IT Systems Architect

Why FirstOntario?

• Competitive compensation packages
• Top-tier health and wellness benefits, including comprehensive benefits packages, a yearly health spending account and personal spending account
• Enhanced mental health benefits through SunLife and TELUS Health
• Exclusive banking benefits
• Up to $1000 per year towards professional development
• Pension Plan
• Flex-work environment
• Company-wide Employee Volunteer program (Blue Wave Program)
• Employee and Family Assistance Program

Job Overview

The IT Systems Architect is responsible for the strategic design, governance, implementation, and continuous improvement of enterprise infrastructure, cloud platforms, network architecture, security controls, and core technology services. The role ensures that technology solutions support business objectives, regulatory requirements, operational resiliency, and cybersecurity standards while maintaining high levels of availability, performance, scalability, and recoverability. The Systems Architect provides technical leadership across technology initiatives and serves as a key advisor in technology investment and architecture decisions.

Role

• Develop and maintain enterprise infrastructure and systems architecture roadmaps aligned with business strategy.
• Lead architecture reviews and technology selection processes for on-premises, cloud, and hybrid environments.
• Ensure architecture standards, governance frameworks, and technology lifecycles are documented and maintained.
• Document and adhere to approved reference architecture and standards.
• Design highly available, secure, scalable, and resilient infrastructure solutions.
• Provide technical leadership to infrastructure, security, cloud, network, application, and support teams.
• Guide modernization initiatives including cloud adoption, automation, infrastructure as code, and platform optimization.
• Drive business continuity, disaster recovery, backup, replication, and recovery strategies.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory, privacy, audit, and cybersecurity requirements.
• Develop architecture standards supporting certificate management, identity security, privileged access, and segmentation strategies.
• Review outsourcing, procurement, and vendor proposals for architectural compliance and risk management.
• Participate in capacity planning, performance optimization, risk assessments, and technology lifecycle management.
• Develop technology standards and operational runbooks to improve consistency and supportability.
• Provide escalation support for critical incidents and major problem management activities.
• Mentor technical staff and contribute to succession planning and knowledge transfer activities.

Required Skills

• University degree or college diploma in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or equivalent experience.
• 8+ years of progressive IT infrastructure experience, including 5+ years in architecture, engineering, or senior infrastructure leadership roles.
• Demonstrated experience designing enterprise infrastructure in regulated environments.
• Strong experience with hybrid cloud environments including Microsoft Azure.
• Experience with enterprise virtualization platforms including VMware.
• Preferred certifications include: Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert, VMware certifications, Cisco certifications (UCS, Network), NetApp SAN or other SAN certification, ITIL Foundation or higher, Security-related certifications
• Experience with storage technologies, backup platforms, disaster recovery, and business continuity planning.
• Strong knowledge of networking, routing, firewalls, segmentation, wireless, and load balancing technologies.
• Experience leading technical projects and cross-functional initiatives.
• Strategic thinking and architectural planning.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management.
• Coaching and mentoring capabilities.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to influence decisions across technical and business team.

Required Technical Skills

• Microsoft Azure, Entra ID (Azure AD), Microsoft 365, Exchange Online, Windows Server
• Active Directory, Identity and Access Management, Privileged Access Management
• VMware, virtualization technologies, high-availability platforms
• SAN, NAS, storage replication, backup and recovery technologies
• Network architecture including TCP/IP, VLANs, WAN, Wi-Fi, BGP, SD-WAN, firewalls, and load balancing
• Cybersecurity frameworks and standards including NIST CSF, CIS Controls, ISO 27001 and Zero Trust principles
• Infrastructure automation and scripting using PowerShell, Python, and Bash
• Monitoring, observability, and performance management tools
• IT service management practices aligned with ITIL

This role is primarily remote with occasional requirements to come to office in Hamilton, ON.

This posting is for an existing vacancy.

Salary Range: $93,677 to $128,806 annually.

Compensation for this role reflects a combination of skills, experience, and internal equity. Those whose experience more closely aligns the role's requirements may be placed higher within the salary range. You will learn more about FirstOntario Credit Union's total rewards package during the interview process.

Our inclusive work environment welcomes diversity and supports accessibility. If you require accommodation at any time during the recruitment process, please let us know.