Ray (Rohit) Sood

Ray (Rohit) Sood

Technologist

About

Technologist with an outstanding track record in software engineering, start-ups, Fortune 100, mid-size companies - leading strategic transformational delivery, large scale program execution, realizing large scale system architecture, implementing continuous improvement programs, applying innovation in business through technology and system design spanning a successful 20 year career.

Executive presentation skills, team and public communication expertise backed by hands-on experience in execution. Proven ability to lead and improve top-talent (across geographies). Ability to quickly align diverse technical teams towards prioritized objectives. Detailed hands-on execution approach towards business solution delivery, coaching and mentoring. More than a decade of invaluable experience leading multi-year, multi-million dollar programs that result in billions of dollars of managed transactions.

Professional Expertise & Interests

Strategy - Solution - Technology - Execution

Strategic Planning, IT Strategy, IT Transformation, Digital Strategy, Enterprise Architecture, Solution Architecture, Cloud Migration, Microservices, Cloud Native, Serverless, Full Software Development Lifecycle, Mobile, Social, Continuous Improvement, Business Process Management, Big Data, Data Sciences, Machine Data Analytics, Proof of Concept/Technology & Prototyping.

End to End - thought to delivery.
End-to-End

I know that the entire journey of creation is important. Every step: business ideation through delivery is critical. Sifting through ideas, suggestions and opinions to settle on the right one or the right combination of ideas is an essential ingredient to a successful outcome.

I believe it is not just about the ‘best’ idea, it’s about the smart ideas that are strategic and more importantly, executable. Wisdom and experience achieves a pragmatic balance between innovation and execution. Continuously balancing tactical decisions against strategic objectives in a very dynamic environment is where I have demonstrated excellence.

In the past I have been successful in finding a great balance between what a team can achieve and what a team can stretch to achieve. I believe that there is an art to managing complexity, technology, team skills, delivery dates, system design and quality. These are some of the variables that need to be continuously balanced through the lifecycle of solution delivery.

Architecture Assessments

Risks, trade offs, sensitivity points and benefits of the architecture become clear with assessments. Most importantly, an assessment sets the stage for a target state solution architecture. An objective, independent and instrumented architecture assessment is an invaluable tool. Understanding the system landscape is made easier via standards-based post-vizualization and supporting documentation. System architecture archeology is key to the discovery of unknown systems and also helps in communicating the architecture to stakeholders and executive leadership.

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Certified

Evaluation of the architecture should not result in 'Good' or 'Bad'. An assessment should highlight where the system is at risk against quality attributes. A risk-based trade-off analysis is what typically guides my architectural assessment. An architecture assessment can be conducted with scope in mind that can vary. A functional capability assessment or specific cross-cutting concerns (e.g. Integration, Security, Business Capability). Measure of Technical Debt against target strategy is important.

Enterprise architecture is the broadest is scope, it is an all-encompassing highest level of abstraction review of the IT delivery to business capabilities. It is a risk-based capability-aware architecture assessment. This assessment primarily traces business needs with the IT delivery roadmap. Solution architectures assessments encompass the entire end-to-end IT solution. A full review of a dynamic IT landscape that will assess the current trajectory of the project, program, department and/or company. I have attended course work, and received certifications from the coveted Software Engineering Institute at Carnegie Mellon University. Specifically I have studied the Architecture Tradeoff and Analysis Method (ATAM) in detail. Learning from it, and my own professional experiences I have created a customized and high speed iterative architecture review process. In practice I currently chair the architecture review board where I govern over a weekly architecture review meeting cadence.

In addition, I also sit on the review board of enterprise architects. Every week I review solutions that are internal to my domain where I provide guidance and mentoring to the architects and I also serve on the review board of projects that fall outside of my domain. Over the past several years I have standardized on common design patterns in large scale system architecture. Interestingly I have observed how well intentioned architectures that are layered still suffer from entropy over time.

I have been passionate about quality attributes, quality, code quality and delivery. In 2002 I instituted a JUNIT testing paradigm when Unit Testing was an emerging concept. In 2003 I delived deeply into Static Analysis with automated risk based assessments. Quality checkpoints and code inspection were my focus in a major project. Code coverage, automated builds, continuous delivery and high speed software execution has been my most recent focus.

Read More on my Blog
End-to-end IT Solution Delivery

End to End IT Solution Design and Delivery

I specialize in catalyzing the entire SDLC lifecycle for high quality speedy delivery. An executable strategy makes the difference between vaporware and a tangible deliverable. I am one of the many signatories of the Agile Manifesto. I believe that 'working software is the primary measure of success'. A development discipline geared towards a high quality working software that meets the business needs is core and foundational.

One of the weaknesses I often see repeating themselves is the Requirements discipline and it's communication to the design and development team. While the requirements discipline has matured, in my opinion, this area continues to be a weakness. I have developed strategies to push for high quality requirements and often it results in understanding the organization and it's implict and explicit needs.

Another area to work on is a well-socialized solution description that is backed by sound rationale. Materially signifiant decisions made (and the non-decisions) must be well understood and communicated. While the current state architecture provides visibility, the target state provides a goal to achieve for the team. Start with the Why. Then select an effective path to get there. A sound execution plan on paper is not enough. I have used and re-used tactics that I have developed over the years to give teams a boost. At a higher level of abstract a roadmap can be vizualized for socialization and complex project dependency mappings as needed. At a lower level the dynamics are vastly difference. A technology leader must understand and operate at both and multiple levels to ensure success.

This is where ‘rubber meets the road’.

Internet of Things

Internet of Things: Machine Data Analytics

Internet of Things (IoT) is of particular interest to me. In 2009, I delved heavily into Real Time Machine data analytics and prototyped a solution to parse and scan gigabytes worth of machine data in real-time. It went to pilot, and within 5 years has spread across a very vast internal IT landscape. I am always looking at opportunities to explore, cross-reference and squeeze more meaning out of data. I am now more and more interested in Big Data semantics and visual delivery to multiple form factors via live dashboards.

In my opinion, IoT brings to the forefront efficient and real-time Big Data solution needs that are efficient. Giga/Tera and in some organizations Peta bytes of data will have to be parsed, analyzed and visualized. connected devices that are Internet connected devices. Data from devices has largely been an untapped source of valuable information.

According to a report by Cisco (IBSG, April 2011) - it is estimated there will be 50 Billion Internet connected devices by 2020. Gartner predicts 26 Billion on the Internet of Things. Regardless of the extrapolation accuracy, we can conclude that the growth is logarithmic. Specifically the field of Machine Data Analytics is burgeoning and will be at the forefront. We may have more data and even more information at our finger tips that will allow us to make better informed decisions. Each device will be generating machine data and logs: home automation, cars, truck fleets, homes, electrical grids, medical devices, rfid scanners, and not to mention mobile application and web app log files.

In 2013, I did a demonstration at the company Technology Roadshow, it was a wonderful experience to showcase and explain this amazing technology and opportunity to others.

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Pattern Based Integration Architecture

Data integration is an important and more often an assumed implicit aspect for nearly all architecturally significant solutions. In my experience availability, scalability and stability of the integrations are increasingly expected by default by the business. System to system integration is expected to flawless. These high expectation must be met with a high quality design.

Pattern based integration architectures comes with specifically selected design patterns from various design pattern catalogs including the Enterprise Integration Patterns (EIP), Gang of Four (GoF), J2EE Patterns, Big Data Patterns and other catalogs. Industry standards and expert accepted best-practices have already been applied to create these. As the solution architect I compose the appropriate combination of the design patterns to formulate a solution that meets the business needs. The target state integration architecture models and detailed design patterns are key artifacts that describe the solution and document early decisions about the system that is to be built. I document, explain, whiteboard the detailed patterns, solution details, technology specifications with the development team. This gives them a great start to the effort and helps connect the dots when they refer to the manuals I have written.

The specific selection of patterns and guidelines I write most often are documented in vendor neutral terminology. Design flexibility and solution sustainability are most often my key goals.

Read My Blog - StructureofStructures.com

Work Experience

Lead Domain Architect - Liberty Mutual Insurance (2002 - Present)

Lead all strategic efforts for Commercial Insurance Underwriting Systems.

Created IT Architecture Strategy that resulted in a sustainable, extensible and flexible design.

Leading IT transformation for Commercial Underwriting Systems.

Lead Solution Architect - Liberty Mutual Insurance (2002 - Present)

Lead solution architect for automated renewals that resulted in Billions of dollars in automation.

Lead solution architect for integration utlizing innovative design patterns and concepts.

Lead solution architect for composing the target state policy system for Commercial Insurance.

Lead Application Architect - Liberty Mutual Insurance (2002 - Present)

Lead application architect for Personal Lines Policy system for Agency Markets.

Application architect delivered suite of supporting Claims systems.

Software Engineer - Art Technology Group (2001 - 2002)

Part of an elite software engineering team for the ATG Dynamo suite of products.

Worked on DCC, XUILL and Demo Applications for Shipment.

Consultant - RCI (Delsoft Consulting) (2000 - 2001)

Developed multiple complex software components for the Global Points system.

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Personal Interests

Tennis

I was first introduced to tennis court at age 6. I was not inclined towards it at first. However, after a few months and coaching I saw my game improve. This encouraged me. My father would play nearly every day of the week. I started playing regularly as well. After a few years I began entering tennis tournaments. I did reasonably well. Most notably my father and I won a doubles championship when I was 14.

After graduating high school, I joined the tennis team of my engineering college. Within the first year I became the number 1 seed. The following year we won the inter-college University championship. Following that I represented my university at the Nationals level as the top seed and captain. To encourage others to play I taught tennis to engineering students pro-bono. I was interviewed by ESPN India when I trained to be a tennis pro. I earned the USPTR certified professional.

I play casually at least once a week at the Carmel Racquet Club, occasionally I get invited to play at the Five Seasons, Health Plex and West Indy Racquet Club.

My dream is to open a charity for under privileged youth and give them access to tennis instruction. I believe a sport like tennis prevents young kids from veering into negative behaviors.

Travel

I always take my camera whenever I travel. I love landscapes, cityscapes and the country. I enjoy experiencing new cultures, new places and meeting new people. I love to capture memories of these places and sharing them. I am an active member of a local photography club in Indianapolis, IN.