Project Architect (contract)

Job Summary We are seeking a highly experienced and strategic IT architect to join our organization and play a pivotal role in shaping the technical direction of our SAP landscape. This individual will serve as the cornerstone of architectural integrity and delivery quality across major initiatives within the Work Execution and Plant Maintenance domain. Operating well beyond a traditional project-focused role, this position demands a seasoned professional who can balance hands‑on technical leadership with enterprise-level thinking, contributing to long-term roadmaps, cross-domain integration decisions, and the overall health of our application landscape. The ideal candidate will bring deep SAP expertise, a strong governance mindset, and the ability to translate complex business outcomes into secure, scalable, and operationally sound solutions that align with our broader IT strategy. Responsibilities Develop high-level and detailed architecture and technical designs to satisfy business outcomes and non-functional requirements including availability, performance, resiliency, and maintainability Lead and coordinate end-to-end technical implementation across application, integration, data, security, and infrastructure considerations Ensure delivered solutions are operationally supportable and successfully assimilated into production support models with limited risk Drive continuous improvement and innovation through design enhancements, modernization initiatives, and technical debt reduction Review and approve project designs for compliance with architecture standards and track and manage exceptions as needed Assess, report, and recommend mitigations for technology, integration, and operational risks within the SAP domain and adjacent platforms Ensure regulatory, audit, and security compliance for both new and existing solutions Contribute to and evolve architecture patterns and standards including integration patterns, security patterns, data patterns, environment strategy, and operational readiness criteria Translate solution intent into integrated designs spanning SAP, integration middleware, data platforms, identity and security, and external systems Partner cross-functionally with product owners, engineering leads, security, infrastructure, and operations teams to ensure solutions align with enterprise direction and constraints Work with vendors and system integrators to ensure service delivery quality and evaluate technology options Contribute to domain roadmaps and provide input into broader technology roadmaps, ensuring SAP solutions align with architectural direction and IT strategy Improve overall application landscape health by identifying redundancies, integration risks, and modernization opportunities within the SAP ecosystem Skills Continuous learner with the ability to continually develop and improve skills and knowledge to perform effectively and adapt to change through varied learning opportunities, feedback, and reflection Personally effective in making full use of available talents, skills, energy, and time to consistently achieve goals Tenacious and results-driven with a demonstrated ability to set high goals, work through challenges, and maintain commitment to organizational objectives Creative problem solver who is open to new ideas, focused on improving practices and results, and skilled at maximizing available resources Effective communicator who conveys information in a manner that is strategic, honest, timely, and respectful across all levels of the organization Collaborative partner who works effectively with others to achieve shared goals through cooperation, knowledge sharing, joint problem-solving, and recognition of success Strong working knowledge across core architecture domains including software, data, integration, infrastructure and hosting models, and security Proven ability to lead technical direction on large-scale programs, influence across teams, and drive architectural decisions to closure Excellent analytical, troubleshooting, and stakeholder communication skills across varying organizational levels Experience with SAP integrations and patterns including APIs, events, batch and file transfers, and middleware-enabled integrations Familiarity with enterprise architecture frameworks such as TOGAF and the ability to apply them pragmatically to guide decisions Ability to assess and improve application landscape health by identifying redundancies, integration risks, and cost and risk reduction opportunities Experience 8 or more years of IT experience in a large and complex environment, with nationally or globally distributed environments preferred 8 or more years of solution architecture experience leading end-to-end solution design and delivery across application, integration, data, and security concerns 6 or more years of SAP architecture and solution delivery experience with demonstrated responsibility for solution integrity across multiple workstreams including implementation, integration, security, data, and operations Architecture experience supporting SAP-centric business capabilities such as Plant Maintenance, Work Management, and Asset Management Experience operating in architecture governance forums such as architecture review boards, managing standards compliance and exception processes Demonstrated experience delivering solutions through the full SDLC including requirements, design, build, test, deployment, and operational readiness Experience in the Energy, Utilities, or similarly regulated and asset-intensive industries Exposure to SAP platform modernization approaches including ECC-to-S/4HANA transition planning and integration modernization Experience with SAP Business Technology Platform Prior experience with ECC to S/4HANA migrations is strongly preferred Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or equivalent experience Familiarity with TOGAF or other enterprise architecture frameworks is preferred SAP architecture or related certifications are a plus This is a rare opportunity to step into a high-impact, highly visible role at the intersection of enterprise architecture and SAP innovation within a complex, regulated industry. You will have the opportunity to shape the future of a critical technology domain, influence strategic decisions at the enterprise level, and leave a lasting mark on the organization's application landscape and long-term technology direction. If you are a forward-thinking architect who thrives on solving complex problems, driving meaningful change, and leading with both technical depth and strategic vision, this role offers the platform and scope to do your most impactful work yet. Pay Rate Range 59.31 - 79.08 USD hourly #J-18808-Ljbffr Xcel Energy