Sr Architect

Senior Software Architect Direct Hire | Hybrid Schedule | Columbus, Ohio Area Our client is seeking an experienced Senior Software Architect to define and drive the long-term technical architecture strategy for a mission-critical enterprise platform. This position offers a hybrid work schedule, requiring candidates to reside in the Columbus, Ohio metropolitan area and be available for regular onsite collaboration.

This role partners closely with Engineering, Product, and Technology leadership to create scalable, secure, and resilient technology solutions that support business growth and innovation. As a senior technical leader, you will establish architectural direction, guide modernization initiatives, evaluate emerging technologies, and mentor engineering teams while ensuring operational excellence across complex distributed systems.

The ideal candidate combines strategic vision with hands-on technical expertise and has a proven track record of leading large-scale architectural transformations in cloud-based environments.

Key Responsibilities Develop and communicate a multi-year architectural roadmap aligned with business objectives, product strategy, and technology investments. Define and evolve architecture standards that support long-term product, platform, and organizational goals. Translate business and product requirements into scalable, maintainable, secure, and high-performing technical solutions. Lead modernization initiatives involving cloud-native architectures, APIs, distributed systems, and enterprise data platforms.

Serve as a trusted advisor to engineering and technology leadership on complex technical challenges, system design decisions, modernization strategies, and technology investments. Evaluate emerging technologies, including AI-assisted software engineering and autonomous development capabilities, determining where they can create measurable business value. Partner with engineering leadership to improve developer productivity, platform capabilities, automation, and overall engineering effectiveness.

Drive architectural governance through influence, collaboration, and technical leadership rather than rigid processes. Champion secure, resilient, highly available, and observable system designs. Identify and proactively address technical debt, architectural risks, and cross-functional dependencies using practical, business-oriented solutions. Create architecture documentation, standards, decision records, and reference patterns that enable consistency and accelerate delivery.

Mentor engineers, architects, and technical leaders while fostering a culture of technical excellence and architectural thinking. Participate in architecture reviews, strategic technology planning, and enterprise-wide technical initiatives. Current Technology Environment Experience with many of the following technologies is preferred. Candidates are not expected to possess expertise in every technology listed. The primary qualification is the ability to assess technologies, understand architectural tradeoffs, and align technical strategy with business objectives.

Languages Java TypeScript JavaScript SQL Backend & APIs Spring Boot Spring WebFlux REST APIs OpenAPI OAuth 2.0 JWT Cloud & Infrastructure Docker Kubernetes Terraform CI/CD Pipelines GitHub Actions or Jenkins Data Platforms PostgreSQL SQL Server MySQL Oracle Redis Event Streaming Platforms Enterprise Search Technologies Observability New Relic OpenTelemetry Distributed Tracing Metrics and Logging Platforms Engineering Practices Agile Development Domain-Driven Design (DDD) Test Automation Continuous Delivery Infrastructure as Code (IaC) AI-Assisted Software Development (GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Claude Code, etc.) Required Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or equivalent experience. 8-10+ years of progressive experience demonstrating advanced technical expertise and architectural leadership.

Proven experience designing, implementing, and evolving large-scale distributed cloud-based systems. Deep understanding of modern software architecture principles, API design, cloud platforms, integration patterns, and data technologies. Demonstrated success translating business strategies and product roadmaps into scalable technical architectures. Experience influencing technical direction across multiple teams and stakeholders without direct management authority. Proven track record leading modernization initiatives and architectural transformation efforts within complex environments.

Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills. Excellent communication and presentation skills with the ability to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences. Experience mentoring engineers, architects, and technical leaders. Familiarity with AI-assisted development tools and modern software engineering practices.

Preferred Qualifications Ability to evaluate technology decisions through a business and product-focused lens, balancing innovation, risk, cost, and long-term maintainability. Broad technical experience across multiple platforms, technology stacks, and architectural patterns. Natural curiosity and adaptability when assessing emerging technologies. Strong collaboration, influence, and stakeholder management skills. Experience supporting highly available, customer-facing enterprise platforms.

Location & Work Arrangement Location: Columbus, Ohio Area Work Schedule: Hybrid Requirement: Candidates must reside in the Columbus metropolitan area and be able to work onsite as needed. Working Conditions Normal office environment with a hybrid work arrangement. Occasional participation in strategic planning sessions, architecture reviews, and stakeholder meetings.

Employment Type: Direct Hire Location: Columbus, OH Area (Hybrid) Relocation: Candidates must currently reside in or be willing to relocate to the Columbus area. By submitting to this position, you are agreeing to be included in our talent pool for future hiring for similarly qualified positions. EEO Notice Vaco by Highspring is an

Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race (including but not limited to traits historically associated with race such as hair texture and hair style), color, sex (includes pregnancy or related conditions), religion or creed, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, status as a veteran, union membership, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation, or any other protected characteristics as required by federal, state or local law.

Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact HR@vaco.com .

Vaco by Highspring also wants all applicants to know their rights that workplace discrimination is illegal. Representation Notice By submitting to this position, you agree that you will be giving Vaco by Highspring the exclusive right to present your as a candidate for the foregoing employment opportunity. You further agree that you have represented information about yourself accurately and have not affirmatively misrepresented your qualifications.

You also agree to maintain as confidential, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any information you learn from Vaco by Highspring about the position and you will limit disclosure of information about the position only to the extent necessary to perform any obligations in furtherance of your application. In exchange, Vaco by Highspring agrees to exercise reasonable efforts to represent you through all solicitation, job screening and resume dispersal.

For residents of Ontario, Canada: Based on Highspring’s discussions with its Client, Highspring’s understanding is that this position for employment is a current vacancy (either through Highspring as a contractor or with the client directly). Privacy Notice Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries (“we,” “our,” or “Vaco by Highspring”) respects your privacy and are committed to providing transparent notice of our policies. California residents may access Vaco by Highspring HR Notice at Collection for California Applicants and Employees here.

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Further assessment of candidates beyond this initial phase will be conducted by recruiters and hiring managers. Vaco by Highspring does not know and cannot opine on if its client’s use of AI products in hiring.

Pay Transparency Notice Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco by Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to: the individual’s skill sets, experience and training; licensure and certification requirements; office location and other geographic considerations; other business and organizational needs. With that said, as required by local law, Vaco by Highspring believes that the following salary range referenced above reasonably estimates the base compensation for an individual hired into this position in geographies that require salary range disclosure. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses.