10+ years of technology experience, including 5+ years in enterprise or senior solution architecture roles.
Proven track record in defining and executing target-state architecture and multi-year roadmaps at enterprise scale.
Deep hands-on experience with at least one major public cloud, preferably Azure, and hybrid environments.
Strong knowledge of integration architecture, including APIs, event streaming, and legacy system integration.
Solid grounding in enterprise architecture, security architecture, and disaster recovery design.
Experience leading architecture governance, including review boards and standards adoption.
Exceptional communication skills for engaging with both executives and technical teams.
Responsibilities
Define and maintain enterprise target-state architecture across various domains.
Translate business strategy into multi-year capability and technology roadmaps.
Lead application portfolio rationalization to identify redundancy and technical debt.
Evaluate build, buy, and partner options for technology solutions.
Chair the Architecture Review Board and establish standards for delivery teams.
Maintain Architecture Decision Records for traceability and auditability.
Shape cloud and hybrid infrastructure strategy with Platform Engineering.
Benefits
Opportunity to work in a FINRA- and SEC-regulated environment, enhancing compliance knowledge.
Engagement in high-impact decision-making that shapes the firm's technology landscape.
Collaboration with business leaders across the organization, fostering strategic partnerships.
Mentorship opportunities for architects and senior engineers, promoting professional growth.
Involvement in cutting-edge technology initiatives, including AI and cloud strategies.
Full Job Description
Job Summary
Key Deliverables and Responsibilities
Cambridge's Enterprise Platform, Architecture & Data organization owns the foundations the rest of the firm builds on: cloud and infrastructure platforms, integration and API layers, enterprise data, and the architecture standards that connect them. In a FINRA- and SEC-regulated environment, security, resilience, data governance, and auditability are design requirements from day one.
The Enterprise Architect sets the target-state architecture for Cambridge's technology estate and ensures major platform, data, and application decisions move the firm toward it. This senior individual-contributor role blends strategy, hands-on design authority, and trusted partnership with business leaders across the organization.
Architecture Strategy and Roadmap
Define and maintain enterprise target-state architecture across business, application, data, integration, and technology domains.
Translate business strategy, including Financial Professional experience, client onboarding, trading, operations, and compliance, into multi-year capability and technology roadmaps.
Lead application portfolio rationalization by identifying redundancy, technical debt, and end-of-life risk and building the case for consolidation or modernization.
Evaluate build, buy, and partner options, including third-party platforms, custodial integrations, and fintech vendors.
Design Authority and Governance
Chair or lead the Architecture Review Board and establish standards, reference architectures, and patterns for delivery teams.
Maintain Architecture Decision Records so major decisions are traceable and auditable.
Review high-impact solution designs for alignment with standards, security, resilience, cost, and regulatory requirements.
Create paved roads and guardrails that balance governance with delivery speed.
Platform, Cloud, Integration, Data, and AI
Shape cloud and hybrid infrastructure strategy with Platform Engineering, including landing zones, identity, networking, and observability.
Drive an API-first and event-driven integration strategy that reduces point-to-point coupling between core systems.
Guide modernization of legacy applications through re-platforming, re-architecture, or retirement with clear sequencing and risk management.
Partner on data platforms, master and reference data, lineage, data products, and embedded governance, classification, retention, and privacy controls.
Define reference architectures and guardrails for responsible AI and generative AI, including model access, data boundaries, and human review.
Security, Resilience, and Leadership
Embed security-by-design, zero-trust, business continuity, disaster recovery, and operational resilience into reference architectures.
Partner with Compliance, Risk, and Internal Audit so recordkeeping, supervision, surveillance, and third-party risk requirements are reflected in system designs.
Mentor architects and senior engineers, communicate technical trade-offs clearly, and represent architecture in vendor negotiations, due diligence, and strategic planning.
What We Are Looking For
10+ years of experience in technology, including 5+ years in enterprise or senior solution architecture roles.
Proven success defining and executing target-state architecture and multi-year roadmaps at enterprise scale.
Deep hands-on experience with at least one major public cloud. Azure experience is preferred, along with experience in hybrid environments.
Strong command of integration architecture, including APIs, event streaming, messaging, identity management, and legacy system integration.
Solid grounding in modern enterprise architecture, security architecture, identity and access management, and resilience and disaster recovery design.
Experience leading architecture governance, including review boards, standards, and Architecture Decision Records that teams adopt.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to brief executives and challenge engineers with equal credibility.
Bachelor's degree in computer science, information systems, engineering, or equivalent experience.
Preferred Qualifications
Financial services experience, ideally in broker-dealer, registered investment adviser, wealth management, or custody environments.
Familiarity with wealth-management technology such as Salesforce, portfolio management and rebalancing, trading and order management, account opening, and clearing or custodial integrations.
Exposure to books-and-records retention, supervision, surveillance, and vendor risk management requirements.
Experience designing AI, machine learning, and generative AI platforms and guardrails in a regulated setting.
Practical fluency with TOGAF, Zachman, or a similar architecture framework.
Relevant certifications such as TOGAF, professional-level cloud architect credentials, or CISSP.
Experience leading large-scale modernization, merger and acquisition technology integration, or platform consolidation.
About Cambridge Investment Research
Cambridge Investment Research is a privately owned financial services firm that provides a wide range of services to independent financial advisors and their clients. The company was founded in 1981 and is headquartered in Fairfield, Iowa. Cambridge Investment Research offers a variety of products and services, including investment advisory services, brokerage services, and insurance products. The company is committed to providing independent financial advisors with the tools and resources they need to help their clients achieve their financial goals. Cambridge Investment Research has been recognized as one of the top independent broker-dealers in the United States.
