7-12 years in software engineering or solution architecture
Hands-on cloud-native development expertise (AWS, Azure, or GCP)
Proven experience deploying LLM-based applications or AI/ML systems
Strong grasp of enterprise technologies like ERP, CRM, and data platforms
Proficient in DevOps practices - CI/CD and Infrastructure as Code
Experience designing vector search pipelines across multimodal data types
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent experience
Responsibilities
Define architectural vision and standards for automation and AI product development
Translate technology strategy into actionable frameworks
Design and manage automation sandbox environment for iteration
Build transition pipeline from prototypes to production
Architect automation-enabled workflows with cross-functional teams
Ensure integration of solutions with core enterprise systems
Mentor and coach engineers to build a disciplined engineering culture
Benefits
Opportunity to lead architectural innovation in automation and AI
Hands-on involvement in cutting-edge cloud-native projects
Chance to mentor and develop future technical leaders
Work in a culture focused on product-centric innovation
Engagement with modern IT transformation practices
Full Job Description
Lead Architect, Solution Development & Business Process Automation
Role Purpose
The Lead Architect establishes the architectural foundation for MGA's solution development and automation capability. This is a hands-on technical leadership role - designing frameworks, building sandbox environments, and defining the pathways that move agent-driven prototypes into enterprise-ready production. The role bridges modern cloud-native engineering with MGA's existing IT estate (ERP, data platforms, cybersecurity) and anchors MGA's shift from a support-focused IT model to a product-centric, innovation-driven organization.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Architecture
Define the architectural vision, standards, and reference patterns for automation and AI-enabled product development.
Translate technology strategy into actionable frameworks that connect rapid experimentation with enterprise readiness.
Engineering & Platform
Design and own the automation sandbox environment - secure, compliant, and built for fast iteration.
Build and maintain the transition pipeline that moves prototypes to production through defined quality, security, and performance gates.
Own API strategy, microservice architecture, data access frameworks, and cloud infrastructure design.
Automation & Solution Architecture
Architect automation-enabled workflows and applications in partnership with solution designers, data engineers, and product teams.
Set standards for model deployment, vector search, data pipelines, and runtime hosting.
Ensure all solutions integrate with core enterprise systems: ERP, CRM, eCommerce, and Data Warehouse.
Enterprise Alignment & Governance
Serve as the bridge between modern development practices and the existing enterprise IT estate.
Ensure architectural consistency with MGA's security, compliance, and operational standards across all environments.
Team Leadership
Mentor full-stack developers, ML engineers, and platform engineers - building a culture of pragmatic, disciplined engineering.
Coach mid-level engineers into future technical leads and contribute to building MGA's internal product engineering team.
Key Deliverables
Publish MGA's Architecture Framework for AI-enabled solution development.
Build the business process automation sandbox and secure access model.
Deliver the prototype-to-production transition pipeline.
Produce reusable reference architectures for APIs, integrations, and automation workflows.
Launch multiple AI-enabled solutions or automations across business units.
Establish architectural guardrails for ERP, data, integration, and cloud alignment.
Experience & Qualifications
7-12 years in software engineering or solution architecture.
Hands-on cloud-native development expertise (AWS, Azure, or GCP), containers, and modern application architectures.
Strong grasp of enterprise technologies: ERP, CRM, data platforms, Power Platform, and identity management.
Proficient in DevOps practices - CI/CD, Infrastructure as Code, observability, and secure-by-design principles.
Experience designing vector search pipelines across multimodal data types (text, images, audio, documents, structured data).
Proficient with vector databases (e.g. Pinecone, Weaviate, pgvector) - able to evaluate managed vs. self-hosted trade-offs for multimodal workloads.
Solid understanding of data ingestion, preprocessing, and embedding refresh cycles across heterogeneous sources.
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent practical experience.
Success Metrics
Speed and quality of delivered AI-enabled prototypes and solutions.
Stability and adoption of sandbox and transition pipeline environments.
Architectural alignment with core enterprise systems.
Reduction in time from prototype to production.
Adoption of architectural patterns and automation frameworks across the organization.
Developer satisfaction and uplift in technical capability across product teams.
Salary:
$150,000.00 - $250,000.00
About MGA Entertainment
MGA Entertainment is a toy and entertainment company that designs, develops, and markets a wide range of toys, games, and other products for children. The company was founded in 1979 and is headquartered in Van Nuys, California. MGA Entertainment's products are sold in more than 85 countries around the world, and include popular brands such as Bratz, L.O.L. Surprise!, and Little Tikes. The company is known for its innovative and high-quality products, and has won numerous awards for its toys and games. MGA Entertainment is committed to creating products that inspire creativity, imagination, and fun for children of all ages.
