Applications Architect

About MCC

Metropolitan Community College is the oldest public institution of higher learning in Kansas City, Missouri, founded in 1915 as the Kansas City Polytechnic Institute. The Junior College of Kansas City, as it was known starting in 1919, was one of the first schools in the country to award an associate degree. Today, MCC offers 125 associate degree and certificate programs.

Metropolitan Community College comprises five campuses on the Missouri side of the Greater Kansas City area 47 major buildings and about 550 acres in all: MCC-Blue River, located in Independence, Missouri; MCC-Longview located in Lee's Summit, Missouri, MCC-Maple Woods located in the Northland of Kansas City, Missouri; MCC-Online and MCC-Penn Valley, located in Midtown Kansas City, Missouri.

MCC is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. In addition, several programs have specific accreditations as well.

***MCC does not provide employer-paid sponsorships.

Job Summary

The Applications Architect is responsible for providing architectural leadership and oversight for enterprise and academic application systems in support of the mission and strategic goals of the College. This position designs, integrates, and governs application solutions to ensure reliability, scalability, security, and regulatory compliance in a public higher education environment. The Applications Architect collaborates with internal stakeholders, development teams, and technical partners to deliver high quality application solutions that support student success, instruction, and administrative operations.

Essential Functions

• Provides architectural direction and leadership for application development and enhancement initiatives.
• Reviews code and technical designs to ensure adherence to established standards, best practices, and security requirements.
• Designs and maintains application architectures that support enterprise systems, integrations, and data exchange.
• Plans and oversees application integrations, migrations, and upgrades, including cloud based and SaaS environments.
• Develops and maintains technical documentation related to application design, system architecture, integrations, and security controls.
• Establishes and promotes architectural standards to reduce technical debt and improve maintainability.
• Works collaboratively with stakeholders, business analysts, developers, and DevOps teams to translate business requirements into effective technical solutions.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Physical Requirements

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a closely related field

Five (5) to ten (10) or more years of progressively responsible experience in software development, with emphasis on application architecture and system design.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working in higher education, preferably at a community college.
• Experience with Ellucian Banner SaaS or other enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems.
• Familiarity with public sector compliance requirements, such as FERPA, accessibility standards, and data security regulations.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Knowledge of software development languages, frameworks, and technologies, including Java, C#, SQL, and related application development tools.

Knowledge of cloud computing platforms and services, including Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and cloud-based application architectures.

Knowledge of software architecture principles and design patterns, including layered architectures, service-oriented architecture (SOA), and microservices.

Knowledge of application programming interfaces (APIs), system integrations, security protocols, and industry best practices for secure application development.

Skill in analyzing complex technical issues, identifying solutions, and implementing effective problem-solving strategies.

Skill in organizing, prioritizing, and managing multiple projects and assignments while meeting established deadlines.

Ability to evaluate business and technical requirements and translate them into effective technology solutions.

Ability to communicate technical concepts effectively to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams in a diverse public sector and higher education environment.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, administrators, vendors, and other stakeholders.

Physical Requirements
Positions in this class typically require grasping, hearing, keyboarding, reaching, repetitive motion, standing, talking, visual acuity, and walking. The work is light work which requires exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force to move objects. Supplemental Information

EEO Statement:Metropolitan Community College is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer that prohibits discrimination or harassment of any person on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, birth, ancestry, national origin, or disability. EOE/M/F/Vets/DisabledAccommodations: MCC is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, MCC will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided with reasonable accommodations in all aspects of employment, including the application process. To request an accommodation and/or a copy of the Americans with Disabilities Act applicant procedures, please contact the Office of Human Resources.