The Senior Emerging Technology Architect is responsible for defining and advancing the enterprise architecture for secure human-AI collaboration, agentic systems, and emerging technologies, including quantum and post-quantum cryptography (PQC). This role serves as a strategic leader at the intersection of AI, cybersecurity, architecture, and innovation, ensuring emerging technologies align with enterprise security standards, risk requirements, and business objectives.

The position focuses on establishing scalable operating models for human-agent collaboration, secure AI adoption, AI-native architectures, and quantum readiness while enabling innovation through governance, resilience, and trust.

AI Security & Governance

• Define architectural standards and security guardrails for AI, generative AI, agentic AI, and autonomous systems.
• Ensure AI platforms, agents, and workflows align with enterprise security policies, risk frameworks, and regulatory requirements.
• Collaborate with cybersecurity, risk, legal, and compliance teams to establish governance models for AI adoption.
• Define controls for agent identity, authorization, data access, auditability, and operational oversight.

Human-Agent Systems Strategy

• Develop enterprise strategy for human-agent collaboration and AI-assisted work execution.
• Define operating models where humans and AI agents work from shared context, workflows, and objectives.
• Establish architectural principles for multi-agent systems, orchestration frameworks, and collaborative decision-making.

Knowledge Architecture & Intelligent Systems

• Design enterprise knowledge architectures that enable AI systems to reason over business, technology, and operational context.
• Define patterns for shared context, knowledge graphs, semantic architectures, and AI-enabled decision support.
• Enable trusted AI outcomes through explainability, traceability, and governance.

API & Emerging Technology Architecture

• Develop API and integration strategies optimized for AI and agent consumption.
• Define patterns for secure interoperability across platforms, services, and autonomous systems.
• Guide the evolution of enterprise architecture to support adaptive automation and AI-native operating models.

Quantum & Post-Quantum Technology Leadership

• Evaluate emerging quantum computing technologies and their potential impact on business and security.
• Partner with enterprise architecture, engineering, and cybersecurity teams to drive post-quantum cryptography (PQC) readiness and migration planning.
• Define quantum risk assessment methodologies, technology roadmaps, and adoption strategies.
• Track industry developments, standards, and regulatory expectations related to quantum and PQC technologies.

Research & Innovation

• Research emerging technologies, AI architectures, quantum technologies, and security innovations.
• Translate research into reference architectures, pilots, standards, and strategic recommendations.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership on emerging technology opportunities and risks.
• Represent the organization in industry forums, consortiums, and strategic partnerships as appropriate.

• Deep expertise in enterprise architecture, distributed systems, APIs, and integration patterns.
• Strong understanding of cybersecurity architecture, security engineering, and risk management principles.
• Experience with AI platforms, generative AI, agentic systems, automation, and orchestration technologies.
• Knowledge of quantum computing concepts and post-quantum cryptography principles.
• Ability to bridge business strategy, technology architecture, and security requirements.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional initiatives spanning architecture, security, engineering, and business stakeholders.
• Strong communication and executive engagement skills.

• Enables secure enterprise AI adoption.
• Advances human-AI collaboration capabilities.
• Drives quantum and PQC readiness.
• Establishes trusted emerging technology governance.

• AI governance and oversight.
• Emerging technology maturity.
• Quantum transition complexity.
• Cross-functional alignment.

Salary Range:

Salary range is a good faith estimate of base pay. Northern Trust provides a comprehensive benefits package including retirement benefits (401k and pension), health and welfare benefits (medical, dental, vision, spending accounts and disability), paid time off, parental and caregiver leave, life & accident insurance, and other voluntary and well-being benefits. Northern Trust also provides a discretionary bonus program that may include an equity component.

Work Authorization

Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. without the need for employment-based visa sponsorship now or in the future. Northern Trust will not sponsor applicants for U.S. work visa status for this opportunity (no sponsorship is available for H-1B, L-1, TN, O-1, E-3, H-1B1, F-1, J-1, OPT, CPT or any other employment-based visa).