Principal Architect, Software Engineering

Credera India; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 195,000 - 265,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working model

Competitive compensation and benefits

Job summary

Credera is seeking a Principal Architect to define technology vision, own design and delivery, and mentor high-performing teams. You will shape AI-enabled software solutions and guide engagements from concept through production.

You’ll work with clients to tailor architectures, drive research, and contribute to practice direction in a collaborative, high-impact environment in Chicago. The role emphasizes leadership, client engagement, and delivering enterprise-scale systems with a strong focus

Qualifications

• At least 12 years in software architecture or technology consulting.
• Hands-on coding up to 40% of time.
• Deep understanding across UX, middle tier, and database platforms.
• Proficient in Java, .NET, Rust, JavaScript/TypeScript and Python.
• Experience with AWS, Azure, GCP, Docker, Kubernetes, and serverless architectures.
• Mentor and lead teams; drive business development.

Responsibilities

• Define technology vision and own design, estimation, and execution.
• Mentor teams and lead research, accelerator development.
• Lead go-to-market or corporate functions within the practice.
• Collaborate with clients to capture requirements and propose technical approaches.
• Oversee delivery quality and ensure adherence to best practices.

Skills

Years of experience

Hands-on coding

Architecture across stacks

Languages: Java/.NET/Rust/JS/TS/Python

Cloud platforms & containers

DevOps & automation

AI in software engineering

Team mentoring & leadership

Business development

Client engagement

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

Terraform

GitHub Actions

Azure DevOps

Liquibase

Playwright

Cypress

Job description

Credera is a global consulting firm that combines transformational consulting capabilities, deep industry knowledge, AI and technology expertise to deliver valuable customer experiences and accelerated growth across various industries. We continuously evolve our services to meet the needs of future organizations and reflect modern best practices. Our unique global approach provides tailored solutions, transforming the most influential brands and organizations worldwide.

Our employees, the lifeblood of our company, are passionate about making an extraordinary impact on our clients, colleagues, and communities. This passion drives how we spend our time, resources, and talents. Our commitment to our people and work has been recognized globally.

As a Principal Architect at Credera, you partner with clients to define their technology vision, then own the design, estimation, and execution of the work that brings it to life. You recommend the technology approach, team structure, and skill mix for each engagement. You mentor team members and senior practice leadership, and you support practice and company development through leading research and development, training, and reusable software development accelerator development. As a member of the practice Management Team, you help set the vision and strategic direction of the practice, and you own or assist with one or more go‑to‑market or corporate functions within the practice (e.g., employee engagement, training, accelerator development).

You shape Credera’s practice direction on AI in software engineering, setting the bar for how our teams build agentic systems and AI‑augmented applications that hold up in production, and ensuring AI is used responsibly and effectively across both our delivery and the solutions we ship for clients.

On a typical day, you might work with clients to capture and synthesize requirements, research and propose the technical approach, and determine the skills, capabilities, and team structure required to deliver it. You are ultimately responsible for the quality of technology delivery on your engagements, ensuring that Credera’s best practices and industry standards are appropriately applied. You lead one or more teams of skilled technologists, providing the leadership, mentoring, and development they need to succeed. You work with channel partners to support the relationship and help win new business, and you typically participate in one or more business development cycles.

WHO YOU ARE

• You are an experienced, hands‑on software architect who has been in the industry or technology consulting for at least 12 years
• You spend up to 40% of your time actively developing code, including writing code, steering and reviewing AI‑generated code, building proofs of concept, and unblocking your teams
• You have a passion for technology and keep yourself up to date on the latest application development technologies and trends across all software development disciplines and processes
• You have a deep understanding of multiple technology development stacks across UX, middle tier, and database platforms
• You are well‑versed in different software development methodologies and understand the benefits and challenges of each
• You have experience with one or more of the following programming languages: Java, .NET, Rust, client‑and server‑side JavaScript/TypeScript (React, Angular, Node.js), and Python
• You have experience with one or more of the following cloud platforms and container technologies: AWS, Azure, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), Docker, Kubernetes, and serverless architectures such as AWS Lambda
• You have experience with one or more of the following DevOps and automation tools: CI/CD platforms (e.g., GitHub Actions, Azure DevOps), infrastructure as code tools (e.g., Terraform), cloud‑native APIs, testing automation tools (e.g., Playwright, Cypress), and database change management tools (e.g., Liquibase)
• You treat AI as a core part of the toolkit, incorporating coding assistants and agentic tooling into your everyday workflow and helping others on your teams do the same
• You are accomplished at mentoring, leading, and developing others
• You currently lead teams that develop complex, high‑volume, mission‑critical enterprise solutions that are built from the ground up, using a variety of technical components, and deployed in highly available environments
• You have strong communication and interpersonal skills, and the ability to engage customers at a business level in addition to a technical level
• You can handle complex organizational dynamics to deliver a solution to a client’s satisfaction
• You drive business development and are comfortable with developing business cases and justifications that grow the customer relationship and satisfaction

HOW WE USE AI TO ENHANCE OUR WORK

We believe in using the best tools for the job. AI isn’t a replacement for great software engineering. It’s a powerful accelerator. As part of our team, you’ll use AI to enhance your day‑to‑day development and contribute to client solutions on the leading edge of what AI in production can actually do.

• AI‑Assisted Engineering : You’ll have access to industry‑leading AI coding assistants to boost productivity and code quality. We adopt the tools that fit the project and align with each client’s ecosystem.
• Accelerated Design & Strategy : You can use OmniAI, our proprietary multi‑LLM platform, to accelerate solution design, architecture, and estimation in a secure environment.
• Advanced AI Engagements : For clients seeking a competitive edge, you may lead the build of agentic systems with proper evals and guardrails, RAG over enterprise knowledge using MCP, and production agent platforms built on services such as AgentCore, Bedrock, Strands, and Vertex.
• Continuous Learning : We invest in keeping our engineers ahead of the curve through internal communities, peer learning, and dedicated time to explore emerging tools and patterns.

For individuals hired to work in Chicago, Credera is required by law to include a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role. This compensation range is specific to the State of Colorado and includes the range of factors considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; certifications; etc. We would not anticipate that the individual hired into this role would be near the top end of the compensation range, but that decision will be dependent on the facts associated with each specific individual’s relevant experience for the role.

Chicago Pay Range

$195,000-265,000 USD

Learn More : Credera is part of Omnicom Precision Marketing that delivers transformative solutions rooted in data, technology, and AI. Omnicom Precision Marketing delivers precisely targeted and meaningful customer experiences at scale. Using its universal framework of connected data, connected intelligence and connected experiences, OPM provides services that include data‑driven product / service design, technology strategy and implementation, CRM / loyalty strategy and activation, econometric and attribution modelling, technical and business consulting and digital experience design and development.

Compensation: The salary range listed is provided for informational purposes only. Credera treats all applicants as individuals, considering, but not limited to, their professional and academic experience, specialized training, certifications, and associated responsibilities as they relate to our specific industry. The salary range listed is just one component of our total compensation package for each unique employee.

We believe in recognizing and rewarding contributions at every level. While senior‑level employees are eligible for a variable component as part of their compensation package, we are committed to supporting the growth and development of all team members. As employees progress in their careers, everyone will have opportunities to take on new responsibilities and become eligible for additional rewards. We strive to create an environment where everyone is empowered to succeed and advance.

Benefits : Credera provides a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits plan. Benefits include health, mental health, vision, dental, and life insurance, prescriptions, fertility and adoption benefits, community service days, paid parental leave, PTO, 14 paid holidays, matching 401(k), Healthcare & Dependent Flexible Spending Accounts, and disability benefits. For more information regarding Omnicom benefits, please visit www.omnicombenefits.com.

Hybrid Working Model: Our employees have the flexibility to work remotely two days a week. We expect team members to spend three days in person, with the freedom to choose the days and times that best suit them, their project, and their teams. You’ll collaborate with your project team to balance flexibility with the benefits of in‑person connection, delivering outstanding results for our clients. The Why : In‑person engagement is essential for building strong relationships with clients and colleagues. It fosters trust, encourages learning, and helps us grow as consultants and professionals.

Travel : For our consulting roles, our goal is to minimize travel, and most projects do not require extensive travel. While some projects may involve up to 80% travel for a period, the annual average for team members is typically 10%–30%. We take a personal approach to travel by considering your submitted preferences when assigning roles.

Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. without the need for employment‑based visa sponsorship now or in the future; Credera will not sponsor applicants for U.S. work visa status for this opportunity (no sponsorship is available for H-1B, L-1, TN, O-1, E-3, H-1B1, F-1, J-1, OPT, CPT, or any other employment‑based visa).

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, genetic information, veteran status, or disability.