Exceptional projects for exceptional software and data architects
As a service provider to the federal government for major national IT projects, Softcom is looking for experienced software and data architects who particularly understand user interfaces. “Believe me – as a computer scientist you only get to see projects like this once or twice in a lifetime”, claims Bernhard ” Bernie” von Gunten, Chapter Lead Bern. We asked him what was so special about this job.
“This major project at the federal government, in which Softcom is involved, is an absolutely unique opportunity for a software or data architect”, says “Bernie” von Gunten, himself a software architect and Chapter Lead of our Softcom’s headquarters in Bern, about his last major commitment to Softcom. And it is exactly for such projects that Softcom is currently looking for additional specialists in the field of software and data architecture. “The trick: It must be a person who masters both the technological and human components,” adds Bernie.
These major projects may occur perhaps only once in a computer scientist’s life, are usually large, historically grown systems with numerous interfaces to other systems in the country and abroad. These are, for example, systems in the Department of Finance, the judicial and police authorities or the migration authorities.
Many of these authorities are reorganizing completely. And that’s right: new processes, thousands of interfaces and – that’s what it’s all about today – a complete redesign of the software. A mammoth task and a project of the heart that has enormous relevance for our country.
“An absolutely unique, extraordinary project “, assures Bernhard with shining eyes, visibly enthusiastic about his work. He himself has spent the last two years working on such a project and was recently withdrawn from it to concentrate on building up and expanding the team in Berne and the management of the Chapter Bern.
This software project could be divided into three parts, explains the experienced architect: “Firstly, there is the enormously complex master data management, which moves between highly complex rules of the concerned authorities and the maxim, to develop software as simply as possible. Secondly, issues of international cooperation with foreign authorities. Finally, the third part includes portal services with support services for the population. The tasks of Softcom and the person sought are mainly in the first two areas.
Of APIs and user interfaces
The challenges in such a project are multi-layered, says Bernhard. On the one hand, there is the technical expertise that has to be brought in: The amount of data is enormous, the regulations are influenced by national and international processes. At the same time, we work for thousands of public service employees and millions of citizens – everyone has to deal with such an authority at some point in the end. This is a large-scale company for an architect, in which neither technical nor communication challenges are neglected.
“We are part of a team that works on Value Streams, i.e. on individual project topics,” explains Bernhard. Groups are built around these new features, consisting among others of business analysts and specialist representatives who do a lot of conceptual work.
Bernhard explains: “Architecture is of course very relevant here, but most of the work takes place at a higher level – in an advisory and communicative level”. So you sit in the room right from the start when new features are implemented and you play a major role in designing them.This makes you the first person in the room to have an eye for data architecture and accompany the Value Stream from this perspective. The data architect is also responsible for the documentation and architectural visualization of a new feature.
A further, absolutely critical factor in such a project is the “user interface”, emphasizes Bernhard repeatedly. “You have to be an architect, but you also have to be human.
The responsible persons and users of such government applications, who have little to do with IT and are directly and strongly affected by the new measures, must be picked up.Systems that have grown over the years are being replaced and open communication is required. Furthermore, we also work closely with the IT people of the authorities and, within the company, with Product Owners and developers.
Technology for the future
For Bernie, another outstanding aspect of such national IT projects is the value of the task and the quality standards: “Just the idea of being allowed to build interfaces that are so important for our Swiss economy is great! Here you are doing something that plays a huge role for our country”. The systems are not built for a few years, but with an eye to decades. “At the federal government we develop projects on the gold standard, which is extraordinary in today’s software world,” says the passionate developer.
We are sure that they are out there – the architects that fit perfectly with Softcom and our missions.
Now we just have to find them.
Until maybe even you? Sign up here! We are looking forward to getting to know you.
