Application Development Architect

Requirements

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company currently has an opening for an Application Development Architect at its corporate headquarters in Akron, Ohio.

Goodyear is one of the world's largest tire companies. The company employs about 70,000 people and manufactures its products in more than 60 facilities in 26 countries around the world. For more information about Goodyear go to www.goodyear.com/corporate

Primary Purpose of the Position:
This position is part of the Corporate IT Middleware Team. The Middleware Team is responsible for a variety of Middleware Solutions supporting data transmission for North American Tire, Goodyear Business System, Corporate Finance, Chemical Division, Latin America, Asia and Europe. Middleware Solutions are deployed in SAP XI, SAP R/3, Client Server (UNIX) and Mainframe environments. The Team utilizes SAP XI Adaptor Tools, SAP R/3 ABAP and Unix Script.
The Application Architect applies expertise in programming procedures to complex programs; recommends the redesign of programs, investigates and analyzes feasibility and program requirements, and often develops program specifications. Assigned programs typically affect a broad multi-user, multi-process, cross platform environment. The Architect uses knowledge of technology and methodology tools, infrastructure, work processes, regulations and management practices to analyze business opportunities. Architects may function as a sub team lead for lower level staff or may take on leadership role in small to medium sized initiatives.

Principle Duties and Responsibilities:
1. Analyze business needs and identify effective, potential technical solutions. Project involvement is multi-disciplinary and complex in scope. A thorough awareness of Goodyear's technical environment, coupled with cross- functional knowledge of business process, is needed to make decisions. Specifically, this position will be responsible for Goodyear Global SAP Interface Architecture on five SAP Landscapes and the Goodyear SAP XI Interface Architecture on the SAP XI Landscapes. Includes training and answering the questions of the user community, maintaining the ABAP application, maintaining the UNIX scripts, developing new solutions as needed and enhancing the existing solutions as requested by the users.
2. Design and develop new processes, programs and configuration to support the business. Translate process into practice through the current Information Technology and Methodology tool sets, all the while promoting acceptance from the stakeholder community through active participation.
3. Conduct full unit and integration testing scenarios. Document and write operational instructions for all work requirements. This documentation may serve as training material for the stakeholder community or operational group.
4. Troubleshoot, investigate and persist. Develop solutions to problems with unknown causes by applying logic, inference, persistence and experience with creative initiative. Confer with stakeholder community on problem determination. Make joint analysis decisions on cause and correction methods. Provide cross-functional support and maintenance for responsible areas. Perform tasks necessary to ensure data integrity and system stability.
5. Provide knowledge transfer on current technologies and application design methodologies to junior level staff and stakeholders. Provide knowledge transfer on business process practice to junior level team members.
6. Conduct cost/benefit analysis through evaluation of alternative design approaches to determine best-balanced solution. Best-balanced solution is one that satisfies the immediate stakeholder needs, meets system requirements and facilitates subsequent change.
7. Track to project plans. Monitor results and make adjustments to priorities in order to accomplish objectives on time and under budget.
8. Assume basic Team Lead assignments from task planning through implementation of small systems or components of larger complex system. Supervise junior level team members when appropriate.

Relevant technical skills & knowledge pertaining to position:
* Specific knowledge of more than one of the current information technology toolsets.
* Specific knowledge of the business process area supported.
* Specific knowledge of cross-functional business process areas affected indirectly.
* Specific knowledge of the current Office Product suite.
* Developing an understanding of project planning tools.
* Preparation and participation in management presentations concerning project proposals or reporting results.

Qualifications:

Required-
* Associate's or higher level Degree in Computer Science, MIS or related discipline or equivalent technical work experience is required. Equivalent work experience must include: 10 or more years general Information Technology experience; 2 or more years specific business process area experience.
* NOTE: In some departments a 4-Year degree or certification may be required for this position.
* 10 or more years experience in applying current information technology to specific areas of the business. General knowledge of a broad business process.
* Experience with SAP Version 4.6c or higher
* 2 or more years of experience with SAP R/3 ABAP

OTHER INFORMATION:
* This position requires participation in a 24x7 on-call rotation. The incumbent must be willing to carry a pager and respond to critical performance issues when on call.
* Associate must be capable of working independently under overall objectives, prioritization and direction.
* Associate must possess basic leadership, organizational, communication and time management skills.
* Associate must participate as an active team member, providing value-added input that others can learn from. Practice effective listening skills. Practice effective collaboration skills.
* Associate must achieve all information technology objectives through use of approved standards and guidelines. Affect creation of new guidelines when needed to support new technology tools and business processes.
* This position interacts with all levels of Information Technology staff, all levels of stakeholder community and any level of management from either group. The position also interacts with external customers to consult on technical or business process expectations.

Goodyear offers a comprehensive benefit program along with a competitive salary commensurate with education and experience.

Applicants must be lawfully authorized to work in the U.S.

Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer