Principal Architect

Join GDT and be part of a dynamic team where innovation meets excellence! At GDT, our employees are the cornerstone of our success. We offer a people-first culture focused on inclusivity, growth, and innovation, with access to career development opportunities, cutting-edge technology, and a collaborative environment. Employees are empowered to make a meaningful impact and are recognized for their contributions.

About the role

The Principal Architect will facilitate the establishment and execution of the architectural roadmap for Managed and Professional Services. This role drives solutions that fulfill GDT client needs and align with GDT's vision and strategy, creating custom solutions only when required. The Principal Architect applies business strategy while driving technology and IT strategy, balancing short-term and long-term client needs to ensure scalable and evolving architecture. They leverage an end-to-end approach by connecting all pieces of data to deliver solutions using all available assets. This role provides advice, guidance, direction, and authorization to carry out major plans and procedures, ensuring schedule attainment, design and process adherence, and performance and budget targets are met. The primary focus is on building end-to-end objectively measurable technology and IT solutions using GDT solution elements, tightly aligned to client business requirements. The Principal Architect also takes an active role in the performance management process, including goal setting, interim reviews, and year-end reviews.

Responsibilities

• Provides support to GDT clients across their enterprise infrastructure and management platforms to ensure realization of optimal and efficient systems utilizing established standards, procedures, and methodologies.
• Responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of GDT clients’ solutions made up of data, networks, services, and tools.
• Oversees, improves, and updates enterprise technologies, capabilities, tooling, hardware, software, and licensing.
• Determines which legacy systems can be optimized, what software or hardware functionality can be modernized, and which services or products will support current and future state business strategies across each department.
• Works across the organization to determine the needs of a range of client operations and processes.
• Ensures GDT solutions are holistically assembled to drive client and GDT success.
• Provides financial and operational improvement metrics for clients, demonstrating improved business outcomes and impact.
• Supervises and provides technical guidance to other GDT architects.
• Prepares and presents solutions to all levels of client leadership, including C-Suite.

Requirements

• Demonstrated successful enterprise architect experience combining communication, analytical, leadership, teamwork, and complex problem-solving skills.
• Experience with multiple technologies (subject matter expertise in at least two or three technology areas and a broad understanding of many more).
• Ability to translate GDT client strategies (business, financial, and technical) into optimal, efficient, scalable, and measurable solutions.
• Experience in providing solutioning with an end-to-end approach delivering objective outcomes while satisfying business requirements.
• Proven ability to solve solution challenges through the solutioning and pursuit lifecycle to create business-aligned deal-winning architectures.
• Strong IT and technology expertise inclusive of broad knowledge in most areas of GDT's portfolio (network, collaboration, data center, cloud, security, and CX) with expert-level subject matter experience in two or more areas.
• Deep knowledge of multiple industries or verticals based on experience.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Computer Science, Management Information Systems, Information Technology, Security, or equivalent experience.
• Possesses a variety of OEM and industry certifications spanning multiple vendors and technologies, such as:
  • Cisco: CCNA, CCNP, CCDP, CCIE, CCDE
  • NetApp: NCTA, NCDA, NCSE, NCHCA
  • Fortinet: NSE 1 - 8
  • Juniper: JNCIA, JNCIP, JNCIS
  • Professional certifications in cross-functional areas, such as (ISC)², EXIN ITIL, or Enterprise Architect Certifications (e.g., TOGAF).