Director, Solutions Architect

NRG Energy; Washington; On-site; USD 210,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Vision & dental coverage

401K & retirement plans

Flexible spending accounts

Job summary

NRG Energy is seeking a Director of Solutions Architecture for Partner Ecosystem & Integrations to own end-to-end system design, interface contracts, and technical integration blueprints bridging Vivint’s platform with external brands. This role requires autonomous leadership, deep IoT and cloud-to-cloud expertise, and strong executive communication.

The candidate will work across multi-company initiatives, leading architectural decisions, security standards, and low-latency integrations while

Qualifications

• 8+ years in software/systems architecture or principal engineering.
• 4+ years designing developer platforms, partner ecosystems, or IoT architectures.
• Experience with cross-functional, multi-party integration projects.
• Formal degree in a technical discipline or equivalent practical experience.

Skills

Independent contributor

IoT architectures

Cloud-to-cloud integration

Executive communication

Education

BS/MS in CS/CE/EE

Job description

Welcome to the intersection of energy and home services. At NRG, we’re all about propelling the next generation of leaders forward. We are driven by our passion to create a smarter, cleaner and more connected future. We deliver innovative solutions that make our customers’ lives easier—helping them power, protect, and intelligently manage their homes and businesses. To do this, we need creative and talented people to join our company. We offer a dynamic work environment and a unified and inclusive culture. NRG fosters a strong sense of belonging that leads to better collaboration and business performance. Our company programs are designed to help employees develop the skills they need for success now and in the future. In everything we do, we aim to champion our employees and bring value to our customers, investors and society. More information is available at www.nrg.com. Connect with NRG on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.

Position Summary: Director of Solutions Architecture – Partner Ecosystem & Integrations

The Director of Solutions Architecture for Partner Ecosystem & Integrations is the single-threaded technical architecture owner responsible for the end-to-end system design, interface contracts, and technical integration blueprints that bridge Vivint’s smart home platform with strategic external partner brands. Operating as a high-impact, independent strategic technical leader, you will design the architectural foundation that enables external hardware—such as smart lighting, advanced climate controls, multi-vendor sensors, and entertainment platforms—to interoperate seamlessly alongside Vivint’s proprietary hardware suite. This is an individual contributor role requiring an elite systems architect who can operate autonomously without a team of direct reports. You will specialize in developing deep technical relationships with principal architects and engineering leads at world-class technology companies, leveraging their domain expertise while ensuring Vivint's security, latency, and reliability standards are strictly maintained. You will bridge external APIs, local edge protocols, and cloud environments with Vivint’s core infrastructure to deliver low-latency, deeply integrated consumer experiences at scale.

Required Skills & Functional Dimensions

• Autonomous Individual Contribution: Proven track record of operating with complete technical independence, driving complex architecture across multi-company initiatives without direct administrative reporting lines.
• End-to-End IoT Systems Architecture: Deep expertise in cloud-to-cloud integration patterns, local wireless topologies (Zigbee, Z-Wave, Thread, Wi-Fi), embedded driver layers, state-synchronization engines, and platform-level SDK development.
• Ecosystem Systems Thinking: Exceptional ability to conceptualize end-to-end data pipelines, identity management, authentication (OAuth/mTLS), and edge-to-cloud state management across disparate corporate ecosystems.
• Executive Technical Presence: Superb written and verbal communication skills. Proven ability to negotiate complex technical contracts with partner executives and translate intricate system trade-offs for executive internal stakeholders.

Required Education & Experience

• Experience: 8+ years of software/systems architecture or principal engineering experience, with at least 4+ years explicitly focused on designing developer platforms, partner API ecosystems, IoT architectures, or connected smart home environments.
• Partnership Track Record: Demonstrated experience architecting complex, high-scale technical integrations with tier-1 consumer electronics, silicon vendors, or software enterprise partners.
• Cross-Functional Execution: Proven success leading architectural design for large-scale, multi-phase hardware/software integration projects across distributed engineering organizations.
• Education: B.S. or M.S. in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical discipline (or equivalent practical engineering experience).

The base salary range for this position is: $210,000 - $250,000* *The base salary range above represents the low and high end of the salary range for this position. Actual salaries will vary based on several factors including but not limited to location, experience, and performance. The range listed is just one component of the total compensation package for employees. Other rewards may include annual bonus, short- and long-term incentives, and program-specific awards. In addition the position may be eligible to participate in the benefits program which include, but are not limited to, medical, vision, dental, 401K, and flexible spending accounts. NRG Energy is committed to a drug and alcohol-free workplace. To the extent permitted by law and any applicable collective bargaining agreement, employees are subject to periodic random drug testing, and post-accident and reasonable suspicion drug and alcohol testing. EOE AA M/F/Protected Veteran Status/Disability. Level, Title and/or Salary may be adjusted based on the applicant's experience or skills. EEO is the Law Poster (The poster can be found at http://www.eeoc.gov/employers/upload/poster_screen_reader_optimized.pdf) Official description on file with Talent. We support the use of AI tools to help you prepare for your interview (e.g., practicing responses, researching the role, or refining your resume). However, during interviews and assessments, we expect responses to reflect your own thinking, experience, and communication. Use of AI to generate or read answers in real time, complete assessments, or misrepresent your qualifications is not permitted and may impact your candidacy.