Chief Architect

Chief Architect (Payments Industry)
Location: Hybrid | Atlanta, GA
Full Time

Our Client is seeking a Chief Architect to shape and lead the architectural strategy for modern, scalable payment platforms and enterprise technology solutions. This executive-level role will guide the evolution of architecture and engineering capabilities, with a strong emphasis on integrated payment systems and long-term technology modernization.

The Chief Architect will work across Product, Engineering, and Business teams to align technical strategy with business growth, while building and leading a high-impact architecture organization.

This role is equal parts technical and leadership.

What You’ll Do

• Define and drive the enterprise-wide architecture strategy, including standards, design principles, and long-term technology roadmap.
• Lead the architecture vision for integrated payment platforms, ensuring scalability, resilience, and security.
• Translate complex technical decisions into clear business outcomes, presenting options and tradeoffs to executive stakeholders.
• Build, lead, and mentor a team of architects providing guidance across product and platform development.
• Partner with product and engineering leaders to deliver interoperable solutions that integrate with external partners and customer ecosystems.
• Advocate for architecture and technology investments and influence prioritization at senior leadership levels.
• Ensure alignment with broader enterprise architecture initiatives and governance.
• Support modern delivery practices, continuous improvement, and agile execution across teams.

Required Qualifications

• • • Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.
    • 10+ years of experience delivering enterprise software solutions within agile environments.
    • 10+ years of hands-on experience in software architecture for complex, multi-tier platforms.
    • 5+ years in senior technical leadership roles with increasing responsibility.
    • 5+ years of people management experience, including building and developing high-performing teams.
    • Payments industry experience required
    • Demonstrated expertise in multiple architectural disciplines such as:
      • Enterprise or Solution Architecture
      • Cloud Architecture (AWS preferred)
      • Distributed Systems & Messaging
      • Mobile or Multi-Tenant Platforms
      • Infrastructure or Platform Architecture