Solution Architect - Engineering Experience - remote

Solution Architect

The Solutions Architect is responsible for designs and oversight of applications for their assigned team(s). This involves the uniformity of application implementations under their influence, proper performance of those applications, and the team's developed solutions are within enterprise direction. This position will be responsible for ensuring that software developed meets CarMax® architectural and quality expectations and requires a knowledge about all applicable business processes.

The Solutions Architect works with the Enterprise Architecture team to develop standards and design patterns. This position will work with various IT teams to champion the adoption of patterns, platforms, and architectural tools.

Solutions Architect provide mentorship and are asked to provide positive and developmental feedback and capitalizes on teachable moments to grow others. This position is responsible for the technical training of associates.

What You Will Do – Essential Responsibilities

• Partner and define a strategy for teams across the full software development lifecycle to understand their challenges and needs, ensuring that they have the tools and support necessary to succeed in their roles.
• Design and implement best practices that elevate developer experience, leveraging AI-driven tools for code generation, review, and automation within the SDLC.
• Establish intelligent monitoring and observability platforms that use machine learning to proactively detect, prevent, diagnose, and resolve issues across hundreds of application instances, ensuring consistent reliability and streamlined maintenance.
• Collaborate in integrating AI solutions that enhance workflow efficiency, accelerate delivery, and support continuous improvement of application quality and developer productivity.
• Continuously evaluate emerging trends in AI, generative AI/LLM capabilities, and software engineering to ensure our developer practices and SDLC remain at the forefront of industry innovation and operational excellence.
• Lead efforts that embed reliability, SRE best practices, and cost effectiveness throughout the enterprise.
• Collaborate with colleagues in product design, product management and systems architecture to develop experimental solutions and bring great ideas to life.
• Market your innovative ideas internally and evolve them according to feedback and critique within an agile environment.
• Stay on top of industry trends and best practice to continuously improve what we do and ensure our customer experience is the best it can be.
• Provide leadership and mentoring to engineers.

Purpose of the Role

Solution Architects within the Engineering Experience group work collaboratively across multiple teams and domains, partnering closely with engineers and other Solution Architects to design and implement solutions that deliver outstanding developer experiences. Recognized as technical leaders and platform advocates, they are responsible for establishing and promoting standards and best practices, driving the adoption of innovations in developer experience and reliability across the organization. Their broad perspective enables them to act as agents of change and foster continuous learning, making an impact that extends well beyond a single team.

Solution Architects play a key role in setting the technical direction for multiple teams and doing hands-on development where it furthers their mission. They provide guidance and influence technical decisions across the organization, ensuring consistency and excellence in standards and practices. As mentors and champions of technical innovation, Solution Architects strive to enhance the developer experience and continually improve engineering outcomes throughout the enterprise.

It takes a passion for technology to develop ground-breaking products. Working collaboratively and creatively as part of the Engineering Experience group, you will be involved in the development process from end to end: consulting users, conducting experiments, tackling complex business problems, and implementing new products. You can balance developer needs with business goals and know how to deliver technical solutions that enhance business value. Creative, curious, and highly analytical, you never stop learning and thrive on constant change in the digital marketplace.

Qualifications and Requirements

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Decision Science, Engineering, Statistics, or a related field, or equivalent alternative education, skills, and/or practical experience is required and 8+ years of relevant work experience OR
• Master’s degree in Computer Science, Decision Science, Engineering, Statistics, or a related field, or equivalent alternative education, skills, and/or practical experience is required and 6+ years of relevant work experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Track record of driving implementation of architecture designs and patterns in durable user-facing systems at scale
• Track record of applying quantitative and qualitative analysis to solve complex problems across software engineering teams
• Expert experience as a software developer working with product teams
• Expert knowledge of programming languages/platforms such as C#, .NET, Azure, cloud-based SaaS, and PaaS solutions is preferred.
• Expert in DevOps capabilities such as automated testing, continuous integration, and continuous delivery
• Expert knowledge of relational databases such as MS and SQL server is preferred.
• Extensive experience with API design and integration is preferred.
• Proven ability to mentor and develop others
• Exceptional communication skills

Software Specific Qualifications and Requirements

Experience in the following required:

• AI/ML integration into SDLC
• AI-driven observability and reliability
• AI-based developer tooling
• Python for AI/ML development and integration
• Infrastructure as Code automation
• Advanced Microsoft .NET (C#)
• Microsoft Azure
• API designs
• Automated/Performance Testing
• Stateless/Sessions Design
• Distributed Servers
• Continuous Integration
• Security and Data Protection
• Data Storage Solutions
• Reusable Code and Libraries
• Server-Side Logic
• Database Schemas
• Data Migration and Scripting
• Authentication/Authorization
• Security Compliance
• Unit Testing

Experience in the following preferred:

• HTML5/CSS3/JavaScript
• JavaScript Frameworks (ReactJS)
• Responsive design
• Microsoft SQL Server Scripting and Data Models
• W3C Standards
• Web Server/IIS Configuration
• Container Orchestration (Kubernetes, Docker)

Work Location and Arrangement : Work location is flexible if approved by the Company

Work Authorization: Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. Sponsorship will not be considered for this specific role.

The Compensation Range for this position is: $128,900- $206,200

Full-Time Associates enjoy health benefits including medical/dental/vision, wealth benefits including 401k plan, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, access to spending accounts, as well as paid time off benefits. More details can be found at benefits.carmax.com

CarMax disrupted the auto industry by delivering the honest, transparent and high-integrity experience customers want and deserve. This innovative thinking around the way cars are bought and sold has helped us become the nation's largest retailer of used cars, with over 250 locations nationwide.

Our amazing team of more than 25,000 associates work together to deliver iconic customer experiences. Along the way, we help every associate grow their career and achieve their best, at work and in their community. We are recognized for our commitment to training and diversity and are one of the FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For®.

CarMax is committed to bringing together people from different backgrounds and perspectives, providing employees with a safe, welcoming, and inclusive work environment.

CarMax is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by law.