and standardization of the Service Catalog for Google Workspace and the Google Cloud Platform. This role is essential for ensuring that the organization's GWS environment is managed efficiently and securely. The primary responsibilities of the solutions architect are to act as a trusted advisor to ensure DoIT is using the GWS Platform efficiently and effectively to meet Agency needs and to verify it is integrating well with other tools and processes. To provide subject matter expertise in Google Workspace solutions and lead all technical aspects of engineering, maintenance, and security of GWS messaging and collaboration solutions.

By implementing and maintaining standardized processes and policies, the solutions architect supports the broader goals of enhancing productivity and ensuring compliance with organizational standards. Collaboration with various teams, including IT, marketing, and customer service, is crucial to integrate GWS services seamlessly into existing workflows and to address the specific needs of different departments. The impact of this role on the organization is significant, as it not only improves operational efficiency but also enhances the user experience and security of the GWS environment. The GWS Solution Architect contributes to the organization's digital transformation strategy, fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.

POSITION DUTIES

Primary Responsibilities:

• Ensures efficient, secure use of the GWS Platform, providing expertise in GWS solutions (including messaging, collaboration, Chrome Enterprise, and security policies)
• Performing hands-on design, configuration and troubleshooting of GWS, including data migration, Active Directory integration, and educating customer technical resources.
• Ensure security and compliance by configuring and managing security settings, policies, and access controls.

Key Tasks or Activities:

• Perform regular system audits and generate reports on usage and performance.
• Resolve P1/P2 incidents, evaluating third-party security applications, and maximizing platform usage.
• Implementing and managing DMARC, DKIM, SPF, and GWS services (mail delivery, routing, filtering, DLP, Retention, eDiscovery)
• Developing relationships with internal and external partners to understand user needs and maximize the usage, performance, and stability of the collaboration platform.

Collaboration:

• Work closely with the IT team to ensure seamless integration and operation of GWS services.
• Coordinate with other departments to understand their needs and provide tailored solutions using GWS.

Reporting or Supervisory Duties:

• Report to the Platform Director and provide regular updates on system status and project progress.

Minimum Qualifications

Experience:

• Six years of experience, five or more years of experience performing network design and development of an enterprise data network in an organization with extensive level of program integration and reliance on technology and an additional one year of experience designing, developing, testing, implementing and maintaining application, communication, database or operating systems software.

Note

• Candidates may substitute graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate and thirty credit hours from an accredited college or university in Computer Science, Computer Technology, Management Information Systems or other information technology-related field to include coursework in application, communication, database or operating systems software technology for the additional one year of experience designing, developing, testing, implementing and maintaining application, communication, database or operating systems software.
• Candidates may substitute experience operating computer systems; or scheduling, controlling input and output to process data on computer systems; or evaluating, implementing and maintaining computer hardware and software; or converting data from project specifications by developing program code using generally accepted computer programming languages may be substituted for high school education on a year-for-year basis for high school education.
• Candidates may substitute the possession of a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Information Technology, or related field from an accredited college or university and five or more years of experience performing network design and development of an enterprise data network in an organization with extensive level of program integration and reliance on technology for the required experience.
• Candidates may substitute the possession of a Master's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Information Technology, or related field from an accredited college or university and three years of experience performing network design and development of an enterprise data network in an organization with extensive level of program integration and reliance on technology for the required experience.
• Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in the Computer Systems Operations classifications or Computer Systems Operations specialty codes in the Information Technology field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.

Desired Or Preferred Qualifications

Preference will be given to candidates who have one or more of the following:

• Three years of hands-on experience deploying and administering Google Workspace in enterprise environments, including GAM Commands, Apps Scripts & Third-party App Integrations. -Experience in configuring and managing Google Workspace services, including mail delivery, routing, and filtering, including Allowlist & Blocklist; SMTP, data loss prevention (DLP), Retention, and eDiscovery Configuration.
• Proven experience developing and implementing identity and access security policies that will automate the access control management for Google Cloud resources consistently across the domain.

Special Requirements

• Employees in this classification may be subject to call-in 24 hours a day and, therefore, may be required to provide the employing agency with a telephone number where the employee can be reached. Employees may be furnished with a pager or cell phone.
• Applicants for this classification may handle sensitive data. This will require a full scope background investigation prior to appointment. A criminal conviction may be grounds for rejection of the applicant.
• Employees may occasionally be required to travel to field locations and must have access to an automobile in event a state vehicle cannot be provided. Standard mileage allowance will be paid for use of a privately owned vehicle.

SELECTION PROCESS

Please make sure that you provide sufficient information on your application to show that you meet the qualifications for this recruitment. All information concerning your qualifications must be submitted by the closing date. We will not consider information submitted after this date. Successful candidates will be placed on the eligible (employment) list for at least one year.

EXAMINATION PROCESS

The assessment may consist of a rating of your education, training, and experience related to the requirements of the position. It is important that you provide complete and accurate information on your application. Please report all experience and education that is related to this position.

Benefits

• Contractual employees who work for an agency and have a current employment contract of 30 or more hours a week (or on average 130 hours per month) will be eligible for subsidized health benefits coverage for themselves and their dependents. View rates on the Department of Budget & Management website, State Employees, Health Benefits, Contractual/Variable rates.
• Paid leave will accrue at a rate of one hour for every 30 hours worked.

FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS

Online applications are highly recommended. However, if you are unable to apply online, the paper application and supplemental questionnaire may be submitted to: Department of Budget and Management, Recruitment and Examination Division, 301 W. Preston St., Baltimore, MD 21201. Paper application materials must be received in our office by the closing date for the recruitment. No postmarks will be accepted.

For questions regarding this recruitment, please contact the DBM Recruitment and Examination Division at Application.Help@maryland.gov or 410-767-4850, MD TTY Relay Service 1-800-735-2258.

We thank our Veterans for their service to our country.

People with disabilities and bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply.

As an equal opportunity employer, Maryland is committed to recruitment, retaining and promoting employees who are reflective of the State's diversity.