Lead Solutions Architect, Enterprise Technology Services

Manulife Financial; Toronto; On-site; CAD 113,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Manulife Financial is seeking a Lead Solutions Architect to design and govern cross-cloud architectures (Azure, AWS) in hybrid environments. You will embed with product and delivery teams, guiding discovery through implementation while ensuring security, resiliency, and cost efficiency across enterprise platforms.

Responsibilities include defining target-state patterns, integrating with ServiceNow for ITSM/ITOM, and driving automation using IaC tools and CI/CD pipelines.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in application and/or infrastructure solution architecture in large, complex enterprises.
• 4+ years designing and building large-scale cloud architectures on Microsoft Azure; experience with AWS and hybrid environments preferred.
• Experience leading large-scale technology implementations and IT cost reduction initiatives.
• Strong focus on Azure cloud services and familiarity with core AWS services.
• Knowledge of Infrastructure as Code, automation, and orchestration (Terraform, Ansible, Bicep/ARM, Azure DevOps/GitHub pipelines).
• Experience with monitoring and security tools such as New Relic, Application Insights, Log Analytics, Defender for Cloud/Security Center.

Responsibilities

• Define multi-cloud and hybrid target-state architectures and roadmaps.
• Design cloud solutions leveraging ServiceNow and New Relic for ITSM/ITOM and observability.
• Lead architecture reviews to ensure security, resiliency, and compliance standards.
• Embed with product and delivery teams to guide architecture from discovery through implementation.
• Lead and coordinate cross-functional teams to deliver enterprise cloud solutions.
• Develop automation strategies for provisioning, scaling, and patching using IaC and CI/CD pipelines.

Skills

Enterprise architecture

Cloud strategy

Stakeholder collaboration

Security & compliance

Cost optimization

Mentoring

Automation tooling

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/Engineering

Tools

Terraform

Ansible

Azure DevOps

GitHub pipelines

Bicep/ARM

New Relic

ServiceNow

Job description

Join our Enterprise Technology Services team!

The Lead Solutions Architect is a senior technical leader who partners with Manulife business, product, operations, and external partners to design and deliver secure, scalable, and cost-efficient solutions acrossAzure, AWS, and hybrid environments.

The role combinesenterprise architecture leadershipwithfront-deployed engagement, embedding directly with priority initiatives to ensure strategies, standards, and enterprise platforms (e.g.,ServiceNow, New Relic) are effectively adopted.

This role defines target cloud architectures, modernizes legacy environments, and drives automation across infrastructure, networks, and operations. The architect improves elasticity, provisioning, observability, and resilience; ensures solutions can serve multiple businesses; and governs the evolution of Manulife’s cloud and enterprise platforms while meeting technical, security, and regulatory requirements.

Position Responsibilities:

• Define multi-cloud (Azure, AWS) and hybrid target-state architectures, patterns, and roadmaps across business segments.

• Design innovative cloud solutions that modernize environments and leverage enterprise platforms such asServiceNow(ITSM/ITOM) andNew Relic(APM/observability).

• Lead architecture reviews to ensure solutions meet Manulife’s technical, security, resiliency, and compliance standards.

• Manage technical and business requirements for new cloud platforms and shared services.

• Act as afront-deployed architect, embedded with product and delivery teams to guide architecture from discovery through implementation and operations.

• Work directly with application owners and operations teams to ensure solutions are buildable, operable, and aligned with performance and availability objectives.

• Lead and oversee implementation plans to deploy Azure and AWS infrastructure and migrate workloads, including design and execution of PoCs.

• Develop strategies to automate infrastructure deployment and operational procedures usingInfrastructure as Code(e.g., Terraform, Bicep/ARM) and automation/orchestration tools (e.g., Ansible, CI/CD pipelines, Azure DevOps).

• Implement automation for provisioning, configuration, scaling, and patching to increase speed, consistency, and reliability.

• Integrate solutions withServiceNowfor change, incident, problem, and CMDB processes to enable robust operationalization.

• Enhance monitoring, logging, and alerting usingNew Relic, Application Insights, Log Analytics, Defender for Cloud/Security Center, and integrate with operations workflows.

• Collaborate with network and security teams to design secure, resilient network architectures (VNETs/VPCs, connectivity, load balancers, firewalls, zero-trust principles).

• Ensure correct implementation of identity, access management, encryption, and security controls across Azure, AWS, and hybrid environments.

• Design for high availability, disaster recovery, and business continuity using cloud-native and PaaS capabilities (including Kubernetes where appropriate).

• Apply cost optimization techniques and tools to manage cloud spend while meeting performance and resiliency targets.

• Create and maintain best practices, reference architectures, and standards to provide a uniform, compliant cloud environment.

• Lead and coordinate cross-functional teams (developers, SMEs, DBAs, system admins, network and operations, architects) to deliver enterprise solutions.

• Mentor and coach architects and engineers; contribute to IT operating model, cost reduction, and workforce transformation initiatives.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Post-secondary degree, diploma, or equivalent demonstrable experience in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field.

• 10+ years of experience in application and/or infrastructure solution architecture in large, complex enterprises.

• 4+ years designing and building large-scale cloud architectures onMicrosoft Azure; experience withAWSand hybrid environments preferred.

• Experience leading large-scale technology implementations, IT operating model transformations, IT cost reduction and/or workforce transformation initiatives.

• Proven experience in infrastructure and solution architecture with strong focus onAzure Cloud servicesand familiarity with coreAWSservices.

• Solid understanding ofInfrastructure as Code, automation, and orchestration(e.g., Terraform, Ansible, Bicep/ARM, Azure DevOps/GitHub pipelines).

• Experience with monitoring and security tools such asNew Relic, Application Insights, Log Analytics, Defender for Cloud/Security Center.

• General understanding ofAzure PaaS servicesandKubernetes; familiarity withAzure SQL Database, Azure Functions, Logic Appspreferred.

• Understanding of cloud and hybridnetworking(VNETs/VPCs, VPN/ExpressRoute, DNS, load balancing, firewalls) and associated security controls.

• Experience integrating solutions withServiceNow(ITSM/ITOM) for operational processes and lifecycle management.

• Proficiency in cloud cost management and optimization techniques and tools.

• Strong analytical skills; able to quickly assess complex issues and recommend appropriate solutions.

• Motivated self-starter comfortable working directly with internal customers, partners, and global teams.

• Demonstrated ability to lead and coordinate integrated project teams across multiple technical disciplines.

• Active listener who seeks to understand requirements, underlying needs, and alternative perspectives.

• Strategic thinker with a delivery-focused mindset; able to balance long-term architecture with near-term delivery.

• Collaborative team player who values others’ contributions and provides mentoring and guidance as needed.

• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with ability to explain complex concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.

When you join our team:

• We’ll empower you to learn and grow the career you want.

• We’ll recognize and support you in a flexible environment where well-being and inclusion are more than just words.

• As part of our distributed team, we’ll support you in shaping the future you want to see.

If you are applying to this role in US, please note the salary range is $127,330 to $236,470 USD. Additionally, employees also have the opportunity to participate in incentive programs and earn incentive compensation tied to business and individual performance

The role being advertised is an existing vacancy.

About Manulife and John Hancock

Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider, helping people make their decisions easier and lives better. To learn more about us, visit https://www.manulife.com/en/about/our-story.html.

Manulife is an Equal Opportunity Employer

At Manulife/John Hancock, we embrace our diversity. We strive to attract, develop and retain a workforce that is as diverse as the customers we serve and to foster an inclusive work environment that embraces the strength of cultures and individuals. We are committed to fair recruitment, retention, advancement and compensation, and we administer all of our practices and programs without discrimination on the basis of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, religion or religious beliefs, creed, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions), sexual orientation, genetic characteristics, veteran status, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, family status, disability, or any other ground protected by applicable law.

It is our priority to remove barriers to provide equal access to employment. A Human Resources representative will work with applicants who request a reasonable accommodation during the application process. All information shared during the accommodation request process will be stored and used in a manner that is consistent with applicable laws and Manulife/John Hancock policies. To request a reasonable accommodation in the application process, contact [e-mail].

Referenced Salary Location

Toronto, Ontario

Working Arrangement

Hybrid

Salary range is expected to be between

$113,260.00 CAD - $210,340.00 CAD

Employees also have the opportunity to participate in incentive programs and earn incentive compensation tied to business and individual performance. The actual salary will vary depending on local market conditions, geography and relevant job-related factors such as knowledge, skills, qualifications, experience, and education/training. If you are applying for this role outside of the primary location, please contact [e-mail] for the salary range for your location.

Manulife offers eligible employees a wide array of customizable benefits, including health, dental, mental health, vision, short- and long-term disability, life and AD&D insurance coverage, adoption/surrogacy and wellness benefits, and employee/family assistance plans. We also offer eligible employees various retirement savings plans (including pension and a global share ownership plan with employer matching contributions) and financial education and counseling resources. Our generous paid time off program in Canada includes holidays, vacation, personal, and sick days, and we offer the full range of statutory leaves of absence. If you are applying for this role in the U.S., please contact [e-mail] for more information about U.S.-specific paid time off provisions.

We use data and analytics technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), and automated processing tools, to analyze and process the information you provide to us or third parties in the application process. For more information, please refer to our personal information collection statement.