Principal Architect (Enterprise Transformation & Portfolio)

• Assess business objectives, customer needs, operational priorities, current-state capabilities, technologies, processes, operating models, risks, dependencies, architecture gaps, technical debt, lifecycle risks, and modernization opportunities.
• Develop target-state architectures, transition states, and roadmaps that guide technology investment, solution design, and implementation planning.
• Create architecture artifacts, models, standards, patterns, reference designs, principles, non-functional requirements, and design guardrails; evaluate alternatives and recommend fit-for-purpose solutions.
• Participate in architecture reviews and governance forums, applying architecture standards, policies, principles, and industry practices.
• Manage architecture risks, dependencies, technical debt, lifecycle considerations, exceptions, reusable assets, repositories, and technology rationalization efforts.
• Partner with product, delivery, engineering, and operations teams to provide architecture guidance through planning, design, delivery, and operationalization.
• Support road mapping, dependency management, implementation sequencing, decision facilitation, trade-off discussions, and alignment to intended architecture outcomes.
• Improve architecture methods, tools, standards, governance practices, operating models, reusable patterns, communities of practice, mentoring, knowledge sharing, innovation, and simplification.

Discipline-Specific Focus Areas:

The core responsibilities and minimum qualifications outlined in this job description apply across the Architect job family. Discipline-specific responsibilities, technical competencies, and/or preferred qualifications are defined in the applicable addendum. See the corresponding discipline-specific addendum for additional details.

Enterprise Architecture:

Defines enterprise-wide business and technology direction, target-state architecture, capability alignment, governance standards, portfolio strategy, and technology roadmaps. Provides strategic guidance to align investments, modernization, and architecture decisions with long-term organizational objectives.

Business Architecture:

Defines business capabilities, value streams, operating model impacts, business process alignment, organizational dependencies, and business architecture views that connect strategy to execution.

AI Architecture:

Defines architecture direction for artificial intelligence capabilities, including model and solution patterns, responsible AI guardrails, data and integration dependencies, platform alignment, lifecycle management, risk controls, and adoption guidance.

Minimum Qualifications:

Career Level:

Recognized organizational authority; sets long-term architecture strategy, principles, and technical direction.

Provides advanced technical and architectural leadership across complex initiatives. Defines and forecasts architecture requirements, drives platform and enterprise capability growth, and serves as a senior consulting resource.

• Lead complex architecture initiatives and guide cross-functional teams.
• Define current- and future-state architecture requirements and roadmaps.
• Provide expert consulting and strategic recommendations to resolve complex challenges.
• Participate in setting architectural direction and advise on enterprise strategy and development.
• Develop and enhance architecture documentation, templates, standards, principles, policies, and guidelines.
• Mentor architects and technical staff and review architecture/design deliverables.

• A combination of education and relevant work experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the position may substitute to meet the total years required on a year-for-year basis., * High school diploma or equivalent; this requirement is met by candidates who hold an associate or bachelor†s degree.
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, Business, Data Management, Cybersecurity, or related discipline.

Experience*:

• Minimum of 10 years of relevant experience, including experience in at least two relevant architecture/technology disciplines.
• Typical scope: Organization. Primary differentiator: Organizational Influence.

Skills:

Guides technology strategy, portfolio alignment, architecture governance, and professional capability development. Influences executive decision-making, investment prioritization, and organization-wide architectural direction. Demonstrated proficiency appropriate to level in: Architecture modeling and documentation; business and technology alignment; systems design and integration; strategy and roadmap development; governance and standards management; relevant cloud, application, integration, infrastructure, security, or data technologies; technology lifecycle planning; and risk and dependency management.

PREFERRED:

• 10 to 12 years of experience
• Advanced degree, MBA, or nationally recognized architecture, technology, or executive-level expertise
• Relevant telecom industry or job-specific certifications.
• TOGAF, FEAC, Open CA, CITA, SABSA, CCAr, cloud certifications (AWS, Azure, GCP), security certifications (CISSP, CISM), Agile / SAFe certifications, or practice-specific certifications, as applicable.

Work Requirements and Conditions:

• Work is primarily sedentary, requiring daily routine computer usage.
• Ability to work shifts assigned in a standard office/home-office setting and operate standard office equipment.
• Ability to accurately communicate information and ideas and make valid judgments and decisions.
• Available to work additional time on weekends, holidays, before or after normal work hours when necessary.
• Must work well in a team environment and with a diverse group of people and customers.
• Virtual workers must comply with remote-work policies and agreements.
• The company operates in a 24/7 environment providing critical services and employees may be contacted outside core business hours to respond to emergencies.