Cloud Architect – Application

Job description

JOB DESCRIPTION

Summary of Role


This role resides in our Cloud enablement team within Corporate IT. We are open to candidates who will reside in London, Ipswich, Reigate, or any of our UK offices.

The Cloud Architect (Applications) will be engaging with Willis Towers Watson IT and Business Unit technology teams to assist them in planning and migrating their applications to cloud. They will be required to interact with multiple application teams to understand how they are or could be leveraging cloud technology and also helping them leverage new technology or functionality when it comes available.

The Business

WTW has a federated technology operating model where Corporate IT and the Line of Business Technology functions work together to deliver technology solutions for the business. Over 3,000 technology professionals deliver core IT services and business applications to 40,000+ WTW colleagues and clients around the world. The primary technology hubs are located in the United States, the U.K., India and the Philippines; however there are technology teams of various sizes in approximately 50 countries.

Corporate IT
Corporate IT reports into the Global CIO and is responsible for global Infrastructure and IT Operations, Corporate Applications (including Finance, HR, CRM, Document Management Solutions, the Intranet and Internet), Information Security and IT Risk. There are c.650 colleagues in Corporate IT.

The Global CIO also chairs the WTW Technology Board where Corporate IT and Line of Business technology leaders convene to drive group wide IT strategies, priorities and initiatives.

Line of Business Technology Functions
WTW is structured into four primary business segments (Corporate Risk & Broking, Human Capital & Benefits, Investment, Risk & Reinsurance and Benefits Delivery and Administration). Each of these se
Principal Duties/Responsibilities

• Working alongside Business Unit technology teams to help them re-architect their applications to harness the full benefits of cloud platforms including designing scalable technical solutions
• Building repeatable templates that can be utilised by Business Unit technology teams to simplify their adoption of cloud platforms
• Assist business units to implement best practices for Application Lifecycle Management, leveraging leading edge technology to help create and maintain an efficient development operations environment
• Providing business units technical guidance on DevOps best practices supporting development of DevOps pipelines
• Assist in shaping corporate polices, processes and initiatives that will improve the way business units make use of cloud platforms
gments is made up of a number of Lines of Business (LOBs).

The core business applications that support the business or are supplied to clients are delivered by Technology teams embedded into the LOBs. These teams drive their own technology delivery strategy reporting up into the business, while leveraging group infrastructure and aligning to global standards where required (e.g. for Information Security). There is a mixture of custom developed business applications (primarily on the Microsoft technologies) and commercial package implementations.

The Role

Principal Duties/Responsibilities:

·  Working alongside Business Unit technology teams to help them re-architect their applications to harness the full benefits of cloud platforms including designing scalable technical solutions
·  Building repeatable templates that can be utilised by Business Unit technology teams to simplify their adoption of cloud platforms
·  Assist business units to implement best practices for Application Lifecycle Management, leveraging leading edge technology to help create and maintain an efficient development operations environment
·  Providing business units technical guidance on DevOps best practices supporting development of DevOps pipelines
·  Assist in shaping corporate polices, processes and initiatives that will improve the way business units make use of cloud platforms

The Requirements


·  Hands on experience in developing and maintaining applications in Cloud environments (preferably Microsoft Azure)
·  Fundamental and detailed understanding of Cloud platforms, primarily Microsoft Azure but knowledge of Oracle Cloud and Amazon AWS is beneficial
·  Strong knowledge of a broad range of application architecture approaches 
·  Experience creating best practise DevOps pipelines and efficient automated deployment workflows
·  Knowledge of continuous integration and continuous delivery methodologies and tooling
·  Experience of deploying Infrastructure as Code
·  Experience working with Information Security to establish a secure development approach that considers security aspects earlier in the development process
·  Ability to present to executives, developers, and engineers, in a way that engages and motivates 
·  Knowledge of test-driven-development approaches (unit and automated) 
·  Experience and knowledge of DevOps models
·  Experience with container technology such as Docker (preferred but not required)
·  Ability to work independently with new and unique ideas
·  Effective communication and documentation skills
·  Ability to work across multiple business segments globally and to understand the unique details of applications in different contexts
·  Hands-on knowledge of many of the below technologies would be beneficial:

                 o Azure / Oracle Cloud / AWS – IaaS and PaaS components
                 o VSTS & TFS 2013/2015/2017 (or similar)
                 o PowerShell & other scripting languages such as Bash, NodeJS, or                      Ruby
                 o SQL: 2008/2012/2014/2016/2017/SQL Azure; SSRS, SSIS

The Company 
Willis Towers Watson is a leading global advisory, broking and solutions company that helps clients around the world turn risk into a path for growth. With roots dating to 1828, Willis Towers Watson has 40,000 employees serving more than 140 countries. We design and deliver solutions that manage risk, optimize benefits, cultivate talent, and expand the power of capital to protect and strengthen institutions and individuals. Our unique perspective allows us to see the critical intersections between talent, assets and ideas – the dynamic formula that drives business performance. Together, we unlock potential. Learn more atwillistowerswatson.com .

Willis Towers Watson is an equal opportunity employer
Willis Towers Watson believes that effectively managing a diverse workforce is vital to our business strategy. We have an obligation to our organization, ourselves and our clients to hire and develop the best people we can find. We will continually review our policies and practices to ensure that all areas of the employment process (including recruiting, hiring, work assignments, compensation, benefits, promotions, transfers, company-sponsored development programs and overall workplace experience) are free from discriminatory practices. We are committed to equal employment opportunities at Willis Towers Watson.

Unsolicited Contact: Any unsolicited resumes/candidate profiles submitted through our web site or to personal e-mail accounts of employees of Willis Towers Watson are considered property of Willis Towers Watson and are not subject to payment of agency fees. In order to be an authorized Recruitment Agency/Search Firm for Willis Towers Watson, any such agency must have an existing formal written agreement signed by an authorized Willis Towers Watson recruiter and an active working relationship with the organization. Resumes must be submitted according to our candidate submission process, which includes being actively engaged on the particular search. Likewise, for our authorized Recruitment Agencies/Search Firms, if the candidate submission process is not followed, no agency fees will be paid by Willis Towers Watson. Willis Towers Watson is an equal opportunity employer.