Lead Architect, Database and Data Platform

Lead Architect Opportunity

Travelers is seeking a Lead Architect to join our organization as we grow and transform our Enterprise Technology Solutions organization. Our Architects are responsible for designing and guiding the technology vision that enables business transformation, specializing in creating enterprise-wide solutions that bridge current capabilities with future possibilities. This strategic position requires expertise in cloud-native technologies, APIs, AI/ML, and emerging platforms to establish scalable architectures where business applications can evolve and thrive. The ideal candidate orchestrates the technical strategy that empowers development teams - defining target states, creating technology roadmaps, and establishing architectural frameworks that accelerate innovation while maintaining standards and governance. As the essential bridge between business strategy and technical implementation, this role directly impacts organizational agility, system integration, and the enterprise's ability to rapidly adapt and scale technology solutions across the business landscape.

The responsibilities include:

• Scope: Responsible for architecture for multiple technology and/or business segments/domains for a single business unit.
• Technical Execution: Responsible for the enterprise database migration and modernization strategy, governing the transition of SQL Server, Oracle, open-source databases (PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB), and MongoDB from on-premises environments to cloud-native platforms (AWS RDS, Aurora, DMS, Azure SQL, Oracle View email address on click.appcast.io)
• Develop migration sequencing, tooling standards, and reference architectures that minimize risk and disruption while accelerating delivery timelines
• Architect conversion strategies to transition proprietary database platforms to cost-effective open-source alternatives, eliminating significant annual licensing costs
• Establish database engineering standards covering high availability, replication, performance tuning, schema governance, and observability across cloud-managed and self-managed database services
• Define and implement database disaster recovery and resiliency frameworks with automated failover, backup validation, and compliance-aligned retention policies
• Responsible for the enterprise data migration strategy for transitioning on-premises data stores—including block storage, file systems, archive repositories, and backup platforms—to cloud-native solutions (AWS S3, EFS, Glacier, FSx, Backup)
• Architect end-to-end data platform solutions spanning ingestion, storage, processing, transformation, and consumption layers across hybrid and cloud environments
• Architect enterprise block storage solutions for cloud environments, including high-performance EBS volumes, storage tiering strategies, snapshot lifecycle management, and performance optimization for database and transactional workloads
• Design file storage architectures supporting both cloud-native (AWS EFS, FSx for Windows File Server, FSx for NetApp ONTAP) and hybrid use cases, including protocol compatibility (NFS, SMB), access control, and high-availability configurations for shared workloads
• Define storage platform standards covering provisioning, capacity management, encryption at rest, replication, and cost optimization across block, file, object, and archive tiers
• Develop FinOps discipline for data platform decisions—modeling TCO for migration scenarios, quantifying licensing and infrastructure savings, and optimizing storage tiering strategies
• Drive continuous technology transformation to minimize technical debt.
• Conduct hands-on prototyping of new technology solutions.
• Architect cloud-native data and database solutions primarily on AWS, with knowledge of Azure and GCP as a plus for multi-cloud and hybrid scenarios
• Define infrastructure-as-code (IaC) standards, SLAs/SLOs, and platform reliability engineering practices across data and database services
• Evaluate and adopt emerging cloud-native data technologies aligned with organizational needs—including managed database services, streaming platforms, lakehouses, and vector/graph databases
• Drive platform security posture including encryption, secrets management, IAM governance, and network isolation for data workloads
• Strategic Accountability: Partner with Lines of Business (LOB) and technology stakeholders to translate business requirements into platform capabilities that directly enable digital transformation and strategic initiatives
• Collaborate with ETS teams—infrastructure, security, operations, and application development—to align platform architecture with enterprise standards and ensure seamless service delivery
• Mentor and develop engineers and DBAs, building cloud and open-source competencies while fostering a culture of engineering excellence and continuous learning
• Provide strong thought leadership in pursuit of modern architecture principles and technology modernization.

The ideal candidate will have:

• Technical Expertise & Education: Bachelor's degree in technology-related field or equivalent, with 8 to 10 years of architecture experience.
• Advanced level architecture and recent hands-on strong engineering experience with modern technologies.
• Successful execution of complex, large scale technology strategies.
• Leadership & Influence: Advanced leadership skills with the ability to leverage cross-functional networks to collaborate with architecture and engineering leaders on problem-solving, build company-wide credibility, prioritize critical architectural challenges, and strengthen the Architecture organization through knowledge sharing, mentoring, and creating development opportunities for team members.
• Strategic & Business Acumen: Extensive experience working in an agile operational model.
• Advanced experience supporting transformational change. Able to adjust plans, priorities and strategies in response to changing circumstances.
• Experience developing technology target states and roadmaps that align to short- and long-term business goals.
• Insurance technology experience preferred.
• Strong understanding of value creation and business capability models.
• Strong knowledge of the insurance industry.
• Advanced experience identifying and analyzing current/future problems and opportunities, evaluating information to understand root causes, and exploring alternative solutions for effective decision-making.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively with colleagues to achieve mutually responsible results.
• Extensive experience exercising sound judgment, making decisions and committing to a position.
• Advanced and effective verbal, written and listening communication skills.

A must-have includes:

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, related STEM field, or its equivalent in education and/or work experience.
• 7 additional years of architecture/software engineering experience.
• 2 years of technical leadership experience.

What is in it for you?

• Health Insurance: Employees and their eligible family members – including spouses, domestic partners, and children – are eligible for coverage from the first day of employment.
• Retirement: Travelers matches your 401(k) contributions dollar-for-dollar up to your first 5% of eligible pay, subject to an annual maximum. If you have student loan debt, you can enroll in the Paying it Forward Savings Program. When you make a payment toward your student loan, Travelers will make an annual contribution into your 401(k) account. You are also eligible for a Pension Plan that is 100% funded by Travelers.
• Paid Time Off: Start your career at Travelers with a minimum of 20 days Paid Time Off annually, plus nine paid company Holidays.
• Wellness Program: The Travelers wellness program is comprised of tools, discounts and resources that empower you to achieve your wellness goals and caregiving needs. In addition, our mental health program provides access to free professional counseling services, health coaching and other resources to support your daily life needs.
• Volunteer Encouragement: We have a deep commitment to the communities we serve and encourage our employees to get involved. Travelers has a Matching Gift and Volunteer Rewards program that enables you to give back to the charity of your choice.

Employment Practices

Travelers is an equal opportunity employer. We value the unique abilities and talents each individual brings to our organization and recognize that we benefit in numerous ways from our differences.

In accordance with local law, candidates seeking employment in Colorado are not required to disclose dates of attendance at or graduation from educational institutions.

If you are a candidate and have specific questions regarding the physical requirements of this role, please send us an email so we may assist you.

Travelers reserves the right to fill this position at a level above or below the level included in this posting.

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