Principal Enterprise Architect

Overview

This position establishes and implements the overall technological direction of the Bank. Provides long-term strategic vision while directing immediate technical architecture initiatives. Ensures the overall quality of technology implementations across multiple domains including data, application, and infrastructure. Supports multiple business units, managers, and associate teams through expert consultation. Leads the design and integration of key systems that require a fundamental change to corporate technological strategy and direction.
Responsibilities & Qualifications

Duties & Responsibilities:
Business Strategy - Drives long-term technological architecture vision and strategy to support business needs. Designs and integrates key systems that change overall corporate technology strategy and direction. Facilitates the development and evolution of architecture and enterprise governance processes.
Consultation - Provides direction for the Bank's annual investment in all technology areas, including data, applications, and infrastructure. Offers guidance to application development teams within the department.
Collaboration - Communicates a clear vision for management and senior technical staff to ensure maximum leverage of both purchased and developed technology. Collaborates effectively to solve complex technical problems and create new strategies
Technical Expertise - Maintains strong current knowledge of key advances, technology, industry trends, and systems development techniques. Utilizes expertise to partner on the design of technology solutions, planning technology migrations, vendor or product selection, and solution integration.
Position Specific Skills:
Knowledge of mainframe, server, and database platforms as well as associated architectures and application designs
Knowledge of IT principals and practices
Knowledge of financial business and technology
Qualifications:
Minimum Required Education and Experience: Bachelor's Degree and 10 years' experience OR High School Diploma or GED/Equivalent and 14 years' experience in Application Development, Systems Engineering, or Information Technology management
Preferred Education:
Preferred Area of Study:
Preferred Area of Experience:
Required Licenses or Certifications:
Preferred Licenses or Certifications:
Additional Information

Bachelor's Degree and 10 years of experience in Application Development, Systems Engineering, or Information Technology management OR High School Diploma or GED and 14 years of experience in Application Development, Systems Engineering, or Information Technology management

Preferred Qualifications & Experience

Experience

• 15+ years of technology leadership experience with at least 10 years in enterprise, solution, or platform architecture roles.
• Demonstrated success leading enterprise-wide initiatives through influence rather than direct authority.
• Proven ability to drive alignment and execution across large, complex organizations with competing priorities.
• Experience navigating highly matrixed environments and building consensus among senior business and technology leaders.
• Strong financial services experience with a deep understanding of regulatory resiliency expectations.
• Track record improving enterprise resiliency, scalability, disaster recovery readiness, or operational stability at scale.

Leadership & Communication

• Exceptional ability to influence decision-making across executive, business, and technical stakeholder groups.
• Strong organizational awareness and political acumen with the ability to navigate complex organizational dynamics effectively.
• Demonstrated ability to challenge assumptions and drive better outcomes through collaboration, critical thinking, and relationship leadership.
• Proven track record building coalitions, resolving competing priorities, and driving enterprise alignment.
• Experience leading through ambiguity and guiding organizations through complex technology and operational decisions.
• Ability to translate architectural concepts into clear business outcomes, risks, and investment recommendations.

Business Acumen

• Ability to evaluate technology decisions through the lens of business strategy, operational risk, customer impact, and regulatory requirements.
• Experience influencing executive-level prioritization and funding decisions.
• Skilled at aligning technology investments with measurable business outcomes and enterprise objectives.

What Sets You Apart

You are more than an architect. You are a trusted enterprise leader who combines technical depth with the ability to influence people, shape decisions, and drive execution across organizational boundaries. You understand that successful architecture is not defined by diagrams or standards, but by outcomes, adoption, and measurable improvements in business resilience.

You use architectural expertise to ask the right questions, challenge assumptions constructively, and guide teams toward practical solutions. You possess the organizational awareness to navigate a complex enterprise, build coalitions among diverse stakeholders, and create alignment where priorities compete. Whether engaging executives, architects, engineers, operations teams, or risk partners, you consistently bring people together around shared objectives and deliver meaningful, lasting results.

This job posting is expected to remain active for 30 days from the initial posting date listed above. If it is necessary to extend this deadline, the posting will remain active as appropriate. Job postings may come down early due to business need or a high volume of applicants.

The base pay for this position is generally between $155,000 and $250,000. Actual starting base pay will be determined based on skills, experience, location, and other non-discriminatory factors permitted by law. For some roles, total compensation may also include variable incentives, bonuses, benefits, and/or other awards as outlined in the offer of employment.

Benefits are an integral part of total rewards and First Citizens Bank is committed to providing a competitive, thoughtfully designed and quality benefits program to meet the needs of our associates. More information can be found at https://jobs.firstcitizens.com/benefits.