Kearney Enterprise Architect

Kearney•Chicago, IL

5d•$230,000 - $275,000

About The Position

The Enterprise Architect plays a critical leadership role in shaping and advancing the firm’s enterprise-wide technology architecture and AI platform strategy enabling differentiated client offerings, internal productivity gains, and scalable AI-enabled consulting solutions. Operating in a global, matrixed consulting environment, this role partners closely with senior business leaders, technology teams, and innovation functions to ensure the firm’s technology ecosystem is scalable, secure, resilient, and aligned to strategic priorities—including AI-enabled transformation and digital modernization. This role is both strategic and hands-on , balancing architectural vision with practical execution across a complex portfolio of platforms, data, and client-facing capabilities. Working alongside a dedicated and diverse set of people, you will broaden your knowledge and experience in an open, agile, and collaborative environment. With the freedom to be yourself and recognition for what you bring to the table, you can put your purpose into action and help build a future that works for everyone, everywhere—as a Kearney Original.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or a related field required.
15+ years of progressive experience in enterprise architecture, technology strategy, or senior IT leadership roles.
Proven experience operating in large, global, or professional services organizations.
Demonstrated leadership in digital transformation, cloud migration, and enterprise modernization initiatives.
Deep expertise across several of the following domains: Cloud architecture (AWS, Azure, GCP), Enterprise data platforms, analytics, and data governance (Snowflake, Databricks, BigQuery), Integration architectures, APIs, and middleware (LangChain, LlamaIndex, MuleSoft), Security architecture, risk management, and compliance (Zero Trust architectures, identity-aware AI access, secrets management), AI/ML platforms, responsible AI practices, and model lifecycle management (MLflow, Vertex AI, SageMaker, Azure ML, Arize, Azure AI Studio)
Exceptional ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear, actionable insights for executive audiences.
Strong influencing skills and comfort navigating ambiguity in a fast-paced consulting environment.
Track record of mentoring senior technologists and building high-performing teams.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree or equivalent advanced education preferred.
TOGAF, AWS/Azure/GCP Architecture certifications, or equivalent enterprise architecture credentials.

Responsibilities

Define, evolve, and govern the firm’s AI driven enterprise architecture vision, principles, and standards across global platforms.
Translate business and growth strategies into executable architecture roadmaps and investment priorities.
Partner with senior leadership to align technology decisions with firm-wide objectives, including productivity, scalability, and client delivery excellence.
Design and maintain cohesive end-to-end architectures across cloud, data, applications, security and integration layers.
Identify current-state gaps, technical debt, and architectural risks; lead modernization and simplification initiatives.
Lead modernization initiatives leveraging microservices, containers, Kubernetes, and serverless architectures. Architect for compute utilization and cost-aware AI workloads.
Architect and govern enterprise AI platforms, including model access, data pipelines, inference infrastructure, and integration with business systems.
Own end-to-end AI architecture, from data ingestion and feature stores through model deployment, monitoring, and feedback loops.
Collaborate with innovation, analytics, security and product teams to operationalize AI use cases that drive internal efficiency and client value.
Evaluate emerging technologies and define adoption approaches that create sustainable competitive advantage.
Establish and lead architecture governance forums, design reviews, and compliance processes.
Define reusable architectural patterns, reference architectures, and technology building blocks.
Ensure alignment with security, privacy, regulatory, and risk management requirements.
Act as a trusted advisor to business leaders, Practice Leaders, and IT leadership on technology tradeoffs and investments.
Influence decisions across practices and regions without direct authority, driving alignment in a federated operating model.
Support business cases through TCO, ROI, and risk analysis for major initiatives.
Provide architectural oversight for major programs and platforms to ensure scalability, interoperability, and reliability.
Coach and mentor architecture and engineering teams, strengthening enterprise architecture capability across the firm.
Promote best practices in engineering rigor, documentation, and knowledge sharing.
Design and operationalize enterprise-scale GenAI and agent-based solutions.
Experience with modern AI architectures including Retrieval-Augmented Generation, agent design, and model orchestration.
Familiarity with MLOps / LLMOps frameworks for governance, monitoring, and optimization.

Benefits

Generous retirement/pension savings contributions
Comprehensive medical insurance for employees
Structured and on-the-job learning and development opportunities
Personalized opportunities including talent mobility, flexible work programs and externships to help you chart a unique career journey to pursue your own personal and professional goals
paid time off
paid sick leave
401(k) match and profit sharing
medical, dental, and vision coverage
healthcare concierge services
backup child/adult care
annual employer HSA contributions
a home office stipend
subsidized gym membership
an annual wellness program
leaves of absence when needed to support employees’ physical, mental, and emotional well-being