Solutions Architect

Metrolinx is connecting communities across the Greater Golden Horseshoe. Metrolinx operates GO Transit and UP Express, as well as the PRESTO fare payment system. We are also building new and improved rapid transit, including GO Expansion, Light Rail Transit routes, and major expansions to Toronto’s subway system, to get people where they need to go, better, faster and easier. Metrolinx is an agency of the Government of Ontario.

At Metrolinx, equity, diversity and inclusion are essential to living our values of serving with passion, thinking forward and playing as a team.

PRESTO is an electronic transit fare payment system in the Greater Toronto, Hamilton and Ottawa areas that eliminates the need for tickets, passes and cash. PRESTO serves more than 5 million customers across 11 transit agencies and processes over $2.5 billion in fares through 67 million boardings per month (pre-pandemic). Today, PRESTO offers one of the most globally advanced fare payment systems in the world having delivered new ways to pay for customers, including real time PRESTO Contactless with credit and Interac debit and PRESTO in Mobile Wallet across its transit agency clients, including the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). Enhancing the customer experience through continuous improvement while working with our transit agency clients to support their needs, and maintaining a system that performs exceptionally, continue to drive PRESTO toward making transit better for all.

The Solution Architect leads the architecture and design of complex, end-to-end technology solutions across applications, platforms, cloud services, integrations, data, security and, where applicable, integrated hardware and endpoint technologies.

Working with Product and Platform Owners, business stakeholders, delivery teams, clients and vendor partners, the role translates business and technical requirements into secure, scalable, resilient, maintainable and supportable solutions aligned with organizational architecture standards and technology roadmaps.

The Solution Architect provides technical leadership throughout the solution lifecycle, from ideation and requirements through design, integration, testing, implementation and operational transition, while supporting lifecycle management and continuous improvement.

What will I be doing?

Functional/Technical

• Develop high-level and detailed end-to-end solution architectures and technology roadmaps across software and hardware technologies.
• Translate business and technical requirements into architecture, design, integration and implementation approaches.
• Define and apply architecture standards, patterns and best practices and conduct architecture and design reviews.
• Design and oversee integration across applications, APIs, platforms, networks, cloud services, third-party solutions and integrated hardware, where applicable.
• Ensure solutions meet requirements for security, scalability, reliability, performance, resilience, interoperability, maintainability and supportability.
• Provide technical leadership through prototyping, development, integration, testing, implementation and production transition.
• Define technical verification and validation expectations and review solution designs, test strategies and vendor technical deliverables.
• Evaluate technology options and communicate technical benefits, risks, costs, dependencies and trade-offs.
• Ensure technology decisions consider lifecycle, supportability, compatibility, obsolescence and future technology evolution.
• Research emerging technologies and recommend opportunities for modernization and continuous improvement.

Customer/Stakeholder

• Collaborate with Product, Platform, Engineering, Operations, Cybersecurity, Delivery, Procurement and business stakeholders to develop effective technology solutions.
• Lead technical solutioning in complex cross-functional and multi-vendor environments.
• Facilitate technical discussions, architecture workshops and design decisions across internal and external stakeholders.
• Provide strategic technical advice regarding architecture direction, technology choices, risks and implementation options.

• Support technical requirements, specifications, procurement evaluations and vendor solution assessments.

Operational Excellence

• Ensure architecture incorporates appropriate monitoring, observability, security, resilience, recoverability and operational support capabilities.

• Support production readiness, technical troubleshooting and root-cause analysis of complex cross-system issues.

• Identify architectural risks, technical debt and opportunities for standardization or modernization.

• Develop reusable architecture standards, reference patterns and technical guidelines.

• Support technology lifecycle planning, upgrades, migration and obsolescence management.

Financial Stewardship

• Provide technical input to business cases, project estimates and technology investment decisions.

• Evaluate architectural options considering implementation, operating and lifecycle costs.
• Partner with Procurement and project teams to support value-for-money technology decisions.

Technical Leadership

• Provide technical direction to multidisciplinary architecture, engineering, development, testing and vendor teams.

• Mentor technical resources and promote architecture and engineering best practices.

• Lead architecture reviews and facilitate technical decision-making across complex initiatives.

• Influence technical outcomes across teams without direct supervisory authority.

What Skills and Qualifications Do I Need?

Education: Completion of a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Technology, or a related field

Experience

• Demonstrated years of progressively responsible experience designing, developing, integrating or supporting complex technology solutions.

• Demonstrated Solution Architecture, Systems Architecture or equivalent technical leadership experience.

• Experience across multiple technology domains including applications, integrations/APIs, cloud/platform services, infrastructure, data, security and integrated hardware/software solutions.

• Experience working in complex multi-team and multi-vendor environments.Experience working in payment industries and/or integrating solutions with various PSP

Technical Competencies:

• Strong knowledge of solution architecture principles, architecture patterns and systems-design best practices.

• Experience with architecture frameworks such as TOGAF or comparable methodologies.

• Experience developing conceptual, logical, integration and deployment architectures.

• Strong understanding of APIs, distributed systems, cloud services, integration patterns and security architecture.

• Experience with Microsoft Azure preferred; AWS or GCP experience is an asset.

• Understanding of Agile, DevOps, CI/CD, system integration and testing practices.

• Experience with integrated hardware/software or endpoint solutions, including fare payment and fare collection equipment such as vending machines, payment terminals, tablets, mobile devices and associated peripherals, is an asset.

• Understanding of digital platforms, architecture principles and design patterns for implementing various digital channels (website, mobile applications, webchat).

• Familiarity with relevant , hardware certifications, transportation industry standards, security, privacy, and accessibility (AODA) standards. Experience with PCI DSS, PCI PTS, EMV is an asset.

• Strong analytical, systems-thinking and problem-solving skills.

• Strong communication and presentation skills with the ability to explain complex technical decisions and trade-offs.

Don’t Meet Every Requirement?

If you’re excited about working with Metrolinx but your past experience doesn’t quite align with every qualification of this posting, we encourage you to apply. You just might be the right candidate for this or other roles. We are always looking for great talent to join our team.

We invite all interested individuals to apply and encourage applications from members of equity-deserving communities, including those who identify as Indigenous, Black, racialized, women, people with disabilities, and people with diverse gender identities, expressions and sexual orientations.

Accommodation:
Metrolinx is an equal opportunity employer and committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce. We are also committed to offering reasonable accommodation to job applicants in accordance with applicable legislation. If you require assistance or an accommodation at any point during the hiring process, please contact us at: 416-202-5601 or email [email protected].

Application Process:

All applicants must be legally entitled to work in Canada. Metrolinx will be using email to communicate with you for all job competitions. It is your responsibility to include an updated email address that is checked daily and accepts emails from unknown users. As we send time-sensitive correspondence, we recommend that you check your email regularly. If no response is received, we will assume you are no longer interested in pursuing the opportunity. Please be advised that a Criminal Record Check may be required of the successful candidate.

For Internal applicants, with the recent implementation of the Internal Mobility Policy, the internal recruitment process has changed for non-union roles. Candidates must be in their current role for 12 months prior to applying for another role and each applicant must be in good standing (not participating in a Performance Improvement Plan). Please review all provisions of the policy before submitting your application.

Should it be determined that any background information provided is misleading, inaccurate or incorrect, Metrolinx reserves the right to discontinue with the consideration of your application.

We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

WE ARE AN EQUITABLE AND INCLUSIVE EMPLOYER.

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