Infrastructure Architecture Principle Expert

Confidential Semi-Government; Riyadh; On-site; SAR 200,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading telecom organization in Saudi Arabia seeks an experienced professional to lead the infrastructure architecture team. The role involves developing and managing technology roadmaps, ensuring compliance with standards, and driving innovation across telecommunication networks. Candidates should have a Bachelor in Telecommunications Engineering and significant experience in tech strategy within the telecom sector. This full-time position calls for a senior expert adept at cross-functional architecture governance and emerging technologies.

Qualifications

• 10 years of relevant experience with at least 3-4 years in telecom infrastructure architecture or technology strategy.
• Expertise in developing long-term technology roadmaps.
• Experience in managing complex cross-functional architecture.

Responsibilities

• Lead and monitor change in Infrastructure Architecture for continuous improvement.
• Ensure compliance with Infrastructure principles across Technology Unit.
• Develop future-state infrastructure architecture including AI-native networks.

Skills

Infrastructure Architecture

Technical Leadership

Cloud Technology

AI and Automation

Architectural Governance

Education

Bachelor Degree in Telecommunications Engineering

Masters Degree in Engineering or Computing

Tools

AI-native networks

Cloud-RAN

5G and 6G technologies

Job description

The role holder is responsible for developing, governing, and sustaining the end-to-end infrastructure architecture and long-term technology roadmap across Mobile, Fixed, Core, Transport, Telco/IT Cloud, Hyperscalers, Data Centres, Satellite/NTN, and emerging technologies, particularly in a highly cloudified, AI-driven, and multi-vendor telco environment.

The role provides senior technical leadership and expert advisory support, influencing decisions from strategic planning, evaluating business cases, budgeting, and investment evaluation until solution planning and execution. Acting as a cross-functional authority and a trusted advisor to executive leadership, the role bridges domain silos, arbitrates complex cross-functional design decisions, challenges vendor-led architectures, and translates long-term technology evolution into practical, investment-ready architectural direction.

Job Responsibilities

• Lead and monitor change in Infrastructure Architecture providing all guidance and support necessary for continuous improvement.
• Ensure compliance with Infrastructure principles and standards in coordination with Technology Architecture Governance across Technology Unit.
• Lead, direct and manage E2E As-Is enterprise architecture, technical roadmaps, and To-Be enterprise architecture for Infrastructure, ensuring alignment with corporate strategy and business priorities.
• Develop and shape future-state infrastructure architecture (AI-native networks, GPU-enabled infra, Sustainability, Cloud-RAN, Open Platforms, network autonomous).
• Lead and drive technology efficiency and optimization across infrastructure domains, including CAPEX/OPEX efficiency, asset reuse, energy efficiency, and architectural simplification.
• Lead the effort to simplify the architecture components for network to drive operational excellence and cost optimization.
• Manage the approvals and endorsement process of domain-specific solution architecture and communicate architecture solutions and decisions to stakeholders at all levels for alignment and execution according to internal governance processes.
• Manage the technical architecture for Infrastructure and Operations, including but not limited to Mobile, Fixed, Core, Transport, Telco/IT Cloud, Hyperscalers, Data Centers, Satellite/NTN, and emerging technologies.
• Develop and review the Group's Infrastructure architecture standards, guidelines, and policies across all infrastructure domains. Ensure global standard adherence, reduce technical debt, complexity, and vendor lock-in.
• Identify, assess, and guide the adoption of emerging technologies across all infrastructure domains that deliver tangible business, operational, and efficiency value. Lead architectural due diligence for new technology introductions, including PoCs, pilots, partnerships, and early deployments.
• Translate industry advancements (5G-Advanced, 6G, AI, automation, ORAN, NTN, Edge) into phased, investment-ready architectural roadmaps.
• Review and govern 3-Year Fundamental Plans across all infrastructure domains by translating business demand and traffic analysis into capacity, technology, and investment implications.
• Lead the resolution of complex cross-functional architecture dependencies and trade-offs with all stakeholders preventing vendor-driven architecture decisions that conflict with long-term strategic interests.
• Lead and drive infrastructure architecture modernization aligned with cloudification, virtualization, public cloud migration, AI-native networks, and long-term technology evolution. Ensure balance of innovation, risk, cost efficiency, and operational readiness.
• Support executive investment decisions through architecture-led efficiency and ROI assessments.
• Represent Infrastructure Architecture in executive, cross-functional, and external forums as a trusted technical authority.
• Lead and support strategic vendor engagements, technology evaluations, and roadmap alignment discussions.
• Contribute to Architecture CoE initiatives, knowledge sharing, and continuous improvement of architectural maturity while mentoring domain architects and SMEs.

Years of Experience

10 years of relevant experience with at least 3-4 years in telecom infrastructure architecture or technology strategy.

Education

• Bachelor Degree in Telecommunications Engineering
• Masters Degree in Engineering or Computing

Seniority Level

• Mid-Senior level

Employment Type

• Full-time

Job Function

• Information Technology

Industries

• Telecommunications
• IT Services and IT Consulting
• IT System Data Services