Chief Software Architect – Parallels Automation

Position: Chief Software Architect - Parallels Automation

Reporting to: VP,  Automation Systems

Location: Moscow, Russia,  Seattle Metro Area, USA or Washington DC area, USA

Contact: Oleg Melnikov <om@parallels.com), +1 (703) 606-2326

Executive Summary

Parallels (http://www.parallels.com), a leading provider of hosting automation and virtualization software, is looking for a highly motivated individual with extensive experience in creating and refactoring architectures of large-scale system management and automation software products and product lines. This high-impact position, to be based in Renton, Washington or Moscow, Russia, will report to VP of Platform Development and provide a unique opportunity to influence success of a dynamic fast-growing software company.

Compensation includes a competitive salary, bonus and benefits package with a very attractive stock option plan. Responsibilities include being in charge of architecting, evangelizing, planning and supervising implementation of the Parallels Open Platform.

Parallels Open Platform includes:

• internal platform - a set of common components and frameworks to be used by all Parallels Automation product family with the goal of unifying code bases of the products and increasing code reuse;
• external platform - a set of technologies, protocols and services that software vendors and service providers can use to create and sell Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) products.

The Position

Summary

The Chief Architect will be tasked with driving architecture and development of Parallels Open Platform.

Parallels Open Platform consists of internal and external platforms:

• Internal platform - a set of common components and frameworks to be used by all Parallels Automation product family. The effort will focus on creating a unified domain model, minimizing number of code bases and maximizing code reuse among individual products.
• External SaaS platform - a set of technologies, protocols and services from Parallels that software vendors and service providers will use to create, deploy, manage and sell Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) products. The effort will focus on minimizing the effort required from software vendors and service providers to adopt SaaS. That includes creating and driving industry standardization of common technologies and services such as service provisioning and update, licensing, integration and so on.

The position will be based in Moscow, Russia or Renton, Washington or Washington DC area. Even if a candidate cannot move to Russia, he/she will still be expected to spend at least 25% of his/her work time in Moscow.

The position reports directly to the VP, Automation Systems

Responsibilities

• Drive architecture and development of the internal and external platforms by leading and coordinating work of architecture teams.
• Drive internal and external evangelization efforts targeted at increasing adoption of the platform technologies by internal product teams and external ISVs.
• Provide direction and structure for the following activities:

Development of the platform

• Analyze current products and their components with the goal of reusing existing code and minimizing the development cost and time to market.
• Create architecture of the Parallels Open Platform. Define major functional subsystems and components, their interfaces and protocols, development technologies to be used for development.
• Create a roadmap of platform development and delivery with internal releases every 6 months.
• Manage central architecture team to deliver the platform.

Transition to the platform

• Work with product managers and product architects to incorporate implementation of platform components into product roadmaps and ensure that adoption of platform technologies among individual products is consistent and preserves compatibility.
• Ensure that transition to the platform brings marketable advantages to the products.

Evangelizing the platform

• Make sure that Parallels employees and customers understand the vision and goals of Parallels Open Platform.
• Drive technical marketing effort for the platform - whitepapers, presentations, blogs, and conference participation.

Requirements

The Chief Architect must have exhibited the talent to create and deliver complex software architectures and products.  He/she needs to have:

• 15 years or more of experience with at least 5 years as a product or a product line architect
• Extensive experience with the enterprise management and automation products and related technologies
• Extensive experience and hands-on knowledge of C++, COM+/CORBA/Java EE, Web Services/SOA
• Proven success record in creating and implementing complex software architectures for several successive versions of a product or a product line
• Experience with working with or participating in industry standard groups
• Excellent communicator and consensus builder
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Able and willing to undertake significant international travel (at least 50% of the total time)
• Conversational Russian a plus