Solutions Architect, People Technology (Chicago)

Secure Every Identity, from AI to HumanIdentity is the key to unlocking the potential of AI. Okta secures AI by building the trusted, neutral infrastructure that enables organizations to safely embrace this new era. This work requires a relentless drive to solve complex challenges with real-world stakes. We are looking for builders and owners who operate with speed and urgency and execute with excellence.This is an opportunity to do career-defining work. We're all in on this mission. If you are too, let's talk.The Enterprise Technology TeamThe Enterprise Technology team designs and delivers the secure, scalable systems that power how our business runs. Our People Technology Team sits at the heart of this work, owning the full Hire-to-Retire ecosystem — Including core applications Workday, Greenhouse, Cornerstone, and ServiceNow — and ensuring these platforms evolve alongside the company's growth. We partner closely with HR, Finance, Operations, and Security to bring data-driven, compliant, and innovative solutions to life, and we are actively architecting the next generation of AI-powered employee experiences.The Solutions Architect, People Technology OpportunityReporting to the Director of People Technology, this role will serve as the technical anchor for Okta's People Technology portfolio, shaping the future-state architecture. You will lead the architectural vision for Workday and its adjacent platforms, partner with stakeholders across HR, Finance, Operations, and Security, and drive the design of modern AI capabilities — including Agentic AI workflows and a custom Workday Model Context Protocol (MCP) — all in service of Okta's ambitious 100k-hour HR automation goals. This is a senior, highly strategic role that blends deep hands-on technical expertise with executive influence, team mentorship, and cross-functional leadership.What you'll be doingEnterprise Architecture & Ecosystem Strategy: Provide deep architectural oversight across all core Workday domains — including Core HCM, Benefits, Payroll, Absence & Time Tracking, Advanced Compensation, Talent & Performance, Integrations, Reporting, and Security — while partnering with the People Technology Product Manager to define the overall technical vision for the global Hire-to-Retire ecosystem. In addition, partnering with Enterprise Architects across the organization to ensure alignment with Okta's broader enterprise standards and technology roadmapIntegration & Infrastructure: Design scalable, secure enterprise integration and middleware solutions that connect People systems with the broader corporate technology stack, ensuring alignment with Okta's enterprise standards, infrastructure, and technology roadmapAI, Automation & Innovation: Architect the technical foundation for Okta's HR automation goals, including the design of Agentic AI workflows, a MCP ecosystem spanning Workday and all adjacent platforms, and unified experience layers built within Okta One Studio — while establishing strict architectural guardrails for the responsible use of Generative AI, ensuring data privacy, compliance, and human oversight are embedded into all HR technology innovationsHands-On Building & Prototyping: Operate as a true techno-functional builder, developing Proofs of Concept and rapid prototypes to validate complex integrations, new configurations, and innovative solutions before scaling to productionProduct, Platform & Operations Partnership: Partner directly with the People Technology Product Manager to translate business strategy into a prioritized technical roadmap, while providing governance and oversight for internal delivery teams and external vendorsTechnical Feasibility Assessments: Own technical feasibility assessments for net-new vendor tools surfaced through the People Tech intake process, providing integration complexity scoring and architectural recommendation to support PM vendor selection recommendationsWorkday Environment & Release Strategy: Own the Workday environment and release strategy, defining sandbox structures, tenant management protocols, impact assessments, and deployment readiness for all major and minor releasesData, Security & Compliance Governance: Shape the HR data architecture to ensure data integrity, enabling advanced People Analytics, leadership dashboards, and robust cross-module data flows with strict adherence to SOX controls and global privacy regulationsTechnical Mentorship & Team Elevation: Serve as a technical mentor for internal analysts, engineers, and functional leads, and advise HR, IT, and Finance executive leadership on technology direction, championing Okta's Door 2 strategy to drive internal efficiency through AI adoptionWhat you'll bring to the role15+ years of experience in IT, including 10+ years of hands-on Workday expertise and 4+ years in a Solutions Architect or Enterprise Architect capacity supporting HR/People systemsDeep Workday architecture knowledge across integrations, reporting, and governance, with a proven track record of owning complex tenant management, sandbox strategies, and release readiness protocolsStrong command of enterprise integration patterns and middleware, with experience connecting adjacent HR and service platforms such as Greenhouse, Cornerstone, and ServiceNowDemonstrated experience architecting or evaluating AI capabilities — including Agentic AI and Generative AI — with a strong grasp of responsible AI practices, data privacy, and risk controlsProven success operating in an Agile/POD delivery model, partnering with Product Managers, and providing technical governance across internal and external delivery teamsDeep understanding of compliance and security standards, including SOX controls, global privacy regulations, and user access frameworks such as UAC-04Hands-on experience building or partnering on Model Context Protocol (MCP) designs or similar AI agent frameworks within an enterprise HR contextAnd extra credit if you have experience in any of the following!Relevant industry certifications such as Workday Pro, TOGAF or a similar enterprise architecture framework, or Agile/Scrum credentials#LI-MC1#LI-Hybrid#P24848_3463002The annual base salary range for this position for candidates located in the San Francisco Bay area is between: $199,000—$273,900 USDBelow is the annual base salary range for candidates located in California (excluding San Francisco Bay Area), Colorado, Illinois, New York and Washington. Your actual base salary will depend on factors such as your skills, qualifications, experience, and work location. In addition, Okta offers equity (where applicable), bonus, and benefits, including health, dental and vision insurance, 401(k), flexible spending account, and paid leave (including PTO and parental leave) in accordance with our applicable plans and policies. To learn more about our Total Rewards program please visit: . The annual base salary range for this position for candidates located in California (excluding San Francisco Bay Area), Colorado, Illinois, New York, and Washington is between:$178,000—$244,200 USDThe Okta ExperienceSupporting Your Well-BeingDriving Social Impact Developing Talent and Fostering Connection + CommunityWe are intentional about connection. Our global community, spanning over 20 offices worldwide, is united by a drive to innovate. Your journey begins with an immersive, in-person onboarding experience designed to accelerate your impact and connect you to our mission and team from day one.Okta 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, ancestry, marital status, age, physical or mental disability, or status as a protected veteran. We also consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and convictions records, consistent with applicable laws.If reasonable accommodation is needed to complete any part of the job application, interview process, or onboarding please use this Form to request an accommodation.Notice for New York City Applicants & Employees: Okta may use Automated Employment Decision Tools (AEDT), as defined by New York City Local Law 144, that use artificial intelligence, machine learning, or other automated processes to assist in our recruitment and hiring process. In accordance with NYC Local Law 144, if you are an applicant or employee residing in New York City, please click here to view our full NYC AEDT Notice.