[Hiring] Software/System Architect @GigaTech

Role Description

This is a hands-on technical role, not an advisory one. The VA VISTA Technical Integration Expert designs, builds, tests and supports the interfaces between VistA and the Shipcom WMS.

• Candidates must have previously been responsible for a bi-directional VistA integration that read data from VistA, wrote transactions back to it, and ran in production.
• The role pairs that integration skill with deep knowledge of VistA's supply chain, equipment and warehouse modules (IFCAP, GIP, AEMS/MERS).
• This person is the primary technical liaison between VA operational and IT staff and the implementation team, and turns VA-specific workflows and system behavior into interface specifications, configurations, requirements and training.

Key Responsibilities

• Integration engineering:
  • Own the technical design, build and testing of the bi-directional integration between VistA and the WMS: reading item, purchase order, due-in, receipt and equipment data from VistA, and writing receipts, inventory transactions and status updates back.
  • Write interface specifications covering data flows, field-level mappings, transaction handling, error handling, retry and reconciliation logic.
  • Configure and troubleshoot VistA interfaces (terminal emulation, I/F requests) and coordinate with VA IT on VistA sandbox access, server provisioning and interface submissions.
  • Validate every write-back transaction (receipts, inventory adjustments, EE# assignment, turn-ins) in the sandbox before production, so that VistA remains the system of record.
  • Support cutover and production monitoring, and resolve integration issues.
• Data:
  • Lead data discovery: extract and analyze pick lists, item masters, UOM/UOI conversion factors, PAR levels, ABC classifications and monthly receipt and shipment data from VistA.
  • Identify and document data quality issues (duplicate records, missing stock numbers, incorrect UOM, stale PAR levels) and develop clean-up plans.
• VistA supply chain expertise:
  • Serve as the resident expert on VistA supply chain modules: IFCAP (Integrated Funds Distribution, Control Point Activity, Accounting and Procurement), GIP (Generic Inventory Package), AEMS/MERS and equipment management.
  • Guide the team through VistA transaction flows, including 2237 requisitions, purchase order generation, due-in receipts, EE# assignment, and turn-in and disposal.
  • Map current-state VistA workflows to future-state WMS processes, and identify where items, receipts or equipment fall outside VistA and need alternative tracking.
  • Support receiving workflow design for all receipt types: IFCAP, equipment, direct-to-patient, cross-dock, returns, random/ad hoc and disposition.
  • Advise on expiry and lot tracking, FEFO rotation logic and serialization as they apply within and alongside VistA.
• Security and collaboration:
  • Assist with ATO documentation by identifying which VistA-connected controls can be inherited and which need new implementation.
  • Train VA staff and project team members on the VistA modules relevant to the integration.
  • Participate in kickoff presentations, site visits and stakeholder sessions as the technical VistA voice.

Qualifications

• Prior ownership of a bi-directional VistA integration (required).
• You have personally been responsible for designing, building or leading an integration that both read data from VistA and wrote transactions back to it, and that went live. Be ready to describe what you owned, which VistA components were involved and the outcome.
• 7+ years of hands-on experience working within VistA in a VA healthcare or VA supply chain environment.
• Strong technical understanding of VistA's integration architecture: terminal emulation, interface (I/F) requests and data exchange with external systems (e.g., Medline, LEAF, GIP/non-GIP procurement).