Lead Architect

Job Title: Lead Architect
Job Type: Fulltime/Contract/Contract to Hire
Job Location: USA - Remote

Job Summary

We are seeking an experienced Lead Architect to drive the architecture, design, and technology strategy for enterprise-scale solutions. The ideal candidate will be responsible for defining solution architectures, ensuring alignment with business objectives, leading technical design discussions, and providing architectural governance across multiple projects and technology domains.

The Lead Architect will collaborate with business stakeholders, product owners, engineering teams, project managers, and external partners to deliver scalable, secure, and high-performing technology solutions.

Experience:
12+ years of experience in Solution Architecture, Enterprise Architecture, Application Development, Systems Integration, Cloud Technologies, or Digital Transformation programs.

Key Responsibilities

Architecture Strategy & Design

• Define end-to-end architecture solutions aligned with business and technology objectives.
• Develop architecture roadmaps, technology strategies, and transformation plans.
• Design scalable, secure, and high-performing enterprise solutions.
• Evaluate and recommend technologies, frameworks, and tools based on business requirements.

Solution Architecture

• Lead architecture design for applications, integrations, data platforms, cloud solutions, and digital ecosystems.
• Create architecture artifacts, solution blueprints, and technical specifications.
• Define integration patterns, data flows, and system interactions.
• Ensure architecture standards, best practices, and design principles are followed.

Technical Leadership

• Provide technical leadership and guidance to development and engineering teams.
• Review solution designs and ensure adherence to architectural standards.
• Drive design reviews, architecture governance, and technical decision-making.
• Mentor architects, developers, and technical consultants.

Stakeholder Management

• Collaborate with business leaders and stakeholders to understand strategic objectives.
• Translate business requirements into technology solutions.
• Present architecture recommendations and technical roadmaps to leadership teams.
• Act as a trusted advisor for technology and architecture decisions.

Cloud & Technology Enablement

• Lead cloud adoption and modernization initiatives.
• Define environments, deployment strategies, and scalability requirements.
• Ensure solution reliability, availability, and performance optimization.
• Support DevOps, automation, and continuous delivery initiatives.

Security, Governance & Compliance

• Ensure architectures align with security, compliance, and governance standards.
• Identify and mitigate technical risks.
• Establish architecture review processes and governance frameworks.
• Support regulatory and enterprise compliance requirements.

Project Delivery Support

• Partner with project teams throughout the project lifecycle.
• Support estimation, planning, and resource allocation activities.
• Resolve complex technical challenges and implementation issues.
• Ensure successful solution delivery and business adoption.

Required Skills

Technical Skills

• Solution Architecture and Enterprise Architecture.
• Application Design and Integration Architecture.
• Cloud Platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP).
• API Design and Integration.
• Data Architecture and Data Modeling.
• Microservices and Distributed Systems.
• Security Architecture and Governance.
• DevOps, CI/CD, and Automation concepts.
• Database Technologies (SQL and NoSQL).

Functional Skills

• Business and Technology Alignment.
• Technology Roadmap Development.
• Systems Integration Strategy.
• Architecture Governance.
• Digital Transformation Initiatives.
• Risk Assessment and Management.

Preferred Skills

• Experience in Digital Marketing, CRM, CDP, Data Platforms, or Customer Experience technologies.
• Knowledge of Agile, Scrum, and SAFe methodologies.
• Enterprise Architecture frameworks (TOGAF, Zachman, etc.).
• Experience leading large-scale transformation programs.
• Multi-cloud architecture experience.

Educational Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or related field.
• Master's Degree preferred.
• Industry certifications such as TOGAF, AWS, Azure, GCP, or equivalent preferred.

Key Competencies

• Strategic thinking and problem-solving.
• Strong leadership and mentoring capabilities.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Decision-making and influencing abilities.
• Ability to lead cross-functional and geographically distributed teams.
• Strong analytical and organizational skills.

Success Metrics

• Successful delivery of architecture-led initiatives.
• Improved system scalability, reliability, and performance.
• Alignment of technology solutions with business goals.
• Reduction in technical debt and operational risks.
• High stakeholder satisfaction and business value realization.
• Compliance with architecture, security, and governance standards.

Information Security Responsibilities

• Promote and enforce awareness of key information security practices, including acceptable use of information assets, malware protection, and password security protocols
• Identify, assess, and report security risks, focusing on how these risks impact the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information assets
• Understand and evaluate how data is stored, processed, or transmitted, ensuring compliance with data privacy and protection standards (GDPR, CCPA, etc.)
• Ensure data protection measures are integrated throughout the information lifecycle to safeguard sensitive information