Enterprise Architect

Middle River Power; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Middle River Power, a Chicago-based energy company, seeks an Enterprise Architect to shape and evolve the technology architecture across enterprise infrastructure, cloud, networking, security, and systems integration. The role partners with the Director of IT to deliver secure, scalable, and reliable solutions for IT and OT domains.

The ideal candidate will bring hands-on experience architecting in industrial or critical infrastructure settings, balance strategic planning with practical

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive experience in enterprise architecture, infrastructure, or solution architecture.
• Experience architecting in industrial, energy, utility, or critical infrastructure environments.
• Deep knowledge of IT/OT convergence, Purdue Model, SCADA/ICS security, and industrial networking.
• Strong knowledge of enterprise infrastructure, networking, cloud technologies, cybersecurity, identity, and systems integration.
• Strong expertise in Microsoft enterprise technologies: Azure, Entra ID, Intune, Windows Server, Microsoft 365 and hybrid environments.
• Experience with network architecture: SD-WAN, firewalls, VLANs, Zero Trust, macro & micro-segmentation.
• Familiarity with cybersecurity frameworks: NIST 800-53, ISO 27001, NERC CIP.
• Experience with disaster recovery and business continuity architecture.
• Excellent communication skills, able to translate technical concepts into business value.
• Willingness to travel 20-30% to plant locations.

Responsibilities

• Define and maintain the enterprise architecture roadmap, standards, and principles across IT and OT domains.
• Establish reference architectures for network, cloud, identity, security, and data.
• Govern technology decisions to ensure alignment with business objectives and reduce technical debt.
• Evaluate emerging technologies (AI, cloud, IoT) and recommend adoption where they deliver business value.
• Design and govern Purdue Model-compliant network segmentation between corporate IT and plant OT environments.
• Define standards for SCADA/ICS connectivity, remote access (Jump Hosts, MFA), and OT monitoring.
• Ensure architecture supports NERC CIP, NIST 800-53, and ISO 27001 compliance requirements.
• Partner with plant engineering teams to modernize legacy OT infrastructure without disrupting operations.
• Architect hybrid cloud solutions leveraging Microsoft Azure, Entra ID, Microsoft 365, and Intune.
• Define disaster recovery and business continuity architecture with air-gapped backups and failover capabilities.
• Lead Day 1 connectivity, identity, and security deployment for new acquisitions.
• Mentor IT and plant staff on architecture best practices.
• Present architecture recommendations to executive leadership in business terms (ROI, risk, scalability)

Skills

Enterprise architecture

Infrastructure

Solution architecture

IT/OT convergence

Purdue Model

SCADA/ICS security

Industrial networking

Azure

Entra ID

Intune

Windows Server

Microsoft 365

Hybrid environments

SD-WAN

Firewalls

VLANs

Zero Trust

Segmentation

NIST 800-53

ISO 27001

NERC CIP

Disaster recovery

Business continuity

Travel

TOGAF

Azure Solutions Architect

CISSP

CISM

Cisco/Juniper

Power BI

Microsoft Fabric

Syntex

Tools

Power BI

Microsoft Fabric

Syntex

Job description

Middle River Power (MRP) is a U.S. power generation company headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. We own and operate more than 8GW of natural gas, coal, battery storage, and solar generation facilities across the United States, with a focus on safe, reliable, and efficient operations.

We are a fast-paced, collaborative organization where people are encouraged to take ownership, solve problems, challenge the status quo, and work across teams to deliver results. We value curiosity, adaptability, transparency, and people who are invested in building both their careers and our business.

Learn more at middleriverpower.com.

Position Summary

Middle River Power is seeking an Enterprise Architect to help design and evolve the technology architecture supporting our growing organization. Partnering closely with the Director of IT, this role will support secure, scalable, and reliable solutions across enterprise infrastructure, cloud, networking, security, and systems integration.

This is a hands-on, strategic role ideal for someone who has architected solutions in industrial, energy, or critical infrastructure environments and understands the unique demands of IT/OT convergence. The ideal candidate brings strong enterprise infrastructure and architecture experience and can balance big-picture technology planning with practical execution. This individual will help establish technology standards, identify modernization opportunities, and provide technical guidance for key initiatives across MRP's corporate and power generation environments.

Key Responsibilities

Architecture Strategy & Governance

• Define and maintain the enterprise architecture roadmap, standards, and principles across IT and OT domains.
• Establish reference architectures for network, cloud, identity, security, and data.
• Govern technology decisions to ensure alignment with business objectives and reduce technical debt.
• Evaluate emerging technologies (AI, cloud, IoT) and recommend adoption where they deliver business value.
• Design and govern Purdue Model-compliant network segmentation between corporate IT and plant OT environments.
• Define standards for SCADA/ICS connectivity, remote access (Jump Hosts, MFA), and OT monitoring.
• Ensure architecture supports NERC CIP, NIST 800-53, and ISO 27001 compliance requirements.
• Partner with plant engineering teams to modernize legacy OT infrastructure without disrupting operations.
• Architect hybrid cloud solutions leveraging Microsoft Azure, Entra ID, Microsoft 365, and Intune.
• Define disaster recovery and business continuity architecture with air-gapped backups and failover capabilities.

M&A Integration

• Develop repeatable architecture patterns for integrating acquired plants into MRP's technology stack.
• Conduct pre-close technology assessments and provide integration cost estimates to the deal team.
• Lead Day 1 connectivity, identity, and security deployment for new acquisitions.
• Partner with the Director of IT, Security Analyst, and Technical PM to execute the technology roadmap.
• Mentor IT and plant staff on architecture best practices.
• Present architecture recommendations to executive leadership in business terms (ROI, risk, scalability)

Required Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive experience in enterprise architecture, infrastructure, or solution architecture.
• Experience architecting in industrial, energy, utility, or critical infrastructure environments.
• Deep knowledge of IT/OT convergence, Purdue Model, SCADA/ICS security, and industrial networking.
• Strong knowledge of enterprise infrastructure, networking, cloud technologies, cybersecurity, identity, and systems integration.
• Strong expertise in Microsoft enterprise technologies: Azure, Entra ID, Intune, Windows Server, Microsoft 365 and hybrid environments.
• Experience with network architecture: SD-WAN, firewalls, VLANs, Zero Trust, macro & micro-segmentation.
• Familiarity with cybersecurity frameworks: NIST 800-53, ISO 27001, NERC CIP.
• Experience with disaster recovery and business continuity architecture.
• Excellent communication skills, able to translate technical concepts into business value.
• Willingness to travel 20-30% to plant locations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in PE-backed or high-growth environments.
• Relevant certifications: TOGAF, Azure Solutions Architect, CISSP, CISM, or Cisco/Juniper.
• Experience leading cloud transformation or infrastructure modernization initiatives.
• Familiarity with AI and data architecture (Power BI, Microsoft Fabric, Syntex).

Work Location

This will be a hybrid role with the expectation of being in our downtown Chicago office Monday - Thursday.

Benefits and Perks

MRP offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage, 90% employer-funded for employees and families
• HSA and FSA options, including company HSA contributions
• Paid time off and company holidays
• Paid parental leave
• 401(k) with company matching up to 4%
• Employee assistance and wellness resources