Senior Enterprise Web Architect

Role: Senior Enterprise Web Architect

Location: Onsite Palo Alto, CA

Engagement Type: Contract Experience



Project Overview
We are seeking a seasoned Senior Enterprise Architect with 15+ years of experience working with leading digital technologies-particularly AEM, Drupal, GraphQL, Next.js, Optimizely, and Storyblok. The successful candidate will serve as a key decision-maker in comprehensive platform comparison and selection, guiding the organization toward a unified and future-proof enterprise architecture. This role is central to our digital transformation journey and will ensure that each chosen technology supports the company's overall objectives.



Key Responsibilities


Technology & Architecture Strategy
• Develop, maintain, and communicate a holistic technology roadmap for digital platforms and services.
• Perform in-depth comparative assessments of AEM, Drupal, GraphQL, Next.js, Optimizely, and Storyblok, evaluating technical fit, scalability, cost, security, and alignment with business goals.
• Present recommendations and architectural blueprints to executive leadership, demonstrating how selected platforms can drive digital transformation.


Comparative Analysis & Recommendations:
• Lead end-to-end exploratory and evaluative processes, comparing CMS options and front-end frameworks based on organizational requirements and industry best practices.
• Evaluate platform performance, extensibility, and integration capabilities to determine the best combination for delivering enterprise-grade solutions.
• Create documented analyses around operational efficiency, time to market, and total cost of ownership, ensuring data-driven decisions.

Solution Design & Delivery:
• Architect scalable, secure, and high-performance digital solutions that integrate with existing and emerging technologies.
• Guide teams through the setup, configuration, and orchestration of API first microservices architectures.
• Oversee the development process, ensuring compliance with best practices, standards, and quality benchmarks
• Establish CI/CD pipelines and deployment strategies for the proposed stack/architecture
• Implement security, performance, and scalability patterns across the architecture


Leadership & Collaboration:
• Serve as a senior technical advisor, collaborating with cross-functional groups (product, engineering, QA, operations) to align development efforts with strategic objectives.
• Mentor and coach development teams, fostering a culture of continual improvement and innovation.
• Communicate technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders, tailoring messaging to multiple levels of the organization.


Governance & Compliance:
• Establish and reinforce enterprise-wide policies, standards, and technology governance frameworks.
• Ensure solutions comply with security, regulatory, and industry standards.
• Monitor emerging trends, tools, and solutions to keep the organization at the forefront of digital transformation.

Required Skills & Experience


Core Technical Expertise (15+ Years)
• Drupal: 12+ years of deep expertise in Drupal 9/10/11 architecture, custom module development, and headless CMS implementation
• AEM: 12+ years of strong demonstrated experience in leading large scale AEM implementation projects (AEM 6.x) from inception to execution to delivery and most recently AEM as a Cloud service. Strong understanding of the entire AEM tech stack - Apache Sling, Apache Felix, OSGI, Jackrabbit Oak, CRX, Dispatcher, Apache Server, Workflows, Replication, Run Modes, JCR Queries, Indexing, Search, Content and Experience Fragment architecture ,Clustering, Performance and Security Management, Load testing, CDN, Caching, Load Balancing, AEM deployment topologies. AEM Edge delivery services, GraphQL and OpenAPI with AEM Headless and micro frontends like ReactJS/Next JS.
• Architecture: Good understanding of Microservices architecture, Queueing, API design , API gateways, queueing, different cloud integration patterns, Authentication, Authorization, Security , SSO, IAM, AWS, Cloud Native systems.
• Architecture: Broad understanding of Adobe Stack and integrations - Marketo, Adobe Launch, Target, Analytics, Audience Manager, Adobe IO, Adobe RTCDP, AI integrations for Adobe Experience Cloud.
• Architecture : Strong experience in doing sizing and assessments for scale. Understanding of pros and cons of both AEM and Drupal systems for both headless and headful stacks.
• GraphQL: 8+ years of experience designing and implementing GraphQL APIs, schemas, and performance optimization
• Next.js/ReactJS: 10+ years of advanced Next.js development including SSR, SSG, API routes, and performance optimization
• Tailwind CSS: 5+ years of experience with utility-first CSS framework and component design systems
• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a similarly related field (or equivalent experience).
• Demonstrated ability to lead large-scale technology transformations, balancing innovation with operational realities.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, with experience influencing C-level executives and technical stakeholders alike.
• Leadership experience with cross-functional teams and vendor relationships.
• Both AEM and Drupal architecture skills with projects showcasing breadth and depth are mandatory. Broader understanding of multiple modern CMS systems (eg; Optimizely, StoryBlok )are preferred.


Enterprise Architecture
• Extensive experience in enterprise-scale system architecture and design patterns
• Proven track record of successful large-scale migrations and system modernization
• Deep understanding of microservices, API-first architectures, and distributed systems
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and containerization technologies


Migration & Integration
• Hands-on experience with CMS migrations, particularly from monolithic to headless architectures
• Expertise in content modeling, data migration strategies, and API design
• Knowledge of AEM architecture and integration patterns (highly preferred)
• Experience with content delivery networks, caching strategies, and performance optimization


Development & DevOps
• Advanced proficiency in TypeScript, JavaScript, PHP, JAVA and modern development practices
• Experience with Git workflows, CI/CD pipelines for both Drupal and Adobe stacks, and automated testing strategies
• Knowledge of database design, optimization, and migration patterns
• Familiarity with monitoring, logging, and observability tools


Nice to Have
Additional Technical Skills
• Experience with Elasticsearch integration and search architecture
• Knowledge of personalization platforms and customer data management
• Familiarity with analytics platforms and tracking implementation
• Experience with progressive web applications (PWA) and mobile-first design


Industry Experience
• Previous experience in enterprise content management transformations
• Knowledge of accessibility standards (WCAG 2.1 AA) and compliance requirements
• Experience with multi-site, multi-tenant architectures
• Background in performance optimization and SEO best practices


Certifications
• AEM architect certification.
• Drupal certifications (Acquia Certified Developer/Architect preferred)
• Cloud platform certifications (AWS Solutions Architect, etc.)
• Enterprise architecture certifications (TOGAF, etc.)