Principal Architect - PBM Modernization & AI Engineering

Cigna; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Cigna is seeking a Principal Architect to lead PBM Modernization & AI Engineering in Austin, TX. You will design scalable, cloud-native architectures and guide cross-functional teams across product, data, and engineering to modernize legacy PBM platforms.

The role emphasizes AI adoption, Generative AI, and intelligent automation, while ensuring security, compliance, and enterprise alignment. You will mentor engineers and drive engineering excellence at scale.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in software engineering and architecture leadership.
• Experience with cloud-native platforms and healthcare tech preferred.
• Proven ability to influence senior leaders and drive modernization.
• Experience with Generative AI and AI-driven automation.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and implementation of architecture solutions for PBM modernization initiatives.
• Transform legacy applications into cloud-native, API-first, event-driven platforms.
• Set architecture standards, reference patterns, and engineering best practices.
• Provide hands-on technical leadership through reviews, design, and PoC development.
• Partner with teams to modernize platforms using React, Java, Go, Node.js, Kubernetes, and cloud services.
• Define data architecture, data modeling, and data engineering strategies.
• Drive adoption of DevSecOps, platform engineering, and AI-assisted development.
• Embed Generative AI and intelligent automation into PBM products and workflows.

Skills

Cloud-native design

Java

Go

Node.js

React

APIs

Microservices

Event-driven

AI integration

DevSecOps

Architectural leadership

Stakeholder mgmt

Education

Bachelor's in CS or related field

Tools

Kubernetes

GitHub Copilot

Claude Code

Cursor

Job description

Principal Architect - PBM Modernization & AI Engineering

The Principal Architect - PBM Modernization & AI Engineering is a senior architecture leader responsible for designing and delivering modern technology solutions that accelerate the transformation of the Pharmacy Benefit Management (PBM) ecosystem. As a key member of the PBM modernization program, this individual will partner closely with product, engineering, data, and business teams to modernize legacy platforms and enable scalable, cloud-native, API-first, and event-driven architectures. The Principal Architect will bring deep technical expertise developed through a progression from software engineering into architecture leadership and will serve as a trusted advisor on application architecture, engineering excellence, technology modernization, and AI adoption.

The successful candidate will possess extensive experience designing, building, and modernizing enterprise platforms utilizing modern technology stacks, including React, Java, Go, Node.js, cloud-native services, and modern data architectures . This role requires expertise across application architecture, data engineering, integration strategies, distributed systems, and software delivery practices, with the ability to guide engineering teams through complex transformation initiatives. Artificial Intelligence will be a critical component of this role. The Principal Architect will help define and implement architectures that leverage Generative AI, Agentic AI, and intelligent automation to streamline business processes, improve operational efficiency, enhance customer experiences, and unlock new business capabilities. This leader will champion practical AI adoption across the software development lifecycle while ensuring solutions remain scalable, secure, compliant, and aligned with enterprise standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design and implementation of architecture solutions supporting strategic PBM modernization initiatives.
• Drive the transformation of legacy applications into modular, cloud-native, API-first, and event-driven platforms.
• Establish architecture standards, reference patterns, and engineering best practices that improve scalability, resiliency, maintainability, and speed to market.
• Provide hands-on technical leadership through architecture reviews, solution design, proof-of-concept development, and critical engineering initiatives.
• Partner with engineering teams to modernize application platforms using React, Java, Go, Node.js, Kubernetes, cloud-native services, and modern integration patterns.
• Define and implement data architecture, data modeling, and data engineering strategies that support operational, analytical, and AI-driven business capabilities.
• Drive adoption of DevSecOps, platform engineering, architecture automation, and AI-assisted software development practices.
• Identify and implement opportunities to embed Generative AI, Agentic AI, and intelligent automation capabilities within PBM products and business workflows.
• Define architectural patterns that support AI-enabled workflow automation, intelligent decision support, knowledge management, and operational excellence.
• Leverage AI-powered engineering platforms and development copilots, including Claude Code, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, and emerging technologies, to accelerate modernization efforts, improve developer productivity, enhance software quality, and reduce delivery timelines.
• Design and implement AI-enabled software engineering capabilities, including SDLC agents, reusable skills, prompt frameworks, and specification-driven development practices that automate architecture, coding, testing, documentation, and modernization workflows.
• Ensure all solutions are secure, scalable, observable, compliant, and aligned with enterprise architecture principles and governance standards.
• Mentor architects and engineers while fostering a culture of technical excellence, innovation, continuous learning, and modernization.

Preferred Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in software engineering, solution architecture, and technology leadership.
• Demonstrated progression from hands-on software engineering roles into architecture leadership positions.
• Deep expertise designing and building cloud-native applications utilizing Java, Go, Node.js, React, APIs, microservices, and event-driven architectures.
• Strong background in data architecture, data modeling, data engineering, and modern data platforms.
• Experience implementing Generative AI, Agentic AI, large language model (LLM)-based solutions, and intelligent automation capabilities in enterprise environments.
• Experience within healthcare, pharmacy benefit management (PBM), payer, or pharmacy technology domains preferred.
• Proven ability to influence senior technology and business leaders while driving large-scale modernization initiatives.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and stakeholder management skills