Principal Architect

BDO Canada LLP; Calgary; Hybrid; CAD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

BDO Canada LLP seeks a Principal Architect to lead enterprise and solution architecture, setting direction and mentoring architects. You will align designs with business strategy and standards while guiding cross-domain decisions in cloud, data, security, and integration.

You will collaborate with business, delivery, engineering, and vendors to deliver cohesive, executable designs and modernization efforts, while supporting performance and development planning.

Qualifications

• Degree in Computer Science, IT, Engineering or related field.
• 10+ years of progressive enterprise technology and architecture experience.
• Proven senior technical authority with leadership and governance skills.
• Deep knowledge of cloud, data, security, and modern software delivery.
• Certifications such as TOGAF, Azure Solutions Architect, AWS Solutions Architect, or ITIL are a plus.

Responsibilities

• Serve as technical lead for enterprise and solution architecture across domains.
• Develop principles, reference architectures, roadmaps, and standards.
• Lead complex cross-enterprise initiatives and oversee design reviews.
• Guide decisions across cloud, identity, security, data, and integrations.
• Collaborate with business, delivery, engineering, operations, and vendors.

Skills

Enterprise architecture

Solution architecture

Cloud platforms

Leadership

Mentorship

Stakeholder influence

TOGAF

Azure

AWS

Education

Degree in Computer Science, IT or Engineering

Tools

Azure

AWS

Azure Data Factory

Databricks

Microsoft Fabric

API management

Entra ID

Job description

Putting people first, every day BDO is a firm built on a foundation of positive relationships with our people and our clients. Each day, our professionals provide exceptional service, helping clients with advice and insight they can trust. In turn, we offer an award-winning environment that fosters a people-first culture with a high priority on your personal and professional growth.

Your Opportunity

The Principal Architect is a highly technical enterprise and solution architecture lead who sets architecture direction and ensures technology designs align with business strategy, standards, and roadmaps. As an individual contributor, the successful candidate leads complex architecture work, provides technical leadership and mentorship to architects, and gives the Manager, Architecture & Design informed feedback on performance and development.

Job responsibilities

• Serve as the technical lead for enterprise and solution architecture, setting direction, reviewing deliverables, and ensuring architecture work is rigorous, pragmatic, and aligned with business strategy.
• Develop enterprise architecture principles, reference architectures, roadmaps, patterns, and standards that guide technology investment and delivery.
• Lead the architecture of complex, cross-enterprise initiatives and oversee design reviews to ensure solutions are secure, scalable, resilient, and supportable.
• Guide decisions across application, data, integration, infrastructure, cloud, identity, security, and emerging technology domains, resolving complex trade-offs and architecture exceptions.
• Partner with business, delivery, engineering, operations, vendors, and domain architects to produce cohesive, executable designs and advance modernization, reuse, rationalization, and technical debt reduction.
• Coach and mentor architects and provide the Manager, Architecture & Design with evidence-based feedback to support performance management, development planning, and work allocation.

How do we define success for your role?

You demonstrate BDO's core values through all aspect of your work: Integrity, Respect and Collaboration. You understand our client’s industry, challenges, and opportunities; clients describe you as positive, professional, and delivering high-quality work. You identify, recommend, and are focused on effective service delivery to our clients. You share in an inclusive and engaging work environment that develops, retains, and attracts talent. You actively participate in the adoption of digital tools and strategies to drive an innovative workplace. You grow your expertise through learning and professional development.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent education and experience.
• At least 10 years of progressive enterprise technology experience, including substantial hands-on enterprise and solution architecture experience in a large, complex organization.
• Demonstrated success as a senior technical authority leading architects through technical credibility, influence, coaching, mentoring, and design governance.
• Deep expertise in enterprise and solution architecture, with broad knowledge of cloud, applications, integration, identity, infrastructure, security, data, AI, and modern software delivery.
• Proven ability to develop and critically assess complex designs using technologies such as Microsoft Azure, AWS, Microsoft Entra ID, Azure Data Factory, Databricks, Microsoft Fabric, Microsoft Foundry, integration and messaging platforms, event-driven architecture, and API management.
• Strong systems thinking, technical judgment, communication, and stakeholder influence, with the ability to explain complex decisions to senior leaders and delivery teams.
• Relevant certifications, such as TOGAF, Azure Solutions Architect, AWS Solutions Architect, or ITIL, are considered an asset.

Why BDO?

Putting people first, every day BDO is a firm built on a foundation of positive relationships with our people and our clients. Each day, our professionals provide exceptional service, helping clients with advice and insight they can trust. In turn, we offer an award-winning environment that fosters a people-first culture with a high priority on your personal and professional growth. Our people-first approach to talent has earned us a spot among Canada’s Top 100 Employers for 2026. This recognition is a milestone we’re thrilled to add to our collection of awards for both experienced and student talent experiences. At BDO, our people experience is guided by three core pillars—Do work with genuine care, Do what matters with purpose, and Do what’s next - shaping how we support our people, serve our clients, and grow together.

Total rewards that matter

• We pay for performance with competitive total cash compensation that recognizes and rewards your contribution.
• We provide comprehensive benefits from day one, and a flexible personal time off policy.
• We’re committed to supporting your overall wellbeing and provide reimbursement for wellness initiatives that fit your lifestyle.

Employees

Everyone counts: We are committed to creating a workplace where employees can participate fully, contribute meaningfully and succeed without barriers. We are dedicated to fostering a workplace defined by respect, fairness, and a true sense of belonging for everyone. We recognize and celebrate the unique experiences, identities, and perspectives that each of us bring – and that these experiences strengthen how we work together. Our commitment extends to ensuring that our application process is both inclusive and accessible. If you require accommodation to complete the application process, please contact us.

Flexibility

All BDO personnel are expected to spend some of their time working in the office, at the client site, and virtually unless accommodations or alternative work arrangements are in place. Our model is a blended approach designed to support the flexible needs of our people, the firm and our clients. It’s about creating work experiences that meet everyone’s needs and providing flexibility to adjust when, where and how we work to meet the expectations of our role.

Code of Conduct

Our Code of Conduct sets clear standards for how we conduct business. It reflects our shared values and commitments and includes guiding principles to help us make ethical decisions and maintain trust with each other, our clients, and the public.

BDO may use artificial intelligence enabled tools to support certain aspects of the recruitment process. While these tools assist our teams, our use of AI does not replace human decision making, and all employment-related outcomes are made by BDO personnel. More information on BDO Canada’s Privacy Policy can be found here: Privacy Policy | BDO Canada.

Culture and Community

When it comes to our people, we believe in helping you unlock possibilities, build your passions, and grow your competitive edge. From our expansive client base to growing talent pool, our people are the core of BDO. Our multi-award winning talent experience continues to make us proud. Our culture is open and collaborative. We foster inclusive ways to thinking and celebrate diversity among all contributors. We respect each other, do all things with integrity, and support our people to be their most authentic selves. BDO is actively involved in our communities by supporting local charity initiatives. We support staff with local and national events where you will be given the opportunity to contribute to your community.