Domain\Technical Architect

Job Summary

Job Summary : The client (a global clinical research/CRO organization referred to internally as "Worldwide") operates two separate SAS 9.4 environments: a primary "Worldwide" environment (4 total core licenses, dual-core configuration, ~10 Citrix front-end servers, several hundred active studies) and a legacy "Catalyst" environment (4 cores, ~100 studies, on a different 9.4 patch level). Both environments are hosted in Azure but not built "Azure-native," are accessed via Citrix thick clients, and rely on a home-grown, undocumented job scheduler ("Wise Runner") that no current employee fully understands. Neither environment has dedicated in-house SAS platform expertise; both were originally stood up by infrastructure, biometrics, and security teams rather than SAS specialists.

Key Responsibilities

Job Responsibilities :

• Conduct a comprehensive current-state assessment of both existing SAS 9.4 environments (Worldwide and Catalyst), including compute/capacity, patch levels, installed software and utilities, folder structures, access-control model, and job scheduling.
• Design a target-state, best-in-class SAS 9.4 architecture with standardized, validated Dev/Test/Prod environments, deployed natively on Azure (Azure-native, not simply lifted-and-shifted infrastructure).
• Define the migration approach and roadmap to move all active and completed Catalyst studies to the new/target environment, and support decommissioning of the legacy Catalyst environment ahead of its license expiration.
• Evaluate the current Citrix/thick-client access model and recommend a thin-client, browser-based access approach; coordinate with the client’s IOMC (identity/access) team on the resulting access-control changes.
• Evaluate "Wise Runner" (the client’s undocumented, home-grown job scheduler) and recommend a standard, supportable replacement - either native SAS scheduling capability or an industry-standard scheduling tool - noting that Wise Runner does not currently support Azure-native deployment.
• Redesign the study folder structure and access-provisioning model (blinded/unblinded data, sponsor-level segregation, study archiving for inactive studies), addressing the current Microsoft folder-count ceiling (~1,000 folders) and prior audit findings around overly broad top-folder access.
• Design an access-governance process, including automatic revocation of study access after a defined inactivity period (e.g., 60 days) with a clean re-request/approval workflow.
• Define standards for data extracts, archiving, and ticket-handling/support workflows so ongoing HCL support operations are consistent, efficient, and able to meet SLAs (including off-hours support).
• Produce clear, opinionated recommendations - not a like-for-like migration - covering what "good" looks like across architecture, tooling, process, and folder/access design, and build the phased execution plan to get there.
• Partner with the HCL Program Lead to size effort and resourcing, and support production of rough estimates to help the client secure internal funding approval.
• Lead and participate in technical discovery workshops with client SMEs (data management, biostatistics) to capture as-is knowledge and validate architecture findings.
• Ensure the target architecture and migration plan meet GxP/validation expectations for a regulated clinical computing environment supporting active FDA/EMA submission timelines.
• Coordinate with the client’s infrastructure, biometrics, and security teams throughout assessment and execution.

Skill Requirements

Skill Requirement :

• 8+ years designing, implementing, and supporting enterprise SAS platforms, with deep SAS 9.4 administration and architecture experience.
• Demonstrated experience leading two or more SAS environment build-outs and/or platform migrations within a regulated pharma, biotech, or CRO environment.
• Hands-on experience architecting validated (GxP) Dev/Test/Prod SAS environments.
• Experience migrating SAS platforms to Azure, specifically Azure-native deployments rather than infrastructure-as-a-service lift-and-shift.
• Strong knowledge of SAS folder/access security models and clinical study data governance (blinded/unblinded access, sponsor-level segregation, archiving of inactive studies).
• Experience replacing thick-client (Citrix) SAS access with browser-based/thin-client access (e.g., SAS Studio or equivalent).
• Experience with SAS batch job scheduling and migrating off custom or homegrown schedulers to standard/supportable tooling.
• Familiarity with Pinnacle 21 and standard CDISC/clinical-data compliance tooling.
• Strong stakeholder-facing communication skills, with the ability to present clear current-state vs. target-state recommendations to non-technical executive sponsors.
• Experience operating within an outsourced/FSP delivery model supporting biostatistics and data management functions.

Other Requirements

Other Requirement :

• 8+ years designing, implementing, and supporting enterprise SAS platforms, with deep SAS 9.4 administration and architecture experience.
• Demonstrated experience leading two or more SAS environment build-outs and/or platform migrations within a regulated pharma, biotech, or CRO environment.
• Hands-on experience architecting validated (GxP) Dev/Test/Prod SAS environments.
• Experience migrating SAS platforms to Azure, specifically Azure-native deployments rather than infrastructure-as-a-service lift-and-shift.
• Strong knowledge of SAS folder/access security models and clinical study data governance (blinded/unblinded access, sponsor-level segregation, archiving of inactive studies).
• Experience replacing thick-client (Citrix) SAS access with browser-based/thin-client access (e.g., SAS Studio or equivalent).
• Experience with SAS batch job scheduling and migrating off custom or homegrown schedulers to standard/supportable tooling.
• Familiarity with Pinnacle 21 and standard CDISC/clinical-data compliance tooling.
• Strong stakeholder-facing communication skills, with the ability to present clear current-state vs. target-state recommendations to non-technical executive sponsors.
• Experience operating within an outsourced/FSP delivery model supporting biostatistics and data management functions.