Principal Architect - Cloud & AI Engineering

Fractal; Hyderabad; On-site; INR 4,000,000 - 7,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Fractal in Hyderabad is seeking a senior hands-on architecture leader to define and drive enterprise-scale digital products and platforms. You will influence strategy, review designs, mentor engineering teams, and collaborate with client technology leaders, product managers, and business stakeholders.

You will own end-to-end architecture across frontend and backend, cloud-native Azure solutions, microservices, APIs, and AI platforms, while setting standards for design systems, CI/CD, security,

Qualifications

• 15+ years of software engineering experience with architecture leadership.
• Proven track record as Principal Architect or Enterprise Architect.
• Deep expertise in Azure, Kubernetes, Docker, microservices, REST APIs, and event-driven design.
• Strong frontend architecture experience with React.js, TS, HTML5/CSS3.
• Experience with Kafka, API management, distributed systems, and enterprise integration patterns.
• Strong CI/CD and DevOps experience with Azure DevOps, GitHub Actions, Jenkins, and IaC.
• Working knowledge of Java, .NET, or Python.
• Experience with Generative AI, RAG, Agentic AI, Azure OpenAI, and AI governance.
• Strong executive communication, stakeholder management, and leadership.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end architecture across frontend, backend, APIs, data, cloud, and AI platforms.
• Design scalable cloud-native solutions using Azure, Kubernetes, microservices, APIs, and event-driven patterns.
• Architect enterprise web apps with React.js and modern frontend tech.
• Define standards for micro-frontends, design systems, state management, performance, security, and observability.
• Drive API integration, platform modernization, CI/CD, DevSecOps, and IaC practices.
• Architect and govern enterprise AI solutions leveraging Azure OpenAI and LLM patterns.
• Lead architecture reviews, mentor teams, and advise stakeholders.

Skills

Azure

Kubernetes

Docker

Microservices

REST APIs

Event-Driven Architecture

React.js

JavaScript/TypeScript

HTML5/CSS3

Frontend design systems

Micro Frontends

Design Systems

Kafka

API Management

Distributed systems

Enterprise integration patterns

CI/CD

DevOps

DevSecOps

Infrastructure as Code

Observability

Azure OpenAI

Generative AI

RAG

Agentic AI

Executive communication

Stakeholder management

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Computer Science / Software Engineering / IT

Tools

Azure DevOps

GitHub Actions

Jenkins

GitOps

Terraform

IaC tools

Observability platforms

Job description

Role Overview

Senior hands-on architecture leader responsible for defining and driving enterprise-scale digital products and platforms. This role combines architecture leadership, engineering excellence, cloud-native solutions, modern frontend architecture, AI adoption, and stakeholder engagement. The ideal candidate is a practicing architect who can influence strategy, build prototypes, review designs/code, solve complex technical challenges, and mentor engineering teams.

This is a highly visible, client-facing position based in Hyderabad, working closely with client technology leaders, product managers, engineering teams, data and AI teams, and business stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end architecture across frontend, backend, APIs, data, cloud, and AI platforms.
• Design scalable cloud-native solutions using Azure, Kubernetes, microservices, APIs, event-driven architecture, and distributed systems.
• Architect enterprise web applications using React.js, JavaScript/TypeScript, HTML5, CSS3, and modern frontend frameworks.
• Define standards for micro-frontends, reusable UI components, design systems, state management, performance, accessibility, security, and observability.
• Drive API integration, platform modernization, CI/CD, DevSecOps, Infrastructure as Code, and engineering best practices.
• Architect and govern enterprise AI solutions leveraging Azure OpenAI, Generative AI, Agentic AI, RAG, and LLMOps patterns.
• Lead architecture reviews, mentor engineering teams, and act as a trusted advisor to technology and business stakeholders.

Must-Have Technical Skills & Proficiency

• 15+ years of software engineering experience with significant architecture leadership responsibility.
• Proven experience as Principal Architect, Principal Engineer, Enterprise Architect, or equivalent.
• Deep expertise in Microsoft Azure, Kubernetes, Docker, Microservices, REST APIs, and Event-Driven Architecture.
• Strong frontend architecture experience with React.js, JavaScript, TypeScript, HTML5, CSS3, Micro Frontends, and Design Systems.
• Experience with Apache Kafka, API Management, distributed systems, and enterprise integration patterns.
• Strong CI/CD and DevOps experience with Azure DevOps, GitHub Actions, Jenkins, GitOps, DevSecOps, Infrastructure as Code, and observability platforms.
• Working knowledge of Java, .NET, or Python.
• Experience with Generative AI, RAG, Agentic AI, Azure OpenAI, and AI governance.
• Strong executive communication, stakeholder management, and team leadership skills

Preferred Experience

• Experience in CPG, Retail, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Databricks/Fabric/Snowflake, AI orchestration frameworks and relevant Azure or Kubernetes certifications

Not a Fit For Candidates Whose

• Experience is primarily architecture governance/documentation without meaningful hands-on engineering depth.
• Background is limited to infrastructure architecture without ownership of application, integration, platform, and product architecture.
• Experience lacks direct interaction with senior business and technology stakeholders.
• Primary expertise is project management or delivery management rather than technical architecture and engineering leadership.

Education

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Technology, or a related technical discipline. Relevant cloud and architecture certifications are preferred.

If you like wild growth and working with happy, enthusiastic over-achievers, you'll enjoy your career with us!