Principal Enterprise Architect

Job Summary:About the RoleAt Disney, we’re storytellers. We make the impossible, possible. The Walt Disney Company (TWDC) is a world-class entertainment and technological leader. Walt’s passion was to continuously envision new ways to move audiences around the world—a passion that remains our touchstone in an enterprise that stretches from theme parks, resorts and a cruise line to sports, news, movies and a variety of other businesses. Uniting each endeavor is a commitment to creating and delivering unforgettable experiences — and we’re constantly looking for new ways to enhance these exciting experiences.At Disney Experiences Technology, our team creates world-class immersive digital experiences for the Company’s premier vacation brands including Disney’s Parks & Resorts worldwide, Disney Cruise Line, Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa, and Disney Vacation Club.We are seeking a Principal Enterprise Architect to lead through influence — shaping strategy, driving enterprise alignment, and guiding our most critical technology initiatives across the Commerce, Ticketing, and Guest Experience domains.This is not an ivory-tower role. Our Principal Architects work shoulder-to-shoulder with business leaders, solution teams, and technologists to connect strategy with execution. The ideal candidate blends executive presence, architectural depth, and collaboration mastery, inspiring teams to deliver technology that scales the Disney magic globally.————————What You Will DoLead Through Influence: Operate as a senior advisor and strategic influencer to executives and domain leaders, helping align technology investments with business outcomes.Advance Repository Practices: Ensure architectural metadata and taxonomy integrity within the BlueDolphin repository, enabling enterprise transparency and decision support.Foster Collaboration: Build partnerships with Product, Engineering, Operations, and Security teams to co-own outcomes, not dictate them.Mentor and Inspire: Coach solution architects across federated business domains to raise the bar on architecture quality, reusability, and scalability.Communication and Influence: Translate architectural strategy into compelling business narratives that resonate with executive audiences and technical teams alike.Champion Modernization and Platform Thinking: Lead initiatives that simplify, modernize, and integrate platforms across Commerce, Payments, Ticketing, and Entitlements.Balance Short-Term Delivery with Long-Term Strategy: Facilitate informed trade-offs, track technical debt decisions, and ensure alignment with enterprise objectives.————————What We’re Looking For:Required Qualifications & SkillsBachelor’s degree in computer science, Information Technology, or related field required.10+ years of increasing levels of responsibility in architecture-oriented roles.5+ years of experience as an Enterprise Architect8+ years of Software Engineering experience across multiple languages, both front-end and back-end.Expertise with enterprise architecture repository tools (e.g., tools similar to BlueDolphin or LeanIX)Strong leadership experience mentoring architecture teamsProven ability to influence without authority across technical and business domainsExperience defining and applying metadata models, taxonomy relationships, and governanceDemonstrated ability to lead cross-domain architectural initiatives and guide decision processesUnderstanding of both front-end and back-end technologiesExcellent communication skills with the ability to explain technical decisions to business stakeholdersDeep understanding of governance frameworks (TOGAF or similar) and experience if Architecture Review Board both reviewing and presentingExperience developing and managing architecture taxonomies, patterns, and standards.Proven ability to align architecture with strategic objectives, OKRs, and scorecards.Hands-on familiarity with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP), API-led integration, security-by-design, and data architecture principles.Experience integrating emerging platforms or modernizing legacy systems at scale.Evaluate emerging technologies within your area of expertise to guide strategic recommendations. Shape scalable architectures and support planning for complex enterprise projects.Collaborate with cross-functional teams and stakeholders to define requirements and influence technical direction.Core Leadership CapabilitiesDemonstrate executive presence: can influence VP and SVP level leaders without authority.Proven collaboration leader who mobilizes teams across organizational boundaries.Skilled storyteller who can articulate the “why” behind architectural direction in simple, business-relevant terms.Diplomatic and pragmatic — a trusted advisor who aligns people as effectively as systems. Business and Cultural AlignmentThrives in a federated, creative, and high-visibility environment, where technology enables storytelling and guest experience.Comfortable operating in matrixed organizations and partnering with multiple business units.Exceptional written and verbal communication skills — clear, concise, and outcome-oriented.Preferred Qualifications6+ years of experience in an organization architecturally supporting commerce, payments, ticketing, or entitlements domainsAdvanced degree in Computer Science or similar (MBA, MS) preferred.Experience delivering architecture in platform-oriented and product-led organizationsBackground in API design and messaging standardsKnowledge of security-by-design principles and secure architecture practicesExperience integrating SaaS solutions and working with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP)Familiarity with architecture maturity models and scorecardsCertifications such as TOGAF, ArchiMate, or equivalent enterprise architecture frameworks are desirable.8+ years of experience working with cloud vendors8+ years of experience with databases (relational and non-relational)Experience with SaaS vendor implementationsExperience with messaging patterns and API design best practicesExperience implementing security best practices and security-by-design————————The Ideal CandidateA Principal Enterprise Architect at Disney Experiences:Thinks strategically like an executive and acts pragmatically like a builder.Is as comfortable on stage presenting to VPs as in workshops with engineers.Believes architecture is a team sport — driven by collaboration, context, and clarity.Measures success not by control, but by influence and adoption.#DISNEYTECHThe hiring range for this position in Orlando, Florida is $175,000-$210,000 per year. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.