Lead Technical Architect for D365 ERP

Introduction

Our clients run their finance, supply chain and operations on Microsoft Dynamics 365. When those programmes are large, complex and business-critical, they need a technical leader who understands the platform all the way down to the code, and who can then walk into a boardroom and explain, in plain language, what is happening, what it means for the business and what should happen next. That is exactly the person we are looking for.

Come join us

As Lead Technical Architect in our global ERP Centre of Excellence, you will be Avanade's senior technical authority for Dynamics 365 Finance & Supply Chain Management. You will shape solutions on our most demanding programmes, step in where clients and teams need the strongest technical judgement, and set the technical direction of the practice at a time when AI is changing both what we build and how we build it. You will also lead our global Platform Community of Practice and be our technical bridge to Microsoft and Accenture.

How you will work

This role supports both solutioning (presales) and delivery. When a strategic programme needs it, you may be assigned to a single project as its lead technical architect for a longer period. However, our preferred way of working is different: your greatest impact comes from working across our whole portfolio as the senior expert our own project teams can rely on. In practice, that means:

• Acting as the go-to technical expert for our project teams across all regions, available for design reviews, second opinions and advice on the hardest technical questions.
• Running technical quality assurance on in-flight programmes, with health checks and reviews at key moments so that risks are spotted and addressed early.
• Stepping in for short, focused engagements to help solve complex problems, from performance and integration issues to data migration and upgrade challenges.
• Leading recovery activities when a programme is in trouble: stabilising the solution, restoring client confidence and handing back a healthy project.
• Overseeing the work of the technical architects on our projects, reviewing their key decisions, coaching them and keeping standards consistent across the practice.
• Shaping the technical solution, estimates and risk position on major pursuits, and leading technical workshops and demonstrations, so that what we sell is what we can deliver.

What you'll do

Own the technical architecture of complex programmes

• Act as design authority for large, multi-country Dynamics 365 Finance & Supply Chain Management implementations, upgrades and recovery situations, from solution shaping through go-live and hypercare.
• Make, document and defend the key architecture decisions: what stays standard, what is extended, what is integrated, and where AI or low-code is the better answer.
• Guide extension development in X++ and the wider Microsoft toolset, set coding and review standards, and get hands-on in the code when a problem demands it.
• Design data migration approaches that are reliable, repeatable and fully reconcilable, using the Data Management Framework, data entities and supporting Azure services.
• Lead security architecture, including role-based security, segregation of duties, extensible data security and secure integration patterns.
• Own performance end to end: define non-functional requirements, lead performance testing and tuning, and resolve critical production escalations together with Microsoft.
• Design integration landscapes on Azure Integration Services (Logic Apps, Service Bus, Event Grid, API Management and Azure Functions), choosing the right pattern between OData, custom services, business events, dual-write and Dataverse.
• Establish sound application lifecycle management across Lifecycle Services, the Power Platform admin center and Azure DevOps, including environment strategy, release governance and One Version servicing.

Bring Microsoft AI into the solution and into the way we deliver

• Shape where AI creates real value in finance and supply chain processes, using Copilot in Dynamics 365, Copilot Studio agents, Microsoft Foundry and Azure OpenAI, and agentic scenarios that act on ERP data and processes.
• Champion AI-assisted engineering, such as GitHub Copilot, agents and Model Context Protocol tooling for X++ development, testing and code review, while protecting quality, security and control.
• Help clients and colleagues separate AI ambition from practical value, with responsible AI and governance designed in from the start.

Be the trusted technical voice at C-level

• Represent the technical solution in steering committees, architecture boards and executive meetings with CIOs, CFOs, CTOs and programme sponsors.
• Turn complex topics such as performance risk, integration choices, upgrade impact or AI options into short, clear updates that set out the business impact, the options and a firm recommendation.
• Build lasting trust by raising risks early, challenging constructively and doing what you said you would do.
• Act as the senior technical point of contact for Avanade leadership on escalations and critical client situations.

Lead the global Platform Community of Practice

• Lead Avanade's global Dynamics 365 Platform Community of Practice, covering development, integration, data migration, security, performance, ALM and AI-assisted engineering.
• Set the community agenda, run regular community calls and sponsor special interest groups, such as automated testing and AI-assisted X++ development.
• Turn delivery experience into reusable standards, accelerators and assets, working with the CoE and asset engineering teams.
• Grow the next generation of technical architects through mentoring, coaching and hands-on knowledge sharing across all regions.

Connect Avanade with Microsoft and Accenture

• Build strong relationships with Microsoft product engineering, FastTrack and partner teams, bringing roadmap insight and preview programmes into the community and feeding real client experience back to Microsoft.
• Work closely with Accenture's technical communities and delivery centres to align standards, share assets and strengthen joint programmes.
• Represent Avanade at Microsoft and industry events, and through points of view and thought leadership.
  

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Skills and experience

Delivery experience

• Long, hands-on experience with Dynamics AX and Dynamics 365 Finance & Supply Chain Management, typically 12 years or more, across several full-lifecycle enterprise implementations.
• A proven track record as lead or principal technical architect on large, multi-entity, multi-country programmes with complex integration landscapes and ISV solutions.
• Experience with AX 2012 to Dynamics 365 upgrades, cloud migrations and life on the One Version servicing model.
• A background in consulting or systems integration, ideally including onshore, nearshore and offshore delivery models.

Deep technical knowledge

• Expert command of the Finance & Supply Chain Management architecture: X++, the extension model (Chain of Command, event handlers), the batch framework, data entities, business events and Visual Studio tooling.
• Data migration at scale: Data Management Framework, staging, sequencing, high-volume loads and reconciliation.
• Security: roles, duties and privileges, segregation of duties, extensible data security, Microsoft Entra ID and integration security.
• Performance: SQL and query tuning, Trace Parser, telemetry and monitoring, batch optimisation and production troubleshooting.
• Azure Integration Services and the wider Azure platform, plus Dataverse, dual-write, virtual entities and Power Platform.
• Microsoft AI: Copilot in Dynamics 365, Copilot Studio, Microsoft Foundry and Azure OpenAI, agent patterns and AI-assisted development tools.
• A working understanding of Microsoft Fabric and Power BI for ERP reporting and analytics, and of Success by Design and FastTrack practices.

Leadership and communication

• Genuine executive presence: you are as comfortable with a CFO or CIO as you are with a development team, and you adapt your message to each.
• The ability to translate complex technical issues into concise, honest C-level updates that build confidence and lead to decisions.
• Experience leading distributed, multi-disciplinary teams and building communities where people want to contribute.
• A collaborative, consultative style, resilience under pressure and a strong sense of ownership.
• Fluent English; additional languages are a plus.

Nice to have

• Microsoft certifications such as Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations Apps Developer Associate, Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations Apps Solution Architect Expert, Azure Solutions Architect Expert or Azure AI Engineer Associate.
• Microsoft MVP status, FastTrack recognition or a visible profile as a speaker or author in the Dynamics community.
• Experience with industry solutions in areas such as manufacturing, retail and distribution, or project-based businesses.

What success looks like after 12 months

• You are recognised by clients, delivery leads and Microsoft as the go-to technical authority for Dynamics 365 Finance & Supply Chain Management at Avanade.
• Our most complex programmes run on clear technical standards, and critical escalations are fewer and resolved faster.
• Project teams actively seek out your quality reviews and expert support, and programmes in difficulty are brought back on track under your technical leadership.
• The Platform Community of Practice has a clear agenda, an active rhythm of sessions and special interest groups, and growing reuse of shared assets.
• AI-assisted engineering is part of everyday delivery, with measurable gains in quality and productivity.
• You have strong, active relationships with Microsoft product engineering and with Accenture's technical leadership.

Why Avanade

Avanade sits at the heart of the Microsoft ecosystem and is majority-owned by Accenture. That gives you something few employers can offer: direct access to Microsoft product teams, the reach of Accenture's global delivery network, and a Business Applications practice made up of people who genuinely love this platform. You will work on programmes that matter to the clients who run them, alongside colleagues who will challenge you, back you and learn from you.

• A global role with real influence on how Avanade delivers Dynamics 365 around the world.
• Early access to Microsoft roadmaps, previews and product engineering conversations.
• Generous investment in your learning, including paid Microsoft certifications and dedicated training time every year.
• A dedicated career advisor and a clear path into the most senior technical leadership roles.
• An inclusive, international community where your expertise is valued and your ideas are acted on.

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