Principal Solutions Architect

Principal Solutions ArchitectThe Principal Solutions Architect provides solution design and technical leadership for program initiatives, digital banking platforms, and digital transformation programs. This role defines secure, scalable, and resilient solution architectures that align with business objectives, enterprise architecture standards, security requirements, and the organization’s technology roadmap. Partnering with business, product, engineering, infrastructure, cybersecurity, cloud, and vendor teams, the Solution Architect translates business needs into practical end-to-end solutions, evaluates technology options, and ensures designs meet requirements for availability, performance, compliance, resiliency, and maintainability. The ideal candidate is a trusted advisor who can lead discussions and creation of design artifacts, support governance forums, and explain complex concepts clearly to technical and business audiences.Here’s what you can expect from the job and what you need to be successful:What You’ll Do:Define end-to-end solution architectures and integration strategies for banking applications, digital banking services, vendor platforms, and cloud solutions.Leverage AI and implement automation using AI tools, leveraging modern tools and technologies to expedite delivery of solutionsCreate and maintain architecture artifacts such as blueprints, diagrams, integration designs, data flows, API specifications, roadmaps, and decision records.Lead discovery sessions, architecture workshops, and design reviews that turn business requirements into scalable, secure, and maintainable solutions.Evaluate vendor technologies, APIs, and integration capabilities, identifying risks, gaps, dependencies, and opportunities for optimization.Promote API-first, cloud-native, microservices, event-driven, and reusable integration patterns aligned with enterprise standards.Ensure solutions meet expectations for security, compliance, availability, performance, resiliency, disaster recovery, and long-term supportability.Support vendor selection, proof of concepts, release planning, production support, incident response, and technical due diligence.Present recommendations in architecture governance forums, including Architecture Review Boards, to ensure alignment with enterprise principles and roadmaps.Provide technical leadership and mentorship to delivery teams by reviewing designs, resolving complex issues, and promoting best practices.Essential Skills:10+ years in solution, application, or enterprise integration architecture, including large-scale digital banking, fintech, or regulated financial services initiatives.Strong knowledge of enterprise architecture principles, design patterns, application modernization, and cloud platforms such as Azure, AWS, or Google Cloud.Hands-on understanding of REST and SOAP APIs, messaging, event-driven architecture, microservices, middleware, and platforms such as MuleSoft or Azure Integration Services.Experience producing architecture documentation and delivery artifacts using tools such as Visio, Lucidchart, Jira, and Confluence within Agile, Scrum, or hybrid delivery models.Excellent analytical, communication, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence decisions and build consensus across business and technology teams.Required education: Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related field (or 4 additional years of relevant experience in lieu of a degree)Certifications: TOGAF, Azure, or AWS architecture preferred.Location: Hillsboro, OR | Marlborough, MATarget Compensation: $164k - $197k annually + annual bonusEmployees are eligible for: • Traditional medical, dental, and vision coverage • Generous 401(k) match • Paid Time Off: You'll accrue up to 15 days in your first year. In addition, you'll receive 40 hours of sick time and 3 personal days, which refresh annually • Paid federal holidays • Special employee pricing on lending products such as mortgage, auto, and personal loans (eligibility subject to standard account requirements and underwriting criteria)First Tech is an equal opportunity employer, and we value diversity, inclusion, and equity at our company. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics. First Tech Federal Credit Union