Architect Staff

AEP; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 160,000 - 209,000; Full time

Job summary

American Electric Power (AEP) seeks a Staff Portfolio Architect to lead architecture across the portfolio, driving design, standardization, modernization, and governance for critical OT and back-office technologies. You will own enterprise reference architectures and set standards across domains while resolving cross-portfolio decisions.

The role focuses on reducing complexity, improving security, and aligning roadmaps with enterprise strategy, reporting to the Technology Portfolio & Planning

Qualifications

• 12 years of relevant work experience in architecture roles or 10 years with demonstrated impact
• Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, or related field is required
• Advanced degree (MS or MBA) preferred; equivalent education/experience considered

Responsibilities

• Provide architecture leadership across the portfolio and drive design, standards, and modernization
• Define enterprise reference architecture and technology standards across portfolios
• Serve as final architectural authority for cross-portfolio decisions and conflict resolution
• Lead architecture for enterprise programs spanning industrial control, SCADA, OT, and back-office tech
• Define and govern enterprise-wide integration standards across application, data, and integration domains
• Partner with leadership to define long-term technology strategy and roadmaps
• Assess risk, governance over debt, security posture, and supportability
• Shape architectural capability, frameworks, standards, and enablement programs
• Coach and develop principal and senior architects
• Influence hiring bar and career framework for the function

Skills

Architecture leadership

Enterprise architecture

Governance

Solution design

Security and resiliency

Education

Bachelor's degree in computer science/engineering

MS or MBA preferred

Tools

None

Job description

Job Summary

Part of a larger team delivering technology solutions to address business problems and opportunities in technologies that support generation, transmission, distribution, and field services.

Focus on translating specific business requirements into technical solution architectures including application architecture, integration architecture, data architecture, and non-functional requirements around supportability, resiliency, security, etc.

Translate general business requirements and business trends in architecture patterns and technology ecosystems including data center architecture, application architecture patterns, integration architecture patterns, technology standards, non-functional technical requirements, and computing paradigms.

Job Description

What You'll Do:

• The Staff Portfolio Architect will provide architecture leadership across the portfolio by driving solution design, technology standardization, application modernization, and alignment with enterprise architecture governance while supporting the evolving needs of critical operational technology demands in critical business delivery functions.
• This role will reduce architectural complexity, improve security and lead technology rationalization and roadmap for the generation, transmission, and distribution technologies, and Work and Asset Management Service Owner areas.
• Own and evolve the enterprise reference architecture; define technology standards and architectural patterns across all portfolios.
• Serve as the final architectural authority for cross-portfolio and cross-domain decisions; resolve conflicts not resolvable at a lower level.
• Lead architecture for the most strategically significant enterprise programs spanning multiple domains— including industrial control systems, SCADA systems, operational technologies, and back-office technologies that integrate these systems into the tech stack.
• Define and govern enterprise-wide integration architecture standards across application, data, and integration domains; ensure coherence and consistency across all solution portfolios.
• Partner with executive leadership to define long-term enterprise technology strategy; translate technology trends into roadmaps and investment recommendations.
• Assess and mitigate architectural risk across the enterprise; provide governance over technical debt, security posture, and supportability, as well as technical solutions and design.
• Shape the architectural capability of the function; create frameworks, standards, and enablement programs the organization operates within.
• Coach and develop principal and senior architects; influence hiring bar and career framework for the function.

What We're Looking For:

Experience:

• 12 years of relevant work experience required, or 10 years with demonstrated, sustained impact in a principal or staff-level architecture role.

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, or related technical field required. Advanced degree (MS or MBA) preferred.
• An equivalent combination of education and related experience may be considered.

Preferred Experiences:

• Utility technologies experience

At AEP, we’re more than just an energy company — we’re a team of dedicated professionals committed to delivering safe, reliable, and innovative energy solutions. Guided by our mission to put the customer first, we strive to exceed expectations by listening, responding, and continuously improving the way we serve our communities. If you're passionate about making a meaningful impact and being part of a forward-thinking organization, this is the company for you!

American Electric Power (On-Site)

#LI-Onsite

#AEPCareers

Compensation

$160,434.00 - $208,565.50

Physical Demands

The Physical Demand Level for this job is: S – Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally (Occasionally: activity or condition exists up to 1/3 of the time) and/or a negligible amount of force frequently. (Frequently: activity or condition exists from 1/3 to 2/3 of the time) to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time but may involve walking or standing for brief periods of time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally, and all other sedentary criteria are met.

Equal Employment Opportunity

It is hereby reaffirmed that it is the policy of American Electric Power (AEP) to provide Equal Employment Opportunity in all respects of the employer-employee relationship including recruiting, hiring, upgrading and promotion, conditions and privileges of employment, company sponsored training programs, educational assistance, social and recreational programs, compensation, benefits, transfers, discipline, layoffs and termination of employment to all employees and applicants without discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, veteran or military status, disability, genetic information, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law. When required by law, we might record certain information or applicants for employment may be invited to voluntarily disclose protected characteristics.

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Details

“AEP offers an outstanding group of people to be a part of. The AEP culture values your integrity and awards your hard work.”

The Manager, Technology Portfolio & Planning is responsible for guiding the broader CITO organization in technology planning, portfolio governance, investment prioritization, and value realization. This role helps establish, communicate, and reinforce enterprise standards for technology roadmaps, business case management, delivery tracking, and SDLC governance. The Manager partners across technology to drive alignment, transparency, and disciplined execution across the technology portfolio.

At AEP, we’re more than just an energy company!We’re a team of dedicated professionals committed to delivering safe, reliable, and innovative energy solutions. Guided by our mission to put the customer first, we strive to exceed expectations by listening, responding, and continuously improving the way we serve our communities. If you're passionate about making a meaningful impact and being part of a forward-thinking organization, this is the company for you!

This role is part of a larger enterprise architecture and technology delivery team focused on designing and implementing solutions that address critical business needs and opportunities. The positionis responsible fortranslating business requirements intopractical, scalable technicalarchitectures, spanning application, integration, data, and infrastructure domains, while ensuringnon‑functionalrequirements such assupportability, resiliency, performance, and securityare met.The role requires a balance ofstrategic architectural thinking andhands‑ontechnical execution, with direct involvement in design, deployment, and operational support.

AEP offers generous time off, competitive pay, and educational opportunities to help employees advance their careers.

Our culture is purpose-driven and team-oriented: we combine innovation with a customer-first focus to deliver reliable energy and brighter futures.