Lead Architect - Enterprise & AI Enablement

MetLif; Cary (NC); Hybrid; USD 105,000 - 161,600; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) plan with company matching

Paid time off

Job summary

MetLife’s Global Technology team is seeking a Lead Architect to enable AI-powered development platforms for citizen developers across the enterprise. This role focuses on making AI tools easy to use while meeting security, transparency, and governance standards.

You will design scalable AI platforms, guardrails, and reusable patterns, collaborating with architecture, security, privacy, and platform teams to ensure safe, compliant adoption enterprise-wide.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in software engineering or enterprise architecture.
• Experience with modern AI concepts including agentic AI.
• Knowledge of cloud-native architectures, APIs, and secure integration patterns.
• Experience with platforms like Claude AI, Copilot Studio, or similar ecosystems.
• Ability to lead technical initiatives requiring engagement from partner organizations.

Responsibilities

• Domain expertise in AI platforms, agent frameworks, low‑code/no‑code ecosystems, and enterprise integration patterns.
• Design and define reference architectures, reusable patterns, and guardrails for AI-enabled associate and citizen development.
• Establish governance-by-design capabilities, including embedded controls for security, compliance, explainability, and transparency.
• Research and hands-on testing of new technologies and techniques for use with agent platforms.
• Participant and core contributor to the Center of Excellence for citizen agent development.
• Partner with engineering, security, and architecture teams to validate solutions and drive adoption.
• Enable reuse through templates, components, and accelerators that reduce complexity and technical debt.
• Promote adoption through training, guidance, and mentoring across both technical and business teams.

Skills

5+ years experience

Agentic AI

Cloud-native architecture

Security resiliency

Claude/Copilot

Tech leadership

Tools

Azure

Kubernetes

Power BI

Web APIs

API security

Job description

Overview

When you join MetLife’s Global Technology team, you’ll be part of a forward‑thinking group dedicated to shaping the future of digital solutions for customers worldwide. You’ll develop, maintain and support technology applications and delivery, leveraging AI, automation, and contemporary ways of working to enhance experiences and drive business outcomes. Your work will simplify complex processes, improve tech resiliency, and ensure high‑performing, seamless solutions that power life’s most important moments. In this dynamic environment, you’ll collaborate with talented peers across teams and functions, expanding your skills in impactful ways. Ready to push boundaries and set new industry standards? Join us and help drive the future of technology forward.

The Opportunity

Enterprise Architecture ensures a holistic strategy and approach to technology solutions by working broadly and globally across the company. We drive MetLife toward a simplified and consistent architecture, enabling quality, agility, and cost‑effectiveness. We support all areas of MetLife in developing and implementing enterprise strategies across Business Units, Global Operations, Application Development, Information Security, Data & Analytics, and Infrastructure. MetLife is seeking a Lead Architect to enable AI‑powered development platforms for Citizen Developers across the enterprise. This role focuses on making AI tools and platforms easy to use, while ensuring they meet enterprise standards for security, transparency, and responsible use. The architect will design platforms, guardrails, and reusable patterns that allow Associates and Citizen Developers to quickly build solutions without creating hidden risk, technical debt, or compliance issues. The role balances ease of use with strong governance, ensuring AI capabilities can scale safely across the organization. You will work closely with architecture, security, privacy, and platform teams to define how AI and agent‑based capabilities are delivered consistently and responsibly.

Key Responsibilities

• Domain expertise in AI platforms, agent frameworks, low‑code/no‑code ecosystems, and enterprise integration patterns.
• Design and define reference architectures, reusable patterns, and guardrails for AI‑enabled associate and citizen development.
• Establish governance‑by‑design capabilities, including embedded controls for security, compliance, explainability, and transparency.
• Research and hands‑on testing of new technologies and techniques for use with agent platforms.
• Participant and core contributor to the Center of Excellence for citizen agent development.
• Partner with engineering, security, and architecture teams to validate solutions and drive adoption.
• Enable reuse through templates, components, and accelerators that reduce complexity and technical debt.
• Promote adoption through training, guidance, and mentoring across both technical and business teams.

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in software engineering or architecture in enterprise environments.
• Experience with modern AI concepts, including agentic AI, MCP servers, and/or the creation of AI plugins and skills.
• Knowledge of cloud‑native architectures, APIs, and secure integration patterns.
• Demonstrated expertise in security, operational, and resiliency architecture principles.
• Experience with platforms like Claude AI, Copilot Studio, or similar ecosystems.
• Demonstrated ability to lead technical initiatives requiring engagement and support from partner organizations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with citizen developer platform enablement at scale.
• Familiarity with responsible AI concepts such as explainability and auditability.
• Cloud PaaS technologies, Power BI, Kubernetes, web APIs, API security protocols, etc., with preferred experience in Azure.
• Experience working in large enterprise environments, preferably in financial services.
• Demonstrated influencing and negotiation skills.
• Demonstrated experience with enabling technology adoption in an Enterprise environment.

Location Expectation: This is a hybrid role requiring a minimum of 3 days per week in office.

The expected salary range for this position is $105,000 - $161,600. This role may also be eligible for annual short‑term incentive compensation and stock‑based long‑term incentives. All incentives and benefits are subject to the applicable plan terms.

Benefits We Offer

Our U.S. benefits address holistic well‑being with programs for physical and mental health, financial wellness, and support for families. We offer a comprehensive health plan that includes medical/prescription drug and vision, dental insurance, and no‑cost short‑ and long‑term disability. We also provide company‑paid life insurance and legal services, a retirement pension funded entirely by MetLife and 401(k) with employer matching, group discounts on voluntary insurance products including auto and home, pet, critical illness, hospital indemnity, and accident insurance, as well as Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and digital mental health programs, parental leave, paid time off, paid holidays, volunteer time off, tuition assistance and much more!

About MetLife

Recognized on Fortune magazine's list of the World’s Most Admired Companies, Fortune World’s 25 Best Workplaces, as well as the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For, MetLife, through its subsidiaries and affiliates, is one of the world’s leading financial services companies; providing insurance, annuities, employee benefits and asset management to individual and institutional customers. With operations in more than 40 markets, we hold leading positions in the United States, Latin America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.

Our purpose is simple - to help our colleagues, customers, communities, and the world at large create a more confident future. United by purpose and guided by our core values - Win Together, Do the Right Thing, Deliver Impact Over Activity, and Think Ahead - we’re inspired to transform the next century in financial services. At MetLife, it’s All Together Possible. Join us!

MetLife is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All employment decisions are made without regards to race, color, national origin, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital or domestic/civil partnership status, genetic information, citizenship status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. If you need an accommodation due to a disability, please email [e-mail]. MetLife maintains a drug‑free workplace.