Solution Architect

Position Title: Solution Architect 

Department: Information Technology 

Join our Team! At IHDA we strive to create and maintain a work environment that promotes diversity, recognition and inclusion. IHDA is committed to hiring and investing in individuals of diverse talents and backgrounds to ensure a range of perspectives and experiences inform and guide our work of financing affordable housing in the state of Illinois. 

Who we are: The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) is one of the Nation’s preeminent Housing Finance Agencies and one of the State’s ten largest financial institutions. Our mission is to finance the creation and preservation of affordable housing across the state. IHDA oversees more than 20 federal and state programs on behalf of the state of Illinois and serves as one of the state’s primary resources for housing policy and program administration. For over 50 years, IHDA has led the state in financing and supporting affordable housing. 

Summary: Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA), one of the Nation’s preeminent Housing Finance Agencies and one of the State’s ten largest financial institutions, is currently seeking a Solution Architect to build upon its 50+-year leadership in housing finance.

The Solution Architect is a hands-on technical leader responsible for designing, governing, and guiding the implementation of enterprise application and integration solutions. This role collaborates with business stakeholders, development teams, and cross-functional IT groups to define architectural direction, ensure solution alignment with IHDA’s standards, and oversee the successful delivery of secure, scalable, high-performing systems.

Essential Functions:

• Partner with business stakeholders, IT teams, and vendors throughout the SDLC to ensure solutions align with architectural standards, coding best practices, and PMO methodologies.
• Lead architectural discussions to evaluate requirements, assess technical feasibility, and design end‑to‑end solutions for enterprise systems and applications.
• Develop architectural blueprints, solution diagrams, integration patterns, and technical roadmaps.
• Provide hands-on technical leadership and mentor engineers in architecture principles, design patterns, and emerging technologies.
• Evaluate new technologies, conduct Proofs of Concept, and recommend improvements to IHDA’s technology ecosystem.
• Establish and promote best practices for application architecture, integration, performance, security, scalability, and maintainability.
• Collaborate with Project Managers to ensure architectural alignment across project milestones and deliverables.
• Identify risks, inefficiencies, and vulnerabilities in systems, guiding corrective action through improved design or process enhancements.
• Lead code, design, and security reviews to ensure adherence to architectural and coding standards.
• Provide Tier‑3 technical oversight during high‑severity incidents and drive long‑term remediation strategies.
• Support and refine release management processes, ensuring technical readiness and documentation completeness.
• Continuously improve architecture processes, integration frameworks, DevOps practices, and development standards.
• Spend approximately 30–50% of their time coding, primarily for proofs of concept and complex technical solutions
• Additional duties as assigned.

Education and Experience Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Technology, or related technical field preferred. 
• 7–10 years of hands-on experience with: 
  • Microsoft database technologies including SQL Server 2014+, SSIS, Power BI, and data warehouse concepts.
  • Microsoft web technologies: .NET Core, .NET 4.6+, C#, ASP.NET, HTML, XML, JavaScript, jQuery, JSON.
  • API and website design, including corresponding data and integration architecture.
  • Implementing and managing CI/CD pipelines using Azure DevOps (Repos, Pipelines, Boards). 
  • Git, Azure DevOps, source control, testing methodologies, and configuration/change management. 
• 3–5 years of experience developing applications for SharePoint 2016+/Online, including: 
  • SharePoint out-of-the-box features (pages, forms, workflows, App Catalog)
  • Templates, Page Layouts, Web Parts and Object Model
• Experience architecting high performing, responsive, secure, scalable solutions using Azure App Services and related Azure technologies. 
• Strong SQL database development skills, including performance tuning, indexing strategies, and optimization using SQL Profiler. 
• Experience with project/issue management tools such as Jira or Monday.com, and strong familiarity with SDLC and PMO processes. 
• Strong troubleshooting, communication, documentation, collaboration, and problem-solving skills. 
• Experience with AI agent development and emerging AI best practices
• Self-starter with initiative, ownership, and a positive, high energy approach.
• Experience with Crystal Reports and SSRS in transactional and data warehouse environments preferred.

Physical Requirements: Alternating between sitting, standing, and walking. Ascending and descending stairs. Crouching and stooping. Pushing and pulling. Reaching overhead or below. Repetitive task movements (filing, keyboarding, copying). Lifting, carrying, and moving objects of up to 10 -15 pounds.

What we Offer:

• Paid time off, plus paid holidays
• Currently in a hybrid work arrangement, but candidates must reside in Illinois at time of hire
• Medical/dental/vision/life insurance plans
• Short/long term disability 
• Tuition reimbursement 
• Flex spending
• 401K plan – immediate vesting
• IHDA employees may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs
• Salary range: $111,503.84 - $139,379.80

Must be a resident of Illinois or willing to relocate. Flexible scheduling is available, upon completion of a six-month probationary period.

EOE