Lead Application Architect

Humana Inc; Helena (MT); Remote; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Humana Inc. is seeking a Lead Application Architect to provide strategic architectural leadership for enterprise initiatives.

You will shape API-first, event-driven, cloud-native platforms on Microsoft Azure, guiding cross-functional teams while mentoring engineers and upholding architectural excellence. Responsibilities include defining target architectures, establishing standards, and driving modernization roadmaps across critical business capabilities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in Computer Science, IT, or engineering.
• 10+ years of experience in software engineering, application or enterprise architecture.
• 5+ years designing and implementing distributed enterprise-scale systems.
• Strong expertise in microservices architecture and API design.
• Extensive experience with Microsoft Azure cloud services and cloud-native development.
• Experience designing event-driven architectures using Apache Kafka or similar messaging platforms.
• Strong understanding of integration patterns and distributed systems.
• Experience with Docker and Kubernetes.
• Hands-on experience with CI/CD pipelines and DevSecOps practices.
• Good knowledge of security, scalability, resiliency, and observability best practices.
• Proven ability to lead technical teams and influence decisions across programs.

Responsibilities

• Lead architecture and design of enterprise-scale applications using microservices and cloud-native patterns.
• Define target-state architectures and modernization roadmaps for strategic capabilities.
• Establish architecture standards, reference architectures, and engineering best practices.
• Drive API-first architecture and enterprise integration strategies.
• Lead architecture reviews, governance, and technology evaluations.
• Design and implement scalable, secure Azure-based solutions with AKS and App Services.
• Guide Azure-native services and migration strategies for legacy apps.
• Design and govern event-driven architectures with Kafka and related streaming tech.
• Promote DevSecOps and automation with CI/CD pipelines and security scanning.
• Mentor architects and engineers; run architecture review boards and design sessions.
• Ensure solutions meet security, performance, and observability standards.

Skills

Microservices architecture

API design

Azure cloud

Event-driven architecture

DevSecOps

CI/CD

Kafka

Docker

Kubernetes

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field

Master's degree (preferred)

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

Azure DevOps

Jenkins

Argo CD

GitHub Actions

API Management

Job description

Become a part of our caring community

Join our Digital Technology organization as a Lead Application Architect and play a critical role in shaping the future of healthcare technology. This role provides strategic architectural leadership across complex enterprise initiatives, driving the design and implementation of scalable, secure, cloud-native solutions that improve member, provider, and associate experiences.

As a Lead Application Architect, you will define architecture strategies, establish engineering standards, and guide cross-functional teams in building API-first, event-driven, and microservices-based platforms leveraging Azure cloud technologies. You will partner with business and technology leaders to deliver resilient, high-performing digital solutions while mentoring engineering teams and fostering architectural excellence across the organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Architecture & Technical Leadership
• Lead architecture and design of enterprise-scale applications using microservices, domain-driven design, and cloud-native principles.
• Define target-state architectures and modernization roadmaps for strategic business capabilities.
• Establish architecture standards, reference architectures, and engineering best practices.
• Drive API-first architecture and enterprise integration strategies.
• Lead architecture reviews, design governance, and technology evaluations.
• Cloud & Platform Engineering
• Design and implement scalable, resilient, and secure solutions on Microsoft Azure.
• Guide adoption of Azure-native services including AKS, App Services, API Management, Event Hub, Service Bus, Azure Functions, and Azure Storage.
• Define cloud migration and modernization strategies for legacy applications.
• Event-Driven & Integration Architecture
• Design and govern event-driven architectures leveraging Apache Kafka and related streaming technologies.
• Establish messaging patterns, event contracts, topic governance, and real-time integration strategies.
• Ensure scalability, reliability, observability, and fault tolerance across distributed systems.
• Drive asynchronous communication patterns across enterprise platforms.
• DevSecOps & CI/CD Enablement
• Champion DevSecOps practices and automation across engineering teams.
• Design and implement CI/CD pipelines supporting automated testing, security scanning, deployment, and monitoring.
• Collaborate with platform engineering teams to standardize deployment patterns.
• Promote Infrastructure as Code (IaC) and GitOps methodologies.
• Provide architectural guidance on Argo CD, GitHub Actions, Azure DevOps, Jenkins, and related automation platforms.
• Stakeholder Collaboration
• Partner with product, engineering, security, data, and business teams to align technical solutions with business goals.
• Influence technology strategy and architecture decisions across multiple initiatives.
• Present architecture recommendations and trade-off analyses to senior leadership.
• Mentorship & Governance
• Mentor architects, engineers, and technical leads on architecture principles and emerging technologies.
• Lead architecture review boards and technical design sessions.
• Ensure solutions adhere to security, compliance, performance, and scalability standards.
• Foster a culture of innovation, engineering excellence, and continuous improvement.

Use your skills to make an impact

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or equivalent experience.
• 10+ years of experience in software engineering, application architecture, or enterprise architecture roles.
• 5+ years of experience designing and implementing enterprise-scale distributed systems.
• Strong expertise in microservices architecture and API design.
• Extensive experience with Microsoft Azure cloud services and cloud-native development.
• Experience designing event-driven architectures using Apache Kafka or equivalent messaging platforms.
• Strong understanding of application integration patterns and distributed systems.
• Experience with containerization technologies such as Docker and Kubernetes.
• Hands-on experience implementing CI/CD pipelines and DevSecOps practices.
• Strong knowledge of security, scalability, resiliency, and observability best practices.
• Proven ability to lead technical teams and influence architecture decisions across multiple programs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field

Additional Information

Location/Work Style: Remote US

Work at Home Guidance

• At minimum, a download speed of 25 Mbps and an upload speed of 10 Mbps is recommended; wireless, wired cable or DSL connection is suggested
• Satellite, cellular and microwave connection can be used only if approved by leadership
• Associates who live and work from Home in the state of California, Illinois, Montana, or South Dakota will be provided a bi-weekly payment for their internet expense.
• Humana will provide Home or Hybrid Home/Office associates with telephone equipment appropriate to meet the business requirements for their position/job.
• Work from a dedicated space lacking ongoing interruptions to protect member PHI / HIPAA information

HireVue Statement

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