Principal Architect

BDO Canada; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 97,000 - 147,000; Full time

Job summary

BDO Canada is seeking a Principal Architect to lead enterprise and solution architecture, align designs with business strategy, and mentor other architects. This senior individual-contributor role collaborates with business units, delivery teams, and vendors to drive modernization and architecture governance.

The position emphasizes cloud, data, security, and integration across applications and infrastructure, with a people-first culture and a hybrid work model.

Qualifications

• Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or related field with equivalent experience.
• At least 10 years of progressive enterprise technology experience including architecture in a large organization.
• Demonstrated success as a senior technical authority leading architects and governance.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the technical lead for enterprise and solution architecture, setting direction and reviewing deliverables.
• Develop enterprise architecture principles, reference architectures, roadmaps and standards.
• Lead architecture of complex, cross-enterprise initiatives and oversee design reviews.
• Guide decisions across domains including cloud, data, security, and integration.
• Partner with business, delivery, engineering, and operations to produce cohesive designs and modernization.
• Coach and mentor architects and support performance development.

Skills

Enterprise architecture

Technical leadership

Mentoring

Cloud platforms

Security & resilience

Stakeholder influence

Azure/AWS

Education

Degree in CS/IT/Engineering

Tools

Azure

AWS

Entra ID

Data Factory

Databricks

Fabric/Foundry

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. In this existing vacancy, 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.

The expected range of compensation for this role is $97,000 to $147,000.

Why BDO?

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.

• We enable you to engage with how we change and evolve, being a key contributor to the success and growth of BDO in Canada.
• We help you become a better professional within our services, industries, and markets with extensive opportunities for learning and development.
• We support your achievement of personal goals outside of the office and making an impact on your community.
• We foster a collaborative, inclusive environment where your ideas are valued, and you can do your best work with genuine care and purpose
• We encourage innovation and forward thinking, empowering you to embrace what's next and help shape the future of our firm

Giving back adds up:

Where company meets community. 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.

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.

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.

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