Functional Engineer Digital

We’ve been pioneering a world of possibilities to bring surfaces to life for well over 200 years. As experts in making coatings, there’s a good chance you’re only ever a few meters away from one of our products. Our world class portfolio of brands – including Dulux, International, Sikkens and Interpon – is trusted by customers around the globe. We’re active in more than 150 countries and have set our sights on becoming the global industry leader. It’s what you’d expect from the most sustainable paints company, which has been inventing the future for more than two centuries.

Job Description -Functional Engineer Digital (Web)

1. Purpose of the job

The AkzoNobel Digital team in IT is responsible for the DevOps delivery of our Digital Marketing, Commerce, Sales and Service capabilities. Following a multi-disciplinary agile delivery setup, the IT team is responsible for the application and infrastructure delivery across our online channels (web, app, commerce and portals). Next to the customer channels, the team is responsible to drive the technical capabilities / enablers to manage product information, compliance, analytics and integrations.

Within this team we are looking for a functional engineer who will be responsible to design, develop, test, and implement IT solutions and processes for Web.

AkzoNobel has a large portfolio of websites (1000+) and webservices, which we deliver to our customers across the globe. We focus on technologies like Adobe Experience Manager, Akamai and various software-as-a-service products for specific capabilities. The DevOps responsibilities include website migrations, continuous feature developments, IT operations, maintenance and support shared across multiple delivery teams.

The Functional Engineer in the Digital Domain is responsible for detailing design and hardwiring business requirements as per Architectural and Security guidelines. This is done through Agile DevOps teams. The Functional Engineer sees to properly coordinate, review, approve and execute stories and has an active role monitoring status, in (unit)testing and change management once developed, including organizing sign-off after testing. The Functional Engineer has an active role in the preparation and execution of the actual changes together with our partners and external consultants where applicable. On request, a Functional Engineer can be asked to be involved in solving urgent high priority incidents and plays a role in process improvements alongside with business.

The work delivery is organized in agile teams under the leadership of a Scrum Master. Depending on the seniority of the Engineer, he/she will also assume these Scrum Master activities as a role or will take the lead in delivery of end-to-end changes. It is the intention that more and more work get done as the teams continue to stabilize and work more efficiently.

The Functional Engineer will participate in improving the way we manage our financials. This includes but is not limited to entering purchase orders and everything that needs to be done before the work starts. Ensuring we have the right provisions in place that reflect the expected spend, even if invoices come in much later. Proper contract and supplier management needs to be executed to ensure that existing contracts are timely renewed given us enough time to see how we can improve/optimize the current conditions or to stop a current service or support.

2. Key responsibilities

Story specification

Translate business requirements into clear detailed designs. Own and develop high quality Stories for Engineers and External Consultants to then translate into code or config. This includes specifications for testing and successful operations like monitoring requirements etc.

Development & delivery

Guide, coordinate and oversee the preparation and execution and implementation of the changes and the development of the code/config of Stories. Ensure that all partners follow established standards (process- & documentation standards, coding and testing standards, naming conventions etc.). Review, Approve and control the implementation and/or embedding of new, enhancements and/or modifications of applications, systems and/or solutions. This results in building sustainable and stable first-time right solutions in a very collaborate team spirit (also with external service providers) and in an engaging way with stakeholders and consumers of the solutions. Solutions are built according to the Architectural and Security principles and changes are timely & adequately prepared & documented and/or code works as intended.

Testing

Own testing of changes or stories, and/or actively oversee testing by business. Develop test scripts, examine test outcomes, sign off for unit testing and coordinate business sign off for Application Delivery related testing. Contribute to test planning and test management for a specific release. Resulting in, changes and/or code are properly and timely tested.

Incident management

Perform functional or technical problem analysis in case of incidents or issues as needed depending on the severity of the problem. Perform root cause analysis, document these and share findings. Deploy (or oversee deployment) of updates and fixes. To ensure that issues, incidents, and problems are swiftly and effectively resolved.

Process management and improvement

Monitor, guard, test and analyze that the use and security of applications and systems regarding the functional and performance aspects are in line with the agreed performance indicators, and if necessary, take measures. Actively contribute to process improvement: e.g., tool development, dashboard/insight development and visualization, script automation. Has a good view of the technical state of the application (technical debt) and regularly discuss and works seamlessly together with the (domain)Architect to develop plans to resolve the technical debt. Resulting in, available and optimally performing applications and IT infrastructure for the business and, DevOps process, tooling and dashboards are continuously improving.

Project support

Support a project manager by taking ownership of specific project deliverables (specifications, config, testing, etc.). Define, plan, manage and participate in assigned project deliverables from the own functional or technical domain, in accordance with the IT project manager and involved business project owners. Resulting in, efficient and effective realization of project deliverables.

3. Job requirements

Knowledge/ technical expertise

The functional engineer has in-depth, advanced knowledge of complex applications, platforms and technologies and is able to oversee connections between applications and systems across domains and advises the business regarding innovative improvements. He/She is THE Process expert for his/her domain and has a good understanding of processes in other domains. Participates mostly in larger multidisciplinary projects or programs larger than €500K. Can also run independently smaller projects as project manager till €500K or can play the rol of a scrum master in an Agile team Fluent in agile & DevOp concepts

Analysis

Draws conclusions based on complex analysis (e.g. scenario analysis), within domain and impacted other domains, proposes measures on optimizing strategic approaches and propose implementation plans, designs and approaches (including estimated implementation efforts) in alignment with Architects and impacts for business and other (sub)domains.

Optimization

Initiates, formulates and implements new processes and procedures for the functional discipline and contributes to policy development for the function. Has led and completed a CI initiative (green belt).

Autonomy

Works independently on projects and major changes, within operational plans and policies; gives work instructions to and plans work for others. Acts as lead engineer in projects for specific domain or area and can translate requirement and architectural guidance in detailed designs.

Impact

Owns end-to-end technical change or Story specification, testing & deployment for a wide range of Functionality or Technicality and in complex environments. Ensures proper testing & incident mgt complex and high impact/risk environments.

Aware of business developments and business needs and gives advice to translate business needs into functional and technical optimization of a group of applications and systems.

Experience
7-10 years of relevant work experience
Relevant Bachelor or Master degree

At AkzoNobel we are highly committed to ensuring an inclusive and respectful workplace where all employees can be their best self. We strive to embrace diversity in a context of tolerance. Our talent acquisition process plays an integral part in this journey, as setting the foundations for a diverse environment. For this reason we train and educate on the implications of our Unconscious Bias in order for our TA and hiring managers to be mindful of them and take corrective actions when applicable. In our organization, all qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age or disability.