Principal Architect - Azure

Datacom; Canberra; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote working

Flexi-hours

Professional development courses

Social events

Job summary

Datacom is seeking a Principal Architect to provide strategic technology leadership across cloud, AI and digital platforms. You will define enterprise architecture strategy, establish standards and governance, and ensure secure, scalable, and commercially sound solutions.

The role combines executive advisory with deep technical expertise in Azure, AI platforms, and modern architecture practices. You’ll guide technology decisions with customers, executives and delivery teams, mentor other

Qualifications

• Proven experience in enterprise technology strategy and governance.
• Deep knowledge of Azure and modern cloud architecture practices.
• Leadership of AI initiatives and AI platform adoption.
• Experience with multi-cloud/hybrid cloud operating models.

Responsibilities

• Define enterprise cloud, AI and platform strategies aligned to business objectives.
• Lead architecture across large-scale transformation programmes with security and scalability.
• Establish Azure reference architectures and governance frameworks.
• Guide design and implementation of AI-enabled workflows and emerging tech.
• Evaluate technologies to improve productivity and innovation.
• Provide architecture assurance across cloud, security, data and AI domains.
• Set architectural standards and roadmaps for delivery and operations.
• Support executive stakeholders with strategic advisory engagements.
• Contribute to thought leadership and reusable IP.

Skills

Enterprise Architecture

Azure Expertise

AI initiatives leadership

Cloud governance

Education

Degree in Computer Science/Engineering

Tools

GitHub Enterprise

GitHub Copilot

Kubernetes

Job description

Datacom works with organisations and communities across Australia and New Zealand to make a difference in people’s lives and help organisations use the power of tech to innovate and grow.

About the Role

As a Principal Architect, you’ll provide strategic technology leadership across complex customer environments, helping shape the future direction of cloud, AI and digital platforms.

You’ll be responsible for defining enterprise architecture strategy, establishing standards and governance, and ensuring solutions are secure, scalable, supportable and commercially successful. Working closely with customers, executives, architects, engineering teams and delivery leaders, you’ll guide technology decisions that enable transformation and long‑term business value.

This role combines executive-level advisory capability with deep technical expertise across Azure, AI platforms and modern architecture practices. You’ll influence technology strategy, mentor other architects and lead the adoption of emerging technologies that create meaningful outcomes for customers.

What You’ll Do

• Define enterprise cloud, AI and platform strategies aligned to customer business objectives.
• Lead architecture across large-scale transformation programmes, ensuring solutions are secure, scalable, supportable and commercially sound.
• Establish Azure reference architectures, platform standards, governance frameworks and best-practice patterns.
• Guide the design and implementation of agentic platforms, AI-enabled business workflows and emerging AI technologies.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and identify opportunities to improve business outcomes, productivity and innovation.
• Provide architecture assurance across cloud, security, networking, data, application and AI domains.
• Establish architectural standards that ensure solutions can be successfully delivered, operated, maintained and evolved over time.
• Support executive stakeholders through strategic advisory engagements, technology roadmaps and investment planning.
• Contribute to thought leadership, architecture communities, innovation initiatives and reusable intellectual property.

What You’ll Bring

• Extensive experience in Enterprise Architecture, Principal Architecture or senior technology leadership roles.
• Proven experience developing and governing enterprise technology strategies across cloud, infrastructure, security, networking, applications and data platforms.
• Deep expertise in Microsoft Azure and modern cloud architecture practices, including governance, landing zones, identity, security, automation and operating models.
• Demonstrated experience leading enterprise AI initiatives and AI platform adoption within large and complex organisations.
• Strong knowledge of Azure AI Foundry, Azure OpenAI, Azure AI Search, large language models and modern AI architecture patterns.
• Experience designing enterprise AI solutions using retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), vector search and AI orchestration patterns.
• Experience establishing AI governance frameworks, responsible AI controls, model lifecycle strategies and enterprise AI operating models.
• Experience designing or overseeing agentic solutions, AI-enabled automation platforms and intelligent business workflows.
• Strong understanding of cloud and AI security, resilience, observability, compliance and risk management.
• Proven ability to establish architecture standards, governance frameworks, reference architectures and strategic technology roadmaps.
• Experience leading architects and multidisciplinary teams across complex programmes and transformation initiatives.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, with the ability to engage senior executives, technical leaders and delivery teams.
• A passion for emerging technologies and the ability to translate innovation into business value.
• Experience establishing enterprise AI Centres of Excellence or AI governance functions.
• Experience with multi-cloud architecture and hybrid cloud operating models.
• Experience with Kubernetes, platform engineering and modern cloud-native platforms.
• Experience with GitHub Enterprise, GitHub Copilot and AI-assisted software development practices.
• Knowledge of FinOps, AI cost management and cloud financial governance.
• Experience contributing to industry standards, technical communities, advisory boards or thought leadership initiatives.
• Azure Solutions Architect Expert, Azure AI Engineer Associate, Azure Security Engineer Associate, TOGAF or equivalent architecture certifications.
• A relevant degree in Computer Science, Engineering or a related discipline, or equivalent practical experience.

Culture and Benefits

Datacom is one of Australia and New Zealand’s largest suppliers of Information Technology professional services. We have managed tomaintaina dynamic, agile, small business feel that is often diluted in larger organisations of our size.It'sour people that give Datacom its unique culture and energy that you can feel from the moment you meet with us.

We care about our people andprovidea range ofperkssuch as social events, chill-out spaces, remote working, flexi-hoursand professional development courses to name a few.You’llhave the opportunity to learn, develop your career, connect and bring your true self to work. You will be recognised and valued for your contributions and be able to do your work in a collegial, flat-structured environment.

Our digital team is very flexible around how we work and fitting work around non-negotiable other commitments is important to us, including when we choose to come to the office.

Weoperateat the forefront of technology to help Australia and New Zealand’s largest enterprise organisations explore possibilities and solve their greatest challenges, so you will never run out of interesting new challenges and opportunities.