Architect - Infrastructure

UW Credit Union is hiring a brand-new Architect to join our IT Infrastrcuture Engineering team.

The Infrastructure Architect is a senior technical expert responsible for designing and implementing scalable, secure, and efficient technology frameworks that support the organization’s long-term goals. With expertise in infrastructure, systems, networks, cloud services, and data centers, this role ensures technology solutions align with business needs, enhance performance, and improve resilience.

The ideal candidate is a strong technical leader with the ability to communicate complex concepts clearly and concisely while collaborating with IT teams, business stakeholders, and vendors to drive innovation, reduce costs, and enhance business continuity. A tolerance for ambiguity and a forward-thinking mindset is essential, as this role plays a key part in helping our vision come to light.

As we build our Architect team, we are looking for a leader to set standards, define best practices, and lay a strong foundation for the future. This role provides a broad view of strategic initiatives, technology platforms, and reference architectures to develop solutions that exceed business needs. Beyond design, the Infrastructure Architect will research emerging tools, vendors, and methodologies to shape our infrastructure approach. With autonomy to drive change, this position plays a key role in building a high-performing architecture function and leaving a lasting impact on our IT landscape.

Why Work for UW Credit Union?

Join one of Wisconsin’s premier financial institutions, a 2023 Top Workplaces USA and multi-year recipient of Madison Magazine’s Best Places to Work, Wisconsin State Journal’s Top Workplaces, and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Top Workplaces to receive:

• 21.5+ days of annual paid time off
• 2 weeks paid caregiver leave
• 2.5 weeks paid new child parental leave
• 2 days paid volunteer time
• 11 paid holidays (includes your birthday!)
• 401k company match of up to 5%, plus approximately 4% discretionary match
• Variable bonus reward
• Competitive Medical, Dental and Vision plans, including domestic partner eligibility
• Free bus pass
• Employee Assistance Program
• Hybrid work environment: 3 days a week on-site
• Salary: $135,000 - $160,000; Mid-point is $157,100
• And more!

What You’ll Do

• Architect, design, and deliver resilient, scalable, and cost-effective infrastructure solutions that support business objectives.
• Serve as the primary domain and solution architect for all Infrastructure Services projects, ensuring alignment with business needs.
• Develop and enforce infrastructure standards, best practices, and reference architecture documentation.
• Ensure infrastructure designs comply with security, data privacy, and organizational policies while optimizing performance and stability.
• Forecast future infrastructure needs based on business growth and technology trends, partnering with IT leaders for capacity planning.
• Lead technical evaluations of external software and vendor solutions, providing architectural guidance and subject matter expertise.
• Conduct proof-of-concept (POC) testing, document results, and drive implementation of innovative infrastructure solutions.
• Maintain comprehensive technical documentation, including system diagrams, network architectures, and process flows, to ensure long-term supportability.
• Research emerging technologies, conduct feasibility studies, and recommend hardware, software, and networking solutions to enhance infrastructure capabilities.
• Monitor infrastructure performance, identify areas for improvement, and lead optimization initiatives to enhance efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
• Provide architectural guidance for designing, implementing, and managing infrastructure solutions across cloud, on-prem, and SaaS environments.
• Develop long-term IT infrastructure strategies aligned with business goals, ensuring compliance with industry standards and regulations.
• Provide technical guidance, mentorship, and cross-domain support during project implementations, major upgrades, and high-risk maintenance activities.
• Partner with business units and technology teams to deliver infrastructure solutions, support proof-of-concepts, and drive collaboration across architecture disciplines.

What You’ll Need to Succeed

• 8+ years of experience as an Architect in a medium to large infrastructure/network environment, with a proven track record designing and delivering enterprise solutions.
• Strong understanding of IT infrastructure components, including servers, networks, and storage, with expertise in virtualization, cloud computing (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud), and data center technologies.
• Deep knowledge of network architecture principles, design patterns, and security best practices.
• Ability to analyze complex technical challenges, propose effective solutions, and ensure compliance with industry standards and regulatory requirements.
• Strong project management and organizational skills, with experience leading infrastructure initiatives across teams and stakeholders in a medium-to-large-scale IT environment.
• Hands-on experience with scripting languages (PowerShell, Python, Ansible, Bash, etc.), ITIL/ITSM processes, system integration, middleware technologies, and DevOps methodologies.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to translate technical concepts for non-technical stakeholders and collaborate across teams.
• Strong mentoring and coaching abilities to support team development, provide technical guidance, and foster collaboration.
• Relevant certifications (e.g., TOGAF, Azure Certified Solutions Architect) are preferred.

UW Credit Union is committed to providing Equal Employment Opportunity(EEO) to all employees and applicants and prohibits discrimination of any type without regard to race, color, ethnicity, gender, age, disability status, pregnancy, religion, religion creed, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetics, citizenship status, national origin, political belief, ancestry, military status, protected veteran status, arrest or conviction record or any other characteristics protected by federal, state or local laws.