Job Summary: As the Lead Digital Solution Architect, you will take the helm in defining and enhancing the architecture for cutting-edge E-commerce and Lodge Automation technology solutions that engage our guests through digital channels. This role is crucial in crafting top-tier digital experiences at Great Wolf Resorts. You will be responsible for evolving the digital architecture blueprint to meet our business's expanding needs and will be based in our Chicago Corporate Headquarters.
Your collaboration with Digital product and engineering teams will be essential to align with the digital roadmap and develop the application architecture and technical strategies that support our strategic goals. This position also requires hands-on involvement in developing key system components and creating proofs of concept for sophisticated system functionalities.
Key Responsibilities: - Lead software engineering in the design, development, unit testing, and support of web and mobile customer technologies.
- Drive continuous improvement of the underlying architecture and technology stack.
- Develop microservices-based digital solutions for seamless omni-channel customer experiences.
- Exhibit a passion for leveraging technology to enhance customer experiences.
- Assist in crafting the roadmap strategy, vision, and prioritization of goals focused on strategic growth initiatives.
- Understand the digital ecosystem to develop requirement specifications and work closely with product and development teams for technical feasibility.
- Stay updated on e-commerce and technology trends to discover products or enhancements that enhance site and mobile experiences, boosting traffic and conversion.
- Collaborate effectively with executive and department stakeholders to grasp the digital and omni-channel business needs.
- Gain comprehensive product insights to identify innovative uses of smart technology that enhance guest experiences before their stay and onsite.
- Work with engineering and design teams to manage timelines and execute regular product iterations.
- Explore customer needs and build proofs of concept for new ideas and technologies.
- Establish and advocate for security best practices for use by the development team.
- Promote efficient coding and design techniques through reviews to ensure compliance.
- Research and track technical trends to identify emerging products and their potential impacts on the business.
- Utilize observability tools and telemetry data to analyze system performance and test new ideas.
- Mentor the development team to adopt technology best practices.
- Perform competitive market analysis for development and technology trends.
- Act as the primary technical expert for digital product managers and business stakeholders.
- Serve as the liaison for external software providers and vendors.
Required Qualifications: - A bachelor's degree is required; an advanced degree in computer science or a related field is preferred.
- Expertise in C /ASP.NET Core framework with over 10 years of relevant experience.
- Proficient in microservice patterns, data structures, algorithms, and best practices in object-oriented design.
- Strong knowledge of Single Page Application frameworks, particularly React.
- Prior experience as a Digital/Applications Architect or Tech Lead for Digital/E-Commerce platforms.
- Experience with containerized applications and workload/container orchestration using Kubernetes.
- Experience deploying platforms on Azure Cloud and applying Infrastructure as Code principles.
- Familiarity with SQL and NoSQL database systems.
- Experience automating software delivery with CI/CD, ideally in Azure DevOps.
- Strong analytical and creative problem-solving capabilities.
- Extensive integration experience with ERPs and other enterprise platforms.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Self-motivated, detail-oriented, and ability to prioritize tasks effectively.
- Experience in an Agile environment.
- Ability to work from our Chicago Corporate Headquarters on a hybrid-remote schedule (M/F optional work from home and T/W/TH in-office).
Preferred Qualifications: - Experience optimizing website performance for e-commerce platforms.
- Familiarity with LLMs and AI agents to enhance application development.
- A keen interest in new technologies and trends; open to researching disruptive technologies.
- A collaborative mindset that drives action even in the face of obstacles.
- Ability to effectively communicate with executive management.
- Hands-on experience in coding and developing complex, high-transaction systems with an emphasis on scalability and stability.
Estimated Salary Range: $105,000 - $185,000 annual base salary. Compensation will be determined based on factors such as education, qualifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, and performance. The salary range is just one component of Great Wolf's total compensation package, which may include bonuses, a Paid Time Off policy, and additional benefits.
This contractor and subcontractor shall abide by the requirements of 41 CFR 60-1.4(a), 60-300.5(a) and 60-741.5(a), prohibiting discrimination based on protected status and requiring affirmative action for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.