Principal Architect

Principal Architect Location: San Jose, CA Summary Drives architectural evolution of Adobe's Enterprise Customer Experience platform and applications through system and application design as well as technology innovation for Agentic AI solutions. This role will partner closely with engineering, product, and business leaders to define architecture strategy, influence product direction, and deliver highly scalable systems that support global‑scale workloads, ensure data governance, and drive AI solutions. This is a highly visible, leadership role requiring deep expertise in data management, distributed systems, and Agentic AI technologies, along with the ability to operate across organizational boundaries. Key Responsibilities Define and drive end‑to‑end system architecture for large‑scale data management, ensuring performance, security, and reliability Drive the development, integration and adoption of AI‑native services (including Agentic Tools, Skills and Context‑sensitive Agentic Loops) Partner with engineering and product leadership to translate business requirements into technical architecture Lead architectural reviews, guide design decisions, and ensure adherence to best practices Establish standards for scalability, observability, resiliency, and cost efficiency Influence cross‑team alignment and provide thought leadership across the organization Mentor senior engineers and architects; elevate overall technical capability Represent architecture strategy in executive discussions and customer engagement Basic Qualifications 15+ years of experience in software engineering with strong focus on end‑to‑end systems and application development Proven experience designing and operating large‑scale, reliable distributed systems (high performance and high availability) Strong experience with microservices, APIs, and platform engineering Familiarity with Agentic AI solution design and development Demonstrated ability to influence org‑wide teams and drive architecture at scale Excellent communication skills with ability to engage both technical and non‑technical stakeholders Preferred Qualifications Experience with streaming data platforms and real‑time processing frameworks (e.g., Kafka, Spark) Experience in developing Agentic AI systems and solutions Background in building developer platforms or cloud‑enabled products Experience working in highly matrixed, enterprise‑scale environments Advanced degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) in Computer Science or related field Success Profile Strong systems thinker with ability to simplify complex problems High ownership and bias for execution Ability to operate at both hands‑on technical depth and strategic leadership level Proven track record of building scalable, enterprise‑grade systems and applications Adobe is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based on gender, race or color, ethnicity or national origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. State‑Specific Notices California: Fair Chance Ordinances – Adobe will consider qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records for employment in accordance with state and local laws and "fair chance" ordinances. Colorado: Application Window Notice – There is no deadline to apply to this job posting because Adobe accepts applications for this role on an ongoing basis. The posting will remain open based on hiring needs and position availability. Massachusetts: Massachusetts Legal Notice – It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability. Expected Pay Range: U.S. pay range for this position is $190,200 — $360,500 annually. In California, the pay range is $248,900 — $360,500. Pay within this range varies by work location and may also depend on job‑related knowledge, skills, and experience. #J-18808-Ljbffr