Microsoft Architect

Desert Financial Credit Union; Phoenix (AZ); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Desert Financial Credit Union is seeking a Microsoft Architect to lead end-to-end Microsoft 365 solutions in a hybrid Phoenix environment. You will interface with stakeholders to design, license, secure, and deploy across Teams, SharePoint, Exchange, and Power Platform, with AI/Copilot integration guiding adoption and business value.

You will mentor teams, establish reference architectures, and ensure alignment with data protection and enterprise standards while driving measurable business

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in CS/IT/IS or related field.
• 7+ years designing and implementing Microsoft enterprise technologies.
• 3+ years leading technical teams or workstreams.

Responsibilities

• Architect and oversee end-to-end Microsoft 365 solutions (collab, automation, integration).
• Serve as SME for Microsft 365, Teams, SharePoint, Exchange, Power Platform, identity & security.
• Document and maintain solution architectures and roadmaps.
• Review designs for licensing, security, privacy, and compliance.
• Collaborate with managers, vendors, security, data, and IT stakeholders to estimate and plan.
• Model processes with diagrams and architecture artifacts.
• Lead adoption of Copilot and AI features with governance.
• Develop long-term goals and short-term plans for platforms.
• Ensure architectures align with data/enterprise security and responsible AI.
• Provide guidance to architects, engineers, and delivery teams.
• Develop investment plans for licensing optimization and value.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Problem solving

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Information Systems or related field

Tools

Microsoft 365

Teams

SharePoint

Exchange

Power Platform

Azure

Identity & security

Automation

AI capabilities

Job description

Who We Are SwitchThink Solutions is a fast-growing technology company supporting our parent organization, Desert Financial Credit Union, and more than 175 external credit unions nationwide. Our solutions are built on the Correlation Keystone Platform and complemented by managed services, cloud hosting, disaster recovery, business intelligence, and AI offerings.

Our clients trust us. We have maintained zero customer churn for eight years and consistently earn strong client advocacy, with an NPS of 84. Our employees are equally committed, bringing a collaborative, team-oriented mindset and a shared passion for excellence. Backed by the financial strength of Desert Financial Credit Union, we offer stability alongside meaningful growth opportunities.

What you will do here:

The Microsoft Architect focuses on Microsoft collaboration and productivity technologies, including Microsoft 365, Teams, SharePoint, Exchange, Power Platform, identity, security, compliance, integrations, and cloud services. The role matures and connects these capabilities to expand organizational capacity, modernize how work gets done, and enable effective use of Microsoft Copilot and emerging AI capabilities. This is a hybrid position based in Phoenix, Arizona.

As a core member of the Architecture team, the Microsoft Architect develops secure, scalable, reliable, reusable, and maintainable solutions aligned with strategic technology direction. The role designs solutions across new and existing platforms, applications, integrations, automation, Copilot, and AI-enabled experiences; establishes reference architectures and standards; and leads technical discussions with stakeholders. The architect assesses emerging capabilities and guides their responsible adoption with appropriate attention to data protection, governance, security, user adoption, and measurable business value.

Microsoft Solution Design

• Architect, design, and oversee implementation of end-to-end Microsoft 365 collaboration, communication, automation, and integration solutions.
• Serve as a subject matter expert for Microsoft 365, Teams, SharePoint, Exchange, Power Platform, identity, security, compliance, and related cloud services.
• Document and maintain the organization’s Microsoft solution architecture and technology portfolio; recommend improvements, modernization opportunities, and appropriate use of Copilot and AI-enabled capabilities.
• Review new and existing solution designs, including Copilot and AI use cases, for alignment with architecture standards, licensing, security, privacy, compliance, data governance, and supportability.
• Collaborate with project managers, vendors, security, data, and IT stakeholders to develop estimates and implementation plans for configuration, customization, integration, adoption, and change management.
• Model business and system processes through use cases, sequence diagrams, workflow diagrams, data flows, and solution architecture artifacts.
• Act as a strategist and trusted advisor for Microsoft collaboration, productivity, automation, Copilot, and related AI capabilities.
• Develop long-term strategic goals and short-term tactical plans for Microsoft platforms, services, governance, lifecycle management, and adoption.
• Ensure proposed and existing Microsoft solution architectures align with Data Architecture, Enterprise Architecture, security, privacy, and responsible AI principles.
• Provide architectural expertise and direction to architects, engineers, developers, administrators, and delivery teams.
• Develop and communicate investment plans for Microsoft solutions, including licensing optimization, technical debt reduction, service maturity, and measurable business value.
• Evaluate emerging Microsoft technologies, including Copilot, agents, and AI-enabled features, and recommend adoption when they improve user experience, efficiency, security, or flexibility.

Technical Collaboration

• Partner with delivery teams, business stakeholders, clients, security, data teams, and senior management to refine requirements, collaborate on technical designs, and resolve complex issues.
• Participate actively with other architects and domain experts; mentor technical teams on Microsoft platform standards, integration patterns, automation, and responsible use of Copilot and AI.
• Participate in governance processes for Microsoft platforms, including architecture standards, tenant configuration, data protection, Copilot readiness, AI risk, lifecycle management, and responsible resource use.
• Participate in complex or high-impact operational incidents involving Microsoft services, integrations, automation, Copilot, or AI-enabled solutions to support effective response and resolution.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

What you will need:

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Information Systems or related field preferred OR e quivalent combination of education and experience.
• 7+ years of experience designing, configuring, implementing, integrating, or managing Microsoft enterprise technologies, including Microsoft 365, Teams, SharePoint, Exchange, Entra ID, Power Platform, Azure, security, compliance, and automation.
• 3+ years of experience leading technical teams or workstreams implementing and supporting Microsoft collaboration, productivity, automation, or cloud solutions.

Demonstrated expertise applying architecture principles and Microsoft best practices to align collaboration, productivity, automation, Copilot, and cloud solutions with business objectives.

Excellent analytical and creative problem-solving skills, including evaluation of AI-enabled use cases, solution risks, and measurable business value.

Excellent written and verbal communication, facilitation, consulting, and customer-service skills with technical and executive audiences.

Expertise working in collaborative, cross-functional environments and influencing teams without direct authority.

Demonstrated learning agility and the ability to evaluate rapidly evolving Microsoft, Copilot, agent, and AI capabilities.

Strong business acumen, including the ability to connect technology decisions to client outcomes, risk, adoption, cost, and return on investment.

Demonstrated competency with Microsoft 365 and architecture documentation tools, with the ability to create solution designs, standards, roadmaps, decision records, and adoption guidance.

Preferred:

• 2+ years of experience in an architect, lead engineer, or comparable solution-design role.
• 1+ year of experience evaluating, designing, implementing, or governing Microsoft Copilot, generative AI, agents, or other AI-enabled enterprise solutions.
• 1+ year of experience in financial services or another regulated industry environment.
• Microsoft collaboration or Microsoft 365 certification.
• Enterprise Architecture framework certification or demonstrated equivalent architecture practice.
• Microsoft Azure or Microsoft 365 solution architecture certification.

Job Location; Phoenix, Arizona

Job Type: Hybrid

This position is not eligible for sponsorship

We are proud to be an EEO/AA employer M/F/D/V. We maintain a drug-free workplace and perform pre-employment substance abuse testing.

For additional information about our organization, careers, and benefits visit: http://www.desertfinancial.com/careers.

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Equal Opportunity Employer
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