Principal Applications Architect

Lead, Influence, and Shape Enterprise Outcomes with NRI

At NRI, we convert technology into measurable business value. With 3,500+ local experts and 16,000 globally, we partner with Australia’s leading organisations to deliver complex, high-impact transformation.

We are seeking a Principal Applications Architect who is not only technically exceptional, but highly credible at C‑suite level—able to influence strategy, negotiate outcomes, and communicate complex architecture decisions with clarity and authority.

This role is as much about executive engagement and commercial influence as it is about technical leadership.

You will operate as a trusted advisor to CIOs, CTOs, and senior business leaders, either embedded within a key client or across multiple engagements.
Your primary accountability is to:

• Translate business strategy into architecture direction
• Influence executive decision-making
• Negotiate technology outcomes across competing priorities
• Ensure solutions are scalable, secure, and commercially aligned

You'll bridge the gap between business ambition and technical execution—owning architecture outcomes end-to-end.

Key Responsibilities:

Executive Influence & Stakeholder Leadership

• Act as a strategic partner to C-level stakeholders, shaping technology direction and investment decisions
• Lead high-stakes conversations, articulating trade-offs, risks, and value in business terms
• Influence and align diverse stakeholder groups across business and technology
• Facilitate decision-making forums, workshops, and governance boards
• Build trusted relationships that enable long-term client impact

Architecture Strategy & Roadmapping

• Define target-state architectures and transition roadmaps aligned to business objectives
• Ensure technology direction delivers scalability, resilience, and long-term value

Solution Architecture & Delivery Oversight

• Design enterprise-grade solutions across cloud (Azure, AWS), enterprise platforms, and modern application stacks
• Guide delivery teams to ensure alignment with architectural intent and standards
• Embed security, compliance, and operational excellence into all designs

Technology Strategy & Advisory

• Evaluate and recommend technologies to meet performance, cost, and risk objectives
• Stay ahead of trends in cloud, DevOps, and integration architectures

Integration & Modernisation

• Lead modernisation initiatives including cloud transformation, APIs, microservices, and SaaS integration
• Drive adoption of DevOps, automation, and scalable engineering practices

Leadership & Capability Building

• Mentor architects and engineering teams
• Establish standards, frameworks, and high-performance engineering practices

What Sets You Apart:

This role requires more than technical depth. You bring:

Core Strengths

• Exceptional communication skills - able to simplify complex concepts for executive audiences
• Highly developed influencing capability - able to shape outcomes without direct authority
• Strong negotiation skills - balancing technical, commercial, and stakeholder priorities
• Proven ability to operate confidently in C-suite and board-level environments

Technical Expertise

• Strong background in enterprise architecture and large-scale application design
• Experience across cloud platforms (Azure, AWS, GCP) and modern architectures (microservices, APIs, DevOps)
• Solid engineering foundation (e.g. Java, C#, Python, modern front-end frameworks)

Experience

• 8-10+ years in architecture roles within complex, multi-technology environments
• Proven track record delivering enterprise transformation outcomes
• Relevant certifications (e.g. TOGAF, AWS, Azure) desirable

Why NRI?

• Work at the intersection of technology and executive decision-making
• Influence outcomes that deliver real business impact
• Collaborate with a high-performing, client-focused team
• Access leading tools, platforms, and innovation opportunities

Take the next step with us. Apply now and make a real impact.
Your skills. Our impact. Together unstoppable. At NRI, you'll work on meaningful projects, tackle complex challenges, and see the tangible difference your expertise makes. We value diverse experiences and perspectives, creating an inclusive, collaborative, and high-performing workplace. Don't worry if you don't meet every requirement listed - we prioritise attitude and capability, and you might be the perfect fit for this role or another within NRI.

NRI Australia & New Zealand is committed to building a culturally diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourages applications regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.