Application Architecture

Role Overview

Looking for a senior leader to define and drive enterprise-wide Application Modernization. This role owns the modernization strategy and roadmap, shapes the target architecture and reference standards, and leads the transition from legacy systems to a cloud-native, API-first, modular architecture.

You will partner closely with Cloud Architecture & Operations, Enterprise Architecture, Security, and key vendors/partners to reduce technical debt, improve agility and resilience, rationalize the technology portfolio, and ensure high-quality delivery outcomes across complex systems.

Key Responsibilities

1) Application Modernization Strategy & Roadmap

• Define and execute an enterprise-wide application modernization strategy (refactor / replatform / rebuild / retire / replace).
• Assess and prioritize applications based on business value, risk, cost, and technical debt.
• Build and maintain a modernization blueprint for legacy platforms and critical domains.

2) Define Target Architecture & Standards

• Design the target application architecture aligned to modular, cloud-native, and API-first principles.
• Establish reference architectures, design guidelines, reusable patterns, and governance mechanisms to drive consistency at scale.

3) Technology Portfolio Rationalization (TCO/ROI)

• Evaluate the current technology landscape to reduce complexity and optimize cost.
• Identify systems and technologies to retire/replace, and propose pragmatic transition options.
• Develop business cases and recommendations using TCO/ROI to enable executive decision-making.

4) Vendor & Partner Management

• Lead solution design and delivery governance with vendors and partners.
• Evaluate proposals, manage scope and quality, and ensure solutions meet architecture, security, and operational standards.

5) Leadership & Capability Building

• Lead, mentor, and grow engineering/modernization talent (Lead/Manager/Head level).
• Build internal capabilities to reduce long-term dependency on vendors.
• Drive a culture of engineering excellence, DevOps maturity, and continuous improvement.

Required Skills & Experience (Must-have)

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, IT, or related fields.
• 10–15+ years of experience in Application Architecture, Integration Architecture, or Application Modernization.
• Proven leadership experience managing software delivery teams (e.g., Lead/Manager/Head) in complex environments.

• Strong hands-on understanding of:

• Application architecture evolution (monolith → microservices, modular design, API-first)

• Modernization approaches (refactor/replatform/rebuild/retire/replace)
• Integration architecture (API Gateway, middleware, message queues, event-driven patterns)
• Cloud-native patterns (containers/orchestration, autoscaling, observability)
• DevOps, CI/CD, IaC, automation
• Legacy platforms (e.g., older Java/.NET, ESB) and migration strategies
• Experience working in medium-to-large organizations and/or high-complexity systems.

Preferred (Nice-to-have)

• Experience shaping enterprise architecture standards or leading architecture governance boards.
• Experience modernizing mission-critical systems with high availability and security requirements.
• Strong stakeholder management with executives and cross-functional leaders.

What Success Looks Like (Outcomes)

• An enterprise modernization strategy that translates into measurable execution.
• Reduced number of legacy systems and tangible reduction in technical debt.
• A standardized target architecture adopted across teams and vendors.
• Effective vendor governance with strong solution quality and delivery outcomes.
• A stronger internal team capable of delivering modernization with less vendor dependency.