Principal Enterprise Architect, Emerging Technology

Overview The Principal Enterprise Architect, Emerging Technology is a forward-looking senior architect who identifies, evaluates, and interprets emerging technology trends and disruptors to provide strategic insight into how they can be applied and integrated into key areas of the business. This role defines reference architectures, standards, and adoption frameworks for emerging technologies-like Agentic and Generative AI-and maintains an Emerging Tech Adoption Radar to highlight developments most relevant to retail grocery and the enterprise technology landscape. Working closely with peer architects, architecture leaders, product, IT, and external partners, the Principal EA guides the responsible exploration and adoption of new technologies through structured assessment, risk and benefit analysis, and architecture alignment. With a strong engineering and architecture mindset, this role shapes informed adoption decisions, publishes thought leadership and education (e.g., briefs, white papers) for IT and business leadership, and helps ensure emerging technologies are introduced in a secure, scalable, and enterprise-aligned manner. Reports to the VP, Enterprise Architecture. Our flexible/hybrid work schedule includes 3 in-person days at one of our core locations and 2 remote days. Our core office locations are Salisbury, NC; Chicago, IL; Quincy, MA. Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. Position Summary: The Principal Enterprise Architect, Emerging Technology is a forward-looking senior architect who identifies, evaluates, and interprets emerging technology trends and disruptors to provide strategic insight into how they can be applied and integrated into key areas of the business. Position Details: This role defines reference architectures, standards, and adoption frameworks for emerging technologies-like Agentic and Generative AI-and maintains an Emerging Tech Adoption Radar to highlight developments most relevant to retail grocery and the enterprise technology landscape. Schedule: Our flexible/hybrid work schedule includes 3 in-person days at one of our core locations and 2 remote days. Our core office locations are Salisbury, NC; Chicago, IL; Quincy, MA. Work Authorization: Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. Responsibilities Develops enterprise reference architectures and technology standards; drives rationalization opportunities. Guides target state definition and roadmap sequencing across domains and platforms. Runs design authority processes; resolves cross program architecture issues and risks. Evaluates market and technology trends; recommends adoption/expansion/retirement paths. Partners with Finance to align architecture choices with TCO and value realization. Coaches architects and engineering leaders on modern design and integration practices. Ensures alignment between business strategy and technology architecture, translating strategic objectives into actionable architecture principles, standards, and implementation guidance. Leads enterprise-wide architecture governance and decision frameworks, ensuring consistency, compliance, and traceability across major initiatives, platforms, and solution designs. May be called upon to support critical escalations and must be available during urgent IT incidents as needed. Design: Develops enterprise reference architectures and technology standards; drives rationalization opportunities. Guides target state definition and roadmap sequencing across domains and platforms. Runs design authority processes; resolves cross program architecture issues and risks. Management: Evaluates market and technology trends; recommends adoption/expansion/retirement paths. Partners with Finance to align architecture choices with TCO and value realization. Coaches architects and engineering leaders on modern design and integration practices. Strategy: Ensures alignment between business strategy and technology architecture, translating strategic objectives into actionable architecture principles, standards, and implementation guidance. Leads enterprise-wide architecture governance and decision frameworks, ensuring consistency, compliance, and traceability across major initiatives, platforms, and solution designs. Requirements Required Qualifications Bachelor's degree or equivalent years of work experience. 10+ years in solution/enterprise architecture, including governance and standards leadership. Strong business acumen, analytical judgment, and ability to simplify complex decisions. Preferred Qualifications Experience implementing reference architectures in cloud enabled environments and product operating models. Salary Range: $163,280.00 - $244,920.00 Education: Bachelor's degree or equivalent years of work experience. Experience: 10+ years in solution/enterprise architecture, including governance and standards leadership. Experience implementing reference architectures in cloud enabled environments and product operating models. Business Acumen: Strong business acumen, analytical judgment, and ability to simplify complex decisions.