AbbVie

Senior Architect, COTS Applications

AbbVie • $130K — $155K *
Enterprise Technology
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's or Master's degree with extensive experience in COTS application and integration architecture roles; PhD with 4 years of experience also accepted.
  • Team leadership experience, including coaching and performance management for architects or senior technologists.
  • Proven expertise in developing and executing strategies for diverse COTS application portfolios, covering SaaS and on-premise solutions.
  • In-depth knowledge of modern integration practices such as API integration, security protocols, and data management.
  • Successful track record in managing complex COTS implementations, particularly involving legacy system transitions.
  • Ability to influence at the enterprise level in governance and decision-making forums.
  • Strong communication skills for articulating complex concepts to both technical and business audiences.

Responsibilities

  • Lead and mentor a team of architects overseeing COTS applications and their integration strategy.
  • Define and execute the architectural roadmap aligned with business and technological goals.
  • Provide architectural oversight across major programs from vendor selection to lifecycle management.
  • Establish consistent architectural standards and reference architectures for COTS solutions.
  • Collaborate with various internal teams to ensure architectural alignment with business outcomes.
  • Act as a senior authority in governance discussions, addressing trade-offs and risks with clear recommendations.
  • Guide the modernization and integration landscape while adhering to security and compliance standards.
  • Integrate COTS application strategies with broader platforms, ensuring alignment with DevOps and enterprise architecture protocols.

Benefits

  • Paid time off including vacation, holidays, and sick leave.
  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance.
  • 401(k) plan participation for eligible employees.
  • Long-term incentive program eligibility.
Full Job Description
Serve as the architecture leader for the group's COTS (commercial off-the-shelf) application portfolio, building on deep, demonstrated expertise across enterprise application platforms, integrations, and vendor ecosystems to define, evolve, and operationalize the group's application strategy and technology roadmap. This role is intended for senior architects who have not only designed and delivered complex COTS-based solutions, but who have translated hard-won experience from challenging implementation, integration, and modernization programs into durable roadmaps, standards, and reference architectures - and who are ready to lead a team of architects doing the same. The Senior Architect, COTS Applications acts as both a hands-on COTS/integration platform expert and a technical authority and strategic advisor, shaping application direction across the portfolio while ensuring alignment to Enterprise Architecture, security, compliance, and business outcomes. Success in this role requires the ability to operate at multiple altitudes - applying deep solution-level judgment when needed, while also exercising enterprise-level influence to guide the team, peers, and business stakeholders toward coherent, modern application platforms that scale with AbbVie's ambitions. Responsibilities: • Lead and develop a team of architects responsible for architectural oversight of COTS applications, integrations, and the technology roadmap within the group; set direction, coach on architectural rigor, and manage performance, growth, and staffing. • Define and advance the group's COTS application and integration strategies, translating long-term business and technology goals into actionable, multi-year architectural roadmaps. • Provide architectural leadership and oversight across major programs and initiatives - from vendor selection and COTS implementation through configuration, extension, integration, and lifecycle management - ensuring designs are cohesive, future-ready, and aligned to enterprise standards. • Establish and articulate 'what good looks like' for COTS architecture, integration patterns, and configuration-vs-customization decisions through reference architectures, design patterns, and decision frameworks the team can consistently apply. • Partner closely with Business Relationship Managers (BRMs), Business System Consultants (BSCs), Business System Analysts (BSAs), and internal Software Engineering teams on ongoing projects, future project planning, demand intake, and solutioning - providing the technical expertise needed to shape business outcomes into sound architectural direction and ensure COTS solutions integrate cleanly with custom-built capabilities. • Serve as a senior architectural authority in governance and design forums, clearly framing trade-offs, risks, and recommendations across vendor capabilities, integration approaches, build-vs-buy-vs-configure decisions, and roadmap sequencing. • Guide the evolution of the group's COTS and integration landscape, balancing modernization, resilience, security, compliance, total cost of ownership, and vendor roadmap alignment in complex, regulated environments. • Partner closely with infrastructure, data, security, DevOps, and enterprise architecture teams to ensure the COTS application strategy is tightly integrated with broader platform and delivery ecosystems. • Mentor and develop architects and senior technologists, raising overall architectural maturity, integration/platform thinking, and modern application practices across the group. • Ensure adherence to corporate and divisional policies, including GxP, data security, and application lifecycle management, embedding compliance into architectural decisions by design. Qualifications Required: • Bachelor's Degree with 9 years of relevant experience; OR Master's Degree with 8 years of experience; OR PhD with 4 years of experience in COTS application, integration, or enterprise application architecture roles. • Prior experience leading or managing a team of architects or senior technologists, including coaching, performance management, and capacity/demand planning across a portfolio. • Demonstrated leadership in designing and executing COTS application and integration strategies across large, heterogeneous portfolios, including SaaS, on-premise COTS, and hybrid integration landscapes. • Deep expertise in modern COTS and integration architecture practices, including configuration-first delivery, API/event-driven integration, iPaaS, identity and access, master data considerations, and security-by-design. • Track record of successfully guiding organizations through complex COTS implementation, upgrade, consolidation, or modernization programs involving legacy systems, technical debt, and organizational change. • Strong enterprise influence skills, with demonstrated comfort operating in governance forums, architectural review boards, vendor negotiations, and ambiguous problem spaces. • Ability to articulate complex architectural concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences - including business partners - driving alignment and informed decision-making. • Recognized as a trusted architectural leader and mentor, with a passion for elevating architectural rigor, platform thinking, and modern practices across teams. Preferred: • Experience in regulated industries such as pharmaceuticals preferred. Additional Information Applicable only to applicants applying to a position in any location with pay disclosure requirements under state or local law: • The compensation range described below is the range of possible base pay compensation that the Company believes in good faith it will pay for this role at the time of this posting based on the job grade for this position. Individual compensation paid within this range will depend on many factors including geographic location, and we may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range. This range may be modified in the future. • We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick), medical/dental/vision insurance and 401(k) to eligible employees. • This job is eligible to participate in our long-term incentive programs. Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, incentive, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole and absolute discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company's sole and absolute discretion, consistent with applicable law.

About AbbVie

AbbVie develops pharmaceuticals and medical devices. They provide products and services to therapeutic areas including immunology, oncology, neuroscience, eye care, virology, women's health, and gastroenterology.

AbbVie Careers

Joining AbbVie means becoming part of a global team dedicated to making a remarkable impact on patients' lives. At AbbVie, our employees are united in the pursuit of groundbreaking innovation and are committed to transforming the future of healthcare with leading-edge science.

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At AbbVie, you’ll collaborate with some of the brightest minds in the industry to solve challenging problems that have a high impact on society. Our culture fosters growth and embraces leadership and diversity training, ensuring that every team member can thrive.

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We believe in nurturing our team's professional growth through comprehensive training programs, leadership development opportunities, and continuous learning. Our commitment to your career growth is reflected in our robust offerings that enhance your skills and knowledge.

Benefits and Culture

AbbVie is dedicated to supporting our employees' well-being both inside and outside of work. Our benefits package includes health, financial, and social benefits that are designed to support the diverse needs of our employees. Our inclusive culture encourages collaboration and innovation, fostering a workplace where all can excel.

Hiring Process

Our hiring process is designed to ensure a match that will be beneficial both for the company and for your career aspirations. From resume submission to interview, each step is an opportunity to showcase your skills and fit with the AbbVie team.

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Whether you’re seeking to advance your career in a dynamic and empowering environment, or looking for a place where you can innovate, lead, and contribute to something bigger, AbbVie is the place for you. Join us in our mission to discover and deliver innovative medicines that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow.
Learn more about AbbVie
Size
50,000 employees
Market Cap
$288.5 billion
Industry
Net Income
$4.6 billion
Founded
2013
5 Year Trend
+17%
Revenue
$45.8 billion
NASDAQ

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