Principal Architect

About This RoleWells Fargo is seeking a Principal Architect within Commercial and Corporate & Investment Banking Technology (CCIBT) to shape the architecture strategy and modernization of Global Payments and Liquidity platforms.This senior leadership role will define the technical vision, target-state architecture, and modernization roadmap for critical transaction-processing platforms supporting payments, commercial deposits, treasury services, and customer liquidity management. The Principal Architect will provide technical direction to architects and engineers while partnering across Product, Engineering, Security, Risk, Operations, and the business to ensure technology strategy supports client needs and long-term business objectives.We are looking for a strategic technology leader who combines deep technical expertise with the ability to influence senior stakeholders, drive architectural decisions, and lead modernization across complex, highly regulated environments.In this Role, You WillAct as a trusted advisor to senior executives and technology leadership in defining architecture strategy and delivering highly complex business and technology solutions across multiple organizations.Lead the architecture vision, modernization roadmap, and target-state strategy Global Payments and Liquidity Platforms and supporting capabilities.Drive enterprise-scale transformation initiatives involving private/public cloud adoption, platform modernization, application rationalization, API enablement, event-driven architectures, and resiliency engineering.Lead the analysis and resolution of highly complex technology challenges requiring broad architectural expertise, innovative thinking, and cross-organizational collaboration.Define current-state, target-state, and transition architectures that support long-term business objectives and technology modernization goals.Influence strategic planning, investment decisions, technology roadmaps, and execution strategies to accelerate delivery of future-state capabilities.Collaborate with senior leaders across business, product, engineering, security, risk, and operations organizations to align technology strategy with business outcomes.Drive technology investments toward modern platforms and architectural patterns while optimizing total cost of ownership, operational efficiency, and return on investment.Establish and govern architecture standards, design patterns, reference architectures, and technology frameworks across the portfolio.Ensure solutions align with Wells Fargo standards, security requirements, regulatory obligations, and industry best practices.Lead adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Generative AI, intelligent automation, and advanced analytics capabilities that improve customer experience, operational efficiency, risk management, and developer productivity.Evaluate and define AI architecture patterns, Responsible AI practices, and enterprise integration approaches for AI-enabled solutions.Influence enterprise and vendor technology roadmaps and identify emerging technologies that provide strategic business value and competitive advantage.Mentor and develop architects and engineering leaders while fostering a culture of innovation, technical excellence, and continuous modernization.Define business capability maps, technology enablement strategies, and architecture roadmaps that align strategic business objectives with technology investments.Required Qualifications7+ years of architecture experience, or equivalent demonstrated through one or a combination of the following: work experience, training, military experience, or education7+ years of experience developing architecture roadmaps, modernization strategies, and implementation plans aligned to business and technology objectives5+ years of financial services experience, including exposure to payments processing, treasury services, commercial deposits, liquidity management, or related banking platforms1+ years of Global Payments and Liquidity domains, including Wire Transfer, ACH, Real-Time Payments (RTP), ISO 20022, liquidity management, commercial deposits, treasury services, payment orchestration, or related transaction-processing platformsDesired QualificationsExperience partnering with Product Managers and Product Owners to develop product-aligned architectures and technology strategies.Strong background in transactional systems, resiliency engineering, scalability, security, regulatory compliance, and operational excellenceExperience leading cloud transformation and modernization initiatives across large enterprise environments.Experience evaluating and implementing AI, Generative AI and Agentic AI solutionsKnowledge of AI governance, Responsible AI practices, model lifecycle management, and enterprise AI architecture patterns.Strong executive communication, influence, negotiation, and stakeholder management skillsDemonstrated ability to lead and influence technology strategy across multiple organizations and architecture domainsExtensive experience defining target-state architectures, modernization roadmaps, and enterprise technology strategies.Deep expertise designing and delivering highly available, scalable, secure, and resilient distributed systemsExperience leading large-scale transformation initiatives involving cloud, platform modernization, APIs, integration platforms, event-driven systems, and modern engineering practicesExperience influencing senior executives, technology leaders, and cross-functional stakeholders within complex organizationsExperience translating business strategy, product strategy, and operational objectives into architecture roadmapsJob ExpectationsServe as a strategic technology advisor to leadership on architecture, modernization, innovation, and emerging technology adoption.Lead architecture strategy and modernization efforts across Global Payments and LiquidityTranslate complex business challenges into scalable, resilient, and maintainable technology solutionsProvide architectural leadership across the Global Payments and Liquidity domain, ensuring alignment to business capabilities and strategic objectivesDrive adoption of cloud-native architectures, platform engineering, API-first strategies, event-driven architectures, and engineering best practicesChampion AI and Generative AI adoption opportunities, identifying capabilities that improve client experience, operational efficiency, decision-making, risk management, automation, and software delivery productivityCollaborate with senior business leaders, product teams, engineering organizations, risk management, architecture councils, and enterprise stakeholders to drive strategic alignmentSuccess in this role requires balancing strategic thinking with execution, influencing without direct authority, driving consensus across organizations, and simplifying complex business and technology challenges into actionable architectural directionServe as a recognized architecture authority across the enterpriseRequired to work in the office as per the organization's Return-to-Office policyThis position is not eligible for Visa sponsorshipRelocation assistance is not availablePosting Locations: 300 S Brevard St. Charlotte, NC 28202125 High St. - Boston, Massachusetts 02110Posting End Date:29 Nov 2026*Job posting may come down early due to volume of applicants.We Value Equal OpportunityWells Fargo is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other legally protected characteristic.Employees support our focus on building strong customer relationships balanced with a strong risk mitigating and compliance-driven culture which firmly establishes those disciplines as critical to the success of our customers and company. They are accountable for execution of all applicable risk programs (Credit, Market, Financial Crimes, Operational, Regulatory Compliance), which includes effectively following and adhering to applicable Wells Fargo policies and procedures, appropriately fulfilling risk and compliance obligations, timely and effective escalation and remediation of issues, and making sound risk decisions. There is emphasis on proactive monitoring, governance, risk identification and escalation, as well as making sound risk decisions commensurate with the business unit’s risk appetite and all risk and compliance program requirements.Candidates applying to job openings posted in Canada: Applications for employment are encouraged from all qualified candidates, including women, persons with disabilities, aboriginal peoples and visible minorities. Accommodation for applicants with disabilities is available upon request in connection with the recruitment process.Applicants with DisabilitiesTo request a medical accommodation during the application or interview process, visitDisability Inclusion at Wells Fargo.Drug and Alcohol PolicyWells Fargo maintains a drug free workplace. Please see our Drug and Alcohol Policy to learn more.Wells Fargo Recruitment and Hiring Requirements:a. Third-Party recordings are prohibited unless authorized by Wells Fargo.b. Wells Fargo requires you to directly represent your own experiences during the recruiting and hiring process.SummaryLocation: CHARLOTTE, NCType: Full time