What are the responsibilities and job description for the Solutions Architect position at NRTC?
NRTC is Member Driven and Technology Focused – providing solutions that help our 1,500 electric and telephone members bring all the advantages of today’s evolving technology to rural America. NRTC’s solutions are developed specifically to meet the needs of rural utilities and their customers, and include integrated broadband, managed services, smart grid, mobile and video solutions. We are a dynamic, growing cooperative with more than 750 employees operating out of seven office locations.
Job Summary
Rural Cooperatives are playing a leading role in the “Broadband-ification” of rural America. They are making investments in broadband infrastructure that are bridging the digital divide in their communities. This is a generational effort not unlike rural electrification and offers the same kind lasting impact for the communities they serve.
The NRTC Broadband Solutions team works with members to obtain and sort through the necessary data and scopes high level network requirements in order for the members to model, discuss, think through and potentially build broadband networks and business.
The Solution Architecture will collaborate with the member executive (ME) and solution engineering (SE) team to model comprehensive broadband networks utilizing a variety of technologies and NRTC services to meet Member needs. This will include Fiber, Fixed Wireless, Satellite, Microwave, and more. This position coordinates internal & external resources and information to support a feasibility study including deliverables such a full broadband financial model, and effectively transfer the relevant network details to the engineering and project management teams should the Member decide to build the network.
The NRTC Broadband is growing very quickly and this role is vital to our ability to scale. It critical that the selected candidate learns quickly, follows process, applies critical thinking, communicate clearly, and integrate into the NRTC Broadband team effectively.
Business Relationships
Reports to the Senior Director of Broadband Development within Broadband Solutions. Contact with NRTC executive team, business partners, members, vendors, affiliates, contractors, and internal staff members.
Responsibilities
Process and analyze GIS dataset from electric cooperative for telecommunication deployment and financial modeling
Support our member facing team members by creating and managing mapping tools and other data driven presentations
Proper communication for member data acquisition (DAQ)
Produce high-level fiber and wireless designs (training on tools and methods to be provided as part of on-boarding)
Coordinate with contractors and vendors on out-sourced designs, analyses, and study deliverables
Data ownership of Member provided datasets from initial DAQ through to active project and operation
Proper file management leveraging Microsoft Teams
Workflow tracking and updates based on assigned task
Educate clients on our methodology and process
Establish working knowledge of the functionality of the financial model
Other duties as assigned
Qualifications
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
GIS program experience including knowledge of projections and geographic measurements
Example programs: QGIS, Arcmap, AcrGIS
Manipulation, creation, analysis, and interpretation of GIS data
Understanding of various standard GIS data types (i.e.kml/kmz, shapefiles, geodatabases, json/geojson)
Knowledge of various broadband technologies and business case development for technology deployments
Working knowledge of Microsoft Excel
Database management experience preferred (SQL; Postgres/Postgis)
Previous fiber internet design experience preferred
Minimum Education and Experience
Bachelor’s degree in a Technical Field preferred
Experience working with large public datasets such census, broadband data, mapping
Data analysis experience
Example tools: FME, Python
Experience presenting solutions succinctly to all levels of the organization
Physical Demands
Work is typically performed in an office setting or remote location.
Ability to travel up to 10%
