Principal Solutions Architect

Principal Solutions ArchitectWe're building a world of health around every individual — shaping a more connected, convenient and compassionate health experience. At CVS Health®, you'll be surrounded by passionate colleagues who care deeply, innovate with purpose, hold ourselves accountable and prioritize safety and quality in everything we do. Join us and be part of something bigger – helping to simplify health care one person, one family and one community at a time.As a Principal Solutions Architect, you will lead enterprise-wide architecture strategy and drive modernization across a complex, high-volume healthcare ecosystem. This role sits at the intersection of business and technology, translating strategic initiatives into scalable, future-state solutions that improve performance, integration, and user experience.You will partner closely with business leaders, product teams, and engineering organizations to design and deliver solutions that support mission-critical capabilities—particularly within claims and payment processing across Commercial, Medicare, and Medicaid lines of business.This role is highly focused on upstream architecture—defining business processes, system interactions, and solution designs—while leveraging modern technologies including cloud platforms, AI-assisted development, and low-code/no-code tools. You will play a key role in mainframe modernization efforts and help shape the enterprise's roadmap for AI-enabled and cloud-native transformation.Key ResponsibilitiesEstablish and drive adoption of enterprise architectural standards, frameworks, and best practices across business units and initiativesPartner with business stakeholders to translate features and requirements into end-to-end architectural solutions, including business process models and system designsLead architecture initiatives supporting claims and payment processing systems, including development of an enterprise Claim Cache strategyDesign and deliver scalable, event-driven architectures leveraging APIs, microservices, and cloud-native technologiesDevelop system impact models and integration strategies across large-scale ecosystems (50+ applications, 250+ integrations)Create detailed solution architectures, including NFRs (scalability, resiliency, failover, observability, and performance)Drive mainframe modernization initiatives, enabling migration to cloud and microservices-based platforms with minimal business disruptionIdentify, evaluate, and integrate emerging technologies such as AI/ML, cloud services, and low-code/no-code platforms to accelerate solution deliveryLeverage AI-assisted tools (e.g., Claude, copilots) and cloud platforms to build POCs, prototypes, and user experience conceptsCollaborate with cross-functional teams (Business Analysts, Engineering, QA, Infrastructure, and Product) to ensure alignment from design through executionEvaluate solution options and develop technology roadmaps balancing legacy systems with modernization goalsDevelop cost models and ROI-driven recommendations to support strategic decision-makingServe as a trusted advisor to leadership by providing guidance on enterprise integration strategies and future-state architecture visionRequired Qualifications15+ years of experience across software engineering, architecture, and enterprise delivery8+ years of experience as a Solutions Architect designing enterprise-scale, distributed systemsProven experience with event-driven architecture, APIs, and microservices in high-volume transactional environmentsStrong experience designing solutions across complex integration ecosystems (50+ applications, 250+ integrations)Demonstrated ability to translate business requirements into architectural solutions, including system impact analysis and business process modelingExperience with enterprise data platforms and integration tools (e.g., MongoDB, Cosmos DB, SQL Server, DB2, DataStage, IIB, ODM)5+ years of experience architecting solutions on cloud platforms (Azure, AWS, or GCP)Experience defining and validating non-functional requirements (scalability, resilience, performance, observability)Strong communication skills with ability to influence both technical and non-technical stakeholdersPreferred QualificationsExperience working in healthcare payer environments, especially claims and payment processing systemsFamiliarity with business process modeling tools (e.g., Appian, BPMN-based platforms)Experience leading or contributing to mainframe modernization initiativesExposure to AI/ML technologies and AI-assisted development tools (e.g., Claude, copilots)Experience leveraging low-code/no-code platforms to accelerate solution design and deliveryExperience building proof-of-concepts (POCs) and prototypes using cloud technologiesHands-on experience with at least one programming language (e.g., Java, .NET; COBOL exposure is a plus)Cloud architecture certifications (e.g., AWS Solutions Architect, Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect)Experience working in both Agile and Waterfall delivery environmentsEducationBachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field required or equivalent experienceMaster's degree preferredPay RangeThe typical pay range for this role is: $144,200.00 - $288,400.00. This pay range represents the base hourly rate or base annual full-time salary for all positions in the job grade within which this position falls. The actual base salary offer will depend on a variety of factors including experience, education, geography and other relevant factors. This position is eligible for a CVS Health bonus, commission or short-term incentive program in addition to the base pay range listed above. This position also includes an award target in the company's equity award program.Our people fuel our future. Our teams reflect the customers, patients, members and communities we serve and we are committed to fostering a workplace where every colleague feels valued and that they belong.Great benefits for great peopleWe take pride in offering a comprehensive and competitive mix of pay and benefits that reflects our commitment to our colleagues and their families. This full-time position is eligible for a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the physical, emotional, and financial well-being of colleagues and their families. The benefits for this position include medical, dental, and vision coverage, paid time off, retirement savings options, wellness programs, and other resources, based on eligibility.