• Oak Park, IL
  • $150,000–$200,000 Per Year
3 days ago

Job Description

We are seeking an experienced and visionary Principal Architect to lead architectural strategy, design scalable technology solutions, and guide engineering teams in delivering secure, reliable, and high-performing systems. The ideal candidate will have extensive technical expertise, strong leadership skills, and the ability to align technology initiatives with business objectives.

Key Responsibilities

  • Architecture Strategy: Define and maintain enterprise or solution architecture standards, roadmaps, and technical principles.
  • Solution Design: Design scalable, resilient, and secure software and infrastructure architectures that support business requirements.
  • Technical Leadership: Provide architectural guidance and mentorship to senior engineers, architects, and development teams.
  • Technology Evaluation: Assess emerging technologies, frameworks, and platforms to recommend appropriate solutions.
  • System Integration: Oversee the integration of applications, services, databases, and cloud platforms across complex environments.
  • Security and Compliance: Ensure architectural decisions align with cybersecurity practices, data protection requirements, and applicable industry standards.
  • Performance Optimization: Identify architectural risks, resolve complex technical challenges, and improve system reliability and efficiency.
  • Stakeholder Collaboration: Work closely with business leaders, product managers, engineering teams, and other stakeholders to translate strategic goals into technical solutions.
  • Governance and Documentation: Establish architecture review processes, document technical decisions, and promote consistency across projects.
  • Continuous Improvement: Drive modernization initiatives, technical innovation, and the reduction of technical debt.

Requirements and Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Technology, or a related field; a master's degree is an advantage.
  • Typically 10 or more years of experience in software engineering, systems architecture, enterprise architecture, or a related technical discipline.
  • Demonstrated experience designing and implementing complex, large-scale technology solutions.
  • Strong understanding of cloud platforms, distributed systems, APIs, databases, networking, and modern software development practices.
  • Experience with architecture patterns, microservices, system integration, and application security.
  • Familiarity with cloud providers such as AWS, Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud.
  • Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication, and decision-making skills.
  • Proven ability to influence technical direction and collaborate across multidisciplinary teams.
  • Experience leading architecture reviews and communicating complex technical concepts to technical and nontechnical audiences.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Professional certifications in cloud architecture, enterprise architecture, or cybersecurity.
  • Experience with DevOps, CI/CD pipelines, infrastructure as code, and platform engineering.
  • Knowledge of architecture frameworks such as TOGAF or equivalent methodologies.
  • Experience in technology modernization, digital transformation, and enterprise-scale systems.
  • A strong record of mentoring technical teams and establishing engineering best practices.

Work Schedule

This is a remote, full-time position. The successful candidate should be comfortable collaborating with distributed teams, attending virtual meetings, and coordinating architectural initiatives across relevant time zones.

Annual Salary and Benefits

The estimated annual salary range is $150,000–$200,000 USD, depending on experience, technical specialization, location, and organizational requirements. Actual compensation may vary.

Benefits may include health insurance, retirement plan options, paid time off, professional development opportunities, and flexible work arrangements, subject to company policy.

Performance Expectations

Success in this role will be measured by the quality and scalability of architectural solutions, system reliability and security, alignment with business objectives, effective technical leadership, and the successful delivery of strategic technology initiatives.

Numbers & Facts

LocationOak Park, IL
Salary$150,000–$200,000 Per Year

Skills

  • Amazon Web Services (AWS)unmatched
  • Analysis Skillsunmatched
  • Application Integrationunmatched
  • Application Programming Interface (API)unmatched
  • Applications Securityunmatched
  • Architectural Servicesunmatched
  • Best Practicesunmatched
  • Cloud Architectureunmatched
  • Cloud Computingunmatched
  • Computer Scienceunmatched
  • Continuous Deployment/Deliveryunmatched
  • Continuous Improvementunmatched
  • Continuous Integrationunmatched
  • Cross-Functionalunmatched
  • DevOpsunmatched
  • Distributed Computingunmatched
  • Documentationunmatched
  • Emerging Technologyunmatched
  • Enterprise Architectureunmatched
  • Industry Standardsunmatched
  • Information Technology & Information Systemsunmatched
  • Information/Data Security (InfoSec)unmatched
  • Internet Securityunmatched
  • Leadershipunmatched
  • Mentoringunmatched
  • Microservicesunmatched
  • Microsoft Windows Azureunmatched
  • Network Softwareunmatched
  • Performance Tuning/Optimizationunmatched
  • Problem Solving Skillsunmatched
  • Product Engineeringunmatched
  • Quality Metricsunmatched
  • Reliability Engineeringunmatched
  • Risk Analysisunmatched
  • Software Architectureunmatched
  • Software Developmentunmatched
  • Software Engineeringunmatched
  • System Architectureunmatched
  • System Integration (SI)unmatched
  • Systems Reliabilityunmatched
  • TOGAF - The Open Group Architecture Frameworkunmatched
  • Technical Deliveryunmatched
  • Technical Leadershipunmatched
  • Technical Strategyunmatched
  • Technical Writingunmatched
  • Technology Analysisunmatched

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