Enterprise Solution Architect

We are seeking a seasoned Senior Platform Architect to lead and guide enterprise architecture initiatives across legacy mainframe systems and modern distributed platforms. This role requires deep technical acumen and strategic oversight to modernize, integrate, and transform mission-critical applications and infrastructure within a hybrid enterprise landscape. The ideal candidate will have robust expertise in COBOL, IMS DB/DC, JCL, MicroFocus, and mainframe environments, along with proven experience architecting distributed systems and leveraging VMware virtualization solutions.
This is a high-impact, strategic role responsible for defining the architectural direction that enables modernization of legacy systems and ensures seamless alignment with current and future-state enterprise platforms.

Key Responsibilities:
Enterprise Architecture Leadership
•    Design and maintain enterprise-wide platform architecture that encompasses both mainframe and distributed systems.
•    Define modernization strategies that align with business objectives, emphasizing interoperability, scalability, and resiliency.
•    Collaborate with IT leadership to drive digital transformation and platform evolution initiatives.
Mainframe Architecture & Modernization
•    Provide architectural direction for systems built on COBOL, IMS DB/DC, and JCL.
•    Evaluate legacy workloads and define transition paths using MicroFocus rehosting and emulation platforms.
•    Ensure performance, availability, and reliability standards are met across re-platformed workloads.
Distributed Systems Integration
•    Architect seamless integration of mainframe applications with modern, service-oriented architectures (SOA) and distributed components.
•    Drive interoperability between legacy and contemporary platforms through APIs, middleware, and data sharing solutions.
Virtualization & Infrastructure Optimization
•    Leverage VMware (vSphere, ESXi, NSX) and virtualization technologies to architect scalable, fault-tolerant, and cost-effective environments.
•    Lead infrastructure transformation initiatives to support hybrid workloads and dynamic provisioning.
Governance & Standards
•    Establish and enforce platform architecture standards, methodologies, and documentation.
•    Participate in enterprise architecture review boards to validate designs and ensure compliance with governance frameworks.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
•    Serve as a technical advisor to business units, development teams, and infrastructure groups.
•    Mentor solution architects and technical leads, guiding best practices for platform design, security, and performance tuning.

Required Skills and Experience:
•    10+ years of progressive experience in enterprise solution architecture, platform engineering, or systems modernization.
•    Proven expertise in mainframe architecture, including:
      o    COBOL programming
      o    IMS DB/DC transaction and database management
      o    JCL scripting and job control
•    Hands-on experience with Micro Focus platforms (e.g., Enterprise Server, Enterprise Developer) for mainframe workload rehosting.
•    Strong background in distributed systems, middleware integration, and system interoperability.
•    Migration of COBOL modules to distributed system is preferred.
•    Extensive experience with VMware platforms and enterprise virtualization.
•    Demonstrated ability to architect hybrid environments encompassing legacy and modern infrastructure.
•    Exceptional communication, stakeholder management, and technical documentation skills.

Preferred Qualifications:
•    Experience in enterprise platform transformation within regulated industries (e.g., government, banking, healthcare).
•    Familiarity with cloud migration and hybrid deployment models involving AWS, Azure, or GCP.
•    Working knowledge of DevOps practices, CI/CD, and infrastructure-as-code (IaC) tools.
•    Architecture certification preferred (e.g., TOGAF, Zachman, or AWS/Azure Certified Architect).