Lead Enterprise Architect

dentsu•Chicago, TX

22h•Hybrid

About The Position

Merkle is seeking a Lead Enterprise Architect to provide senior technical leadership across Adobe Experience Cloud engagements for enterprise clients. This role is responsible for leading architecture strategy, solution design, platform integration, and technical governance across complex customer experience programs. The ideal candidate combines deep expertise across Adobe Experience Platform (AEP), Real-Time CDP, Adobe Journey Optimizer (AJO), and Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) with strong client-facing consulting skills. They can enter complex environments, quickly assess business and technical challenges, establish a practical path forward, and guide delivery teams toward successful outcomes. This is not a pure strategy role and not a purely hands-on engineering role. It sits at the intersection of architecture, consulting, and delivery leadership, requiring both strategic thinking and implementation credibility.

Requirements

15+ years of technology experience, including significant experience in architecture, solution design, technical consulting, or enterprise technology leadership roles.
Deep expertise in Adobe Experience Cloud with demonstrated architecture leadership experience in at least one of the following core platforms: Adobe Experience Platform (AEP)/Real-Time CDP, Adobe Journey Optimizer (AJO), or Adobe Experience Manager (AEM).
Candidates must possess significant hands-on or architecture-level experience with Adobe CDP (AEP/RTCDP), AEM, and/or AJO. Experience limited to Adobe Analytics, Target, Campaign, Marketo, or adjacent marketing technologies alone is not sufficient for this role.
Proven experience designing and delivering enterprise-scale implementations involving customer data management, journey orchestration, digital experience platforms, content management, or related Adobe Experience Cloud capabilities.
Demonstrated ability to lead architecture strategy, platform integration, and technical governance for large-scale Adobe implementations.
Experience designing and supporting enterprise-scale, multi-platform technology solutions.
Strong understanding of customer data ecosystems, marketing technology architecture, identity resolution, personalization, activation, measurement, and governance.
Experience integrating Adobe or similar platforms with cloud data platforms, customer data platforms, enterprise systems, and marketing technology stacks.
Working knowledge of cloud data technologies such as Snowflake, Databricks, Microsoft Fabric, BigQuery, or similar platforms.
Familiarity with generative AI concepts, AI-enabled customer experience technologies, and responsible AI practices.
Demonstrated ability to lead architecture and solution design conversations with clients and internal delivery teams.
Strong client-facing consulting skills with the ability to build credibility quickly and guide stakeholders through complex technical decisions.
Ability to operate independently in ambiguous environments and determine the appropriate path forward with limited direction.
Excellent verbal, presentation, and written communication skills.
Strong problem-solving abilities with a demonstrated ability to balance business goals, technical complexity, delivery realities, cost, risk, and governance considerations.
At least one relevant Adobe certification or equivalent demonstrated platform expertise.

Nice To Haves

Multiple Adobe certifications across Experience Platform, Real-Time CDP, Journey Optimizer, Experience Manager, Analytics, GenStudio, or related technologies.
Experience with Adobe GenStudio, Firefly, or other AI-enabled Adobe capabilities.
Experience architecting customer data, identity resolution, personalization, content supply chain, or journey orchestration solutions.
Familiarity with machine learning concepts, generative AI capabilities, responsible AI practices, and AI-enabled customer experience use cases.
Experience within a consulting, systems integration, digital transformation, or enterprise software services environment.
Experience working directly with Adobe, Adobe partners, or Adobe enterprise client implementations.
Experience mentoring architects, engineers, or technical delivery teams.
Familiarity with enterprise architecture frameworks, integration patterns, domain-driven design, data mesh, or related architecture approaches.
Participation in Adobe partner programs, technical communities, thought leadership initiatives, or industry events.

Responsibilities

Lead discovery workshops and architecture assessments with enterprise clients.
Define scalable target-state architectures across Adobe Experience Cloud and adjacent technology ecosystems.
Develop solution blueprints spanning customer data, identity, personalization, activation, content, and journey orchestration.
Evaluate integration approaches, architectural trade-offs, and implementation risks.
Establish governance standards and architecture best practices.
Serve as a senior advisor across: Adobe Experience Platform (AEP)/Real-Time CDP, Adobe Journey Optimizer (AJO), Adobe Experience Manager Sites, Adobe Experience Manager Assets.
Translate Adobe capabilities into practical client solutions.
Partner with Adobe teams and internal stakeholders to align architecture decisions with platform capabilities and roadmap considerations.
Build trusted relationships with technology and business stakeholders.
Facilitate architecture discussions and technical strategy sessions.
Communicate complex concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
Influence technical direction while maintaining a pragmatic focus on business outcomes and delivery feasibility.
Provide architectural oversight throughout implementation lifecycles.
Guide solution architects, engineers, and delivery teams.
Review designs, identify risks, and resolve complex technical challenges.
Ensure architecture decisions balance scalability, cost, maintainability, security, and delivery timelines.
Contribute reusable architecture patterns, accelerators, and best practices.
Mentor architects and technical talent.
Support the growth and maturity of the Adobe practice through knowledge sharing and technical leadership.