Principal Enterprise Architect

Deckers • Goleta, CA

2d • Remote

About The Position

As Principal Enterprise Architect, AI and DTC Technology, you will shape the architecture powering Deckers’ consumer-facing platforms and build the foundations for practical, governed, and measurable AI across the business. You will work across brands, regions, and technology teams to define a composable DTC architecture and shared AI platform, balancing enterprise-wide standards with flexibility for innovation. The role provides technical leadership to empower the business, manage risk, and support operational excellence. The position is remote in the US, and applicants must reside in Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Texas, or Wisconsin.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent applicable industry experience.
• At least 8 years of enterprise or solution architecture experience within retail, fashion, or consumer goods, with deep expertise in DTC ecommerce, order management, customer data, and integration.
• At least 3 years of hands-on experience architecting AI and machine-learning solutions, including generative AI and large language model applications delivered into production.
• Track record implementing MACH and composable commerce architecture, with experience in microservices, API integration, cloud-native environments, and iPaaS platforms such as Boomi.
• Experience managing large-scale transformation projects, including commerce platform modernization and AI adoption programs.
• Experience supporting global products aligned with varying regional strategies and working with technical and global business stakeholders.
• Experience evaluating AI and commerce vendors and platforms for capability fit, total cost of ownership, lock-in, security, and roadmap risk.
• Extensive knowledge of multi-cloud computing; AWS experience is required, along with understanding of scalability, security, and cloud architecture best practices.
• Strong understanding of AI and ML architecture, including LLMs, RAG, agents, vector databases, model evaluation, MLOps and LLMOps, guardrails, and responsible-AI practices.
• Proficiency across the DTC technology stack, including major ecommerce platforms, OMS, CDP, loyalty, personalization, and payment platforms.
• Strong background in data architecture, data governance, and large-scale data processing.
• Proficiency in enterprise integration and interoperability, with a working understanding of Oracle EBS, PLM, PIM, and other large-scale enterprise systems.
• Ability to produce clear reference architectures, decision records, and solution blueprints.
• Strategic vision and leadership skills, including the ability to translate business goals and AI opportunities into a cohesive enterprise architecture strategy.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills, including the ability to explain complex technical concepts to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Adaptable, forward-thinking, and pragmatic approach to AI, embracing emerging technologies and challenging the status quo while remaining grounded in evidence, safety, and business value.
• Detail-oriented team player committed to delivering high-quality work that meets business requirements.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree.
• Familiarity with the retail or fashion industry and a solid understanding of the consumer journey from discovery through purchase, fulfillment, and service.

Responsibilities

• Develop and articulate an enterprise-wide architectural vision for DTC commerce and AI, aligned with business goals and focused on consumer experience, agility, scalability, and innovation.
• Define and enforce architecture governance policies and standards across brands and regions, including an AI review process for use-case approval, risk, and production readiness.
• Create and maintain a multiyear DTC and AI architecture roadmap with milestones, dependencies, risks, and ownership.
• Own the target architecture for the DTC landscape and ensure cross-platform functionality and data flow across ecommerce, OMS, inventory orchestration, payments, CDP, loyalty, content management, search and personalization, marketplaces, and fulfillment.
• Champion MACH principles to create flexible, composable commerce architecture.
• Drive modernization of legacy commerce and integration systems to modern, cloud-based, API-driven architectures.
• Define the enterprise AI reference architecture and shared AI platform, covering model access, orchestration, RAG, vector and feature stores, prompt and agent management, evaluation, guardrails, cost controls, and observability.
• Establish responsible-AI controls, including use-case approval, bias and safety evaluation, human oversight, privacy, data residency, model risk management, and regulatory compliance.
• Define API-first and event-driven integration patterns across commerce platforms, marketplaces, payment providers, 3PLs, marketing technology, and customer service tools.
• Oversee DTC and AI data architecture and governance to ensure data is trusted, discoverable, secure, and compliant.
• Collaborate with executive leadership and senior stakeholders to prioritize architectural initiatives that deliver strategic impact and operational efficiency.
• Lead and mentor architects, engineers, and AI practitioners, fostering collaboration, innovation, excellence, and best practices.
• Define and track KPIs for DTC architecture and AI initiatives, report progress to senior management, and monitor emerging technologies and industry trends.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation programs and bonuses.
• Financial planning and wellbeing plans to help protect income, pay expenses, and invest in the future.
• Time-away-from-work plans to support family, health, and recharging.
• Employee discounts and community-based programs.
• Personal and professional development opportunities and support.
• Comprehensive health and wellness programs and offerings.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Principal