Senior Enterprise Architect

Sacramento Municipal Utility District; Sacramento (CA); On-site; USD 135,000 - 179,000; Full time

Job summary

Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) is seeking a Senior Enterprise Architect to lead enterprise architecture analysis, design efforts, and governance execution. You will map business goals to IT standards, clarify needs, review solution architectures, and define innovative standards with stakeholders.

The role emphasizes senior-level leadership, mentoring, on-site collaboration, and driving complex initiatives within a civil service framework.

Qualifications

• BA/BS in information systems or related discipline; if no degree, 9+ years of relevant experience.
• Experience designing and documenting business solutions or IT/IS architecture (5+ years).
• Knowledge of enterprise architecture frameworks and practices (e.g., TOGAF).

Responsibilities

• Leads development of target architectures and road maps.
• Facilitates EA governance engagements and documents decisions.
• Oversees visual models and architecture documentation.
• Translates business goals into architecture requirements and priorities.
• Reviews changes and gaps with solution leads; assesses opportunities.
• Develops and manages enterprise architecture standards and governance.

Skills

Enterprise Architecture

Governance

Stakeholder Management

Mentoring

Modeling & Visualization

Education

BA/BS in information systems or related field

Job description

Senior Enterprise Architect

Department: Enterprise Systems, Strategy & Governance

Location: Sacramento, CA, US, 95817-1899

Category: Information Technology/Telecommunications

Minimum Pay Rate: $134,971.20

Maximum Pay Rate: $178,776.00

Civil Service Status: Civil Service

Apply by Date: 09/25/2026

Posting Type: Open

Join a high-performing experienced IT team working in a fast-paced and dynamic work environment dedicated to delivering technology solutions to our community and employees that are secure, reliable, and right-sized. As a Senior Enterprise Architect, you'll be supporting both design and operational aspects of SMUD's Enterprise Architecture governance and framework.

Key functions and responsibilities

• Reviewing and updating current EA governance structures to ensure optimal value and efficiencies.
• Managing intake processes and requests for support.
• Exploring and vetting opportunities for intelligent intake and process automation.
• Vetting and maintaining the approved products list (hardware & software) and ensuring it remains relevant and lean.
• Lead technology request workstreams for projects and / or purchases.
• Lead technology due diligence efforts for requests that expand beyond the approved products list.
• Optimize and operate the EA ARB Board.Partner with key stakeholders in IT, other Business Units and on Projects to ensure proper and efficient technology vetting.
• Updating and maintaining EA Governance Documentation, processes and workflows.
• Leading and mentoring junior team members; developing talent peer and user groups.
• Ability to work in-person as needed to build partnerships, bolster project and team productivity and cohesion.

We are looking for individuals who are adept at managing concurrent assignments, of varying complexities, and who can effectively work both independently or in a team while being open to learning new technologies and acquiring new skill sets.

Purpose

As a subject matter expert, leads enterprise architecture analysis and design efforts, proactively directing solutions toward desired business outcomes. The Sr. Enterprise Architect leads, manages and facilitates architecture activities to develop plans which map to business goals and IT standards. This includes working with various roles in the organization to clarify business needs, analyze and review solution architectures, develop target architectures, and define innovative standards.

Nature and Scope

This is thesenior/subject matter expert level within the Enterprise Architect series. This level is distinguished from the lower level by the need to be a subject matter expert that handles the largest and most complex assignments. This role may serve as a lead to lower level staff in guiding, directing, selecting & training staff. Promotion to the senior level is not through a progression and will happen through SMUD's standard civil service hiring process.

This series is comprised of three levels: Level "E" is the entry level where incumbents acquire knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the tasks associated within the series. The incumbent is promoted/progressed to level "J" upon demonstrating the required skills and knowledge to independently perform the full scope of the job. The Senior "Sr" level is comprised of a Subject Matter Expert who is responsible for the most complex assignments. Promotion to the Senior level is not through a progression and will happen through SMUD's standard civil service hiring process.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Leads in development of target architectures and road maps.
• Facilitate regular activities and engagements between EA roles, and documents decisions.
• Oversee the development and organization of visual models and documentation.
• Partner with appropriate business roles, to translate goals into architecture priorities and requirements.
• Work with solution leads to review architecture changes and gaps, to assess opportunities.
• Facilitate development and management of innovative technology standards with IT stakeholders.
• Serves as an enterprise level consultant to business and IT leaders.
• Coordinate with project and planning leads, to ensure EA engagement and guidance.
• Other related duties as assigned.

Required Education

• BA/BS in information systems or other related discipline, or equivalent experience. If no degree, nine or more (9+) years of relevant experience is required.

Required Experience Qualifications

• Five (5+) or more years progressively responsible experience in technology, including three or more (3+) year's experience designing and documenting business solutions or IT/IS architecture.

Knowledge Of

All technology layers: applications, data, infrastructure, security; Architecture frameworks principles, procedures, and best practices; Graphical modeling approaches, for analysis and design of target architectures; IT operational environments, to ensure plans can be practically applied; Financial and budgeting practices, and cost-benefit analysis; Emerging technology trends, without vendor bias.

Skills To

Facilitate cross-organization teams and manage tasks, to develop plans for architecture development; Effectively communicate verbally, written, and visually with different audiences clearly and concisely; Analyze and translate business needs and IT strategies into architecture requirements; Comprehend new/disruptive technologies, to evaluate for practical solutions for business problems; Support standards definition, review, and oversight; Facilitate and negotiate decisions between stakeholders; Support agile iterative approaches to drive results and innovation.

Desirable Qualifications

Knowledge Of

• Enterprise Architecture role in the Utilities Industry, as it relates to establishing and operating EA Governance models in support of managing technology and project lifecycles.

Skills To

• Designing, establishing and managing Enterprise Architecture Governance models such as Architectural Review Boards.
• Defining and establishing Enterprise Architecture Governance models, ARB's, including RACI's, diagrams, automated workflows, etc.

Experience

• Ten or more (10+) years progressively responsible experience in technology.
• Seven or more (7+) years of experience designing and documenting business solutions or IT/IS architecture.
• Five or more (5+) years of experience in enterprise architecture.
• Experience with enterprise architecture frameworks and practices, such as TOGAF.

Applicants must be willing and able to perform work on site during regularly scheduled work hours and "days-in-office" schedule.

Physical Requirements

Applicants must be able to perform the essential job functions with or without a reasonable accommodation.

Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) - Who We Are

As the nation's sixth-largest community-owned electric service provider, we're proud of our reputation as one of the best places to work in Sacramento. Our employees tell us in our engagement surveys they're "Happy, satisfied and engaged" which helps create a workplace that best serves our customers.Sacramento was named as the 2nd happiest place to work in America by Forbes Magazine. Lake Tahoe, San Francisco and the world-renowned Napa Valley are within easy driving distance of our locations.

Our Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion

SMUD celebrates diversity, and inspires an inclusive culture based on trust and respect to create belonging and connection among our employees, customers, and communities. By working together, we are powering positive, equitable opportunities for all. We aspire to be a workplace where you can be yourself, achieve your best, and thrive together.

An example of our commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging is when SMUD signed the California Equal Pay Pledge in 2020. This requires equal pay for employees who perform "substantially similar work," when viewed as a composite of skill, effort, and responsibility at the time those employees started within that classification. As such, initial hiring salary range is not subject to negotiation and salaries will vary over time based on performance.

SMUD is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in employment decisions on the basis of race, color, religion, gender (including pregnancy), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, veteran status, or any other applicable legally protected characteristic. All employment decisions are made on the basis of individual qualifications, merit, and business needs and interests.

Why Sacramento, California?

The capitol of California, Sacramento is the state's sixth-largest city, and the 35th largest in the U.S. Local universities include California State University, University of the Pacific's McGeorge School of Law, and the University of California, Davis and several competitive community colleges. The UC Davis Medical Center, a world-renowned research hospital, is one of more than a dozen hospitals and shared services centers in the Sacramento region. Part of the agriculturally-rich Central Valley, Sacramento is at the forefront of the farm-to-fork food movement. Northern California is home to some of the country's top technology companies, including Google and LinkedIn, and a multitude of startups in many industries. Sacramento is home to the NBA Kings, the River Cats (AAA baseball), the Republic FC (soccer) and the San Francisco Giants, NBA Warriors and NFL 49er's aren't far away. Sacramento offers an affluent liberal arts community with Broadway, Mondavi Center, Crocker Museum and summer musical theater to name a few.

Hybrid Work

This position will be required to work onsite one or more days a week on a regular basis; sometimes more or less, depending on the work and, at any of our SMUD locations. SMUD takes pride in powering the Sacramento region community where we live and work. We value the strong working relationships we develop with our colleagues. Our approach to remote work will continue to evolve. Please be aware that should SMUD's business needs change, emergencies occur, or various other reasons arise, you may be required to report onsite on a part-time or full-time basis.

CalPERS

SMUD is a CalPERS agency. As a member of the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS), SMUD offers eligible employees access to a defined benefit pension plan along with other valuable retirement and health benefits. This program helps provide financial security both during your career and after retirement. To learn more about CalPERS and the benefits it offers, please visit www.calpers.ca.gov.

EEO Policy

SMUD provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. SMUD complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

SMUD expressly prohibits any form of unlawful employee harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of SMUD employees to perform their expected job duties is absolutely not tolerated.