Application Architect

Introduction

A career in IBM Consulting is rooted by long‑term relationships and close collaboration with clients across the globe. You’ll work with visionaries across multiple industries to improve the hybrid cloud and AI journey for the most innovative and valuable companies in the world. Your ability to accelerate impact and make meaningful change for your clients is enabled by our strategic partner ecosystem and our robust technology platforms across the IBM portfolio.

Role Overview

An Application Architect is responsible for managing the overall application system, ensuring seamless interactions between components. The role establishes technology standards, translates business objectives into technology standards, and selects, defines, and enforces consistent products, vendors, methodologies, and standards. The Architect should be proficient in C/C++, Python, and familiar with architectural patterns, consulting clients on strategies and roadmaps, and ensuring application support, performance, availability, and scalability.

Responsibilities

• Lead cross‑functional teams in developing custom solutions and mentoring junior developers in best practices and design patterns.
• Work closely with client teams and vendor teams.
• Communicate effectively in both verbal and written formats.
• Apply security best practices (ISO 26262, IEC 62443, NIST 800‑53, ITSG‑33) and secure communications, securing data in transit and at rest.
• Demonstrate strong initiative and ability to prioritize tasks.
• Be creative, forward‑thinking, and adaptable to a fast‑paced environment within client‑committed timelines.

Qualifications

• Location: Located in Ottawa, ON – all work will be done on site at the IBM office.
• Citizenship & Eligibility: Must be a Canadian citizen or Canadian Permanent Resident, or hold dual/third nationality from an approved country list including Canada, United States, United Kingdom, etc. Candidates must also be eligible to obtain Secret Clearance issued by the Government of Canada.
• Required Education: Bachelor’s Degree.
• Preferred Education: Master’s Degree.
• Required Technical Expertise:
  • Experience in the Defence Industry.
  • Low‑Level Programming and Embedded Systems (C/C++; Python, bitwise operations, memory management, microcontroller programming, device drivers & firmware development, message‑passing protocols, system engineering).
  • Networking and communications protocols (serial, Modbus, MIL‑STD‑1553B, custom binary messaging).
  • Real‑time and operating systems (embedded Linux), multi‑threaded applications, and troubleshooting.
  • System architecture and design for custom applications, hardware heterogeneity, software modularity, maintainability, data serialization, and security.
  • Integration and interoperability bridging old and new technologies, middleware development (API gateways, event brokers, service mesh, event mesh).
  • User Interface Programming (JavaScript/TypeScript, Angular, React, Node.js).
• Preferred Technical & Professional Experience:
  • Analytical thinking
  • Creative thinking
  • Resilience, flexibility, and agility
  • Motivation and self‑awareness
  • Curiosity and lifelong learning
  • Technological literacy
  • Dependability and attention to detail
  • Empathy and active listening
  • Leadership and social influence
  • Quality control
• Clearances: Candidates must have or be eligible to obtain Secret Clearance. NATO and Controlled Goods Clearances will be required once Secret Clearance is proven.

IBM is proud to be an equal‑opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, pregnancy, disability, neurodivergence, age, or other characteristics protected by applicable law. IBM is also committed to compliance with all fair employment practices regarding citizenship and immigration status.