Solution Architect, Enterprise HR & Tech Tools

001 The Northern Trust Company; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 115,000 - 195,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary bonus program

401k and pension

Health benefits

Job summary

The Northern Trust Company is seeking an experienced Solution Architect to guide technology strategy across HR and workforce platforms. You will define the future-state architecture and multi-year roadmaps, partnering with leaders, product owners, engineers, security, and vendors to enable HR transformation and enterprise modernization.

With 10+ years in solution or enterprise architecture, you will lead cross-functional initiatives, communicate effectively with senior stakeholders, and mentor

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or related discipline.
• 10+ years of solution/enterprise architecture or related leadership.
• Experience developing roadmaps, modernization plans, and strategy for enterprise apps.
• Experience leading cross-functional initiatives with multiple stakeholders.
• Strong communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience with SaaS platforms, cloud technologies, integrations, and enterprise ecosystems.
• Ability to influence technology and business decisions at senior levels.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute technology strategies and roadmaps supporting HR Talent Transformation and workforce tech portfolio.
• Lead architecture direction for HR Talent Transformation initiatives, including Workday platforms.
• Partner with business leaders, product owners, and tech teams to align investments with priorities.
• Drive portfolio rationalization, modernization, and consolidation to reduce complexity and costs.
• Define and govern enterprise architecture standards, patterns, and principles across apps, data, AI, security, and cloud.
• Evaluate new technologies and vendors to support long-term strategic goals.
• Lead architecture governance for major initiatives, ensuring compliance with standards and regulations.
• Champion reusable services, automation, analytics, and AI-enabled solutions across the portfolio.
• Serve as primary architecture advisor to senior leaders, guiding investments and roadmaps.
• Provide technical leadership and mentoring across architects, engineers, and owners.

Skills

Solution architecture

Enterprise architecture

Technology leadership

Stakeholder management

Workday

Cloud technologies

SaaS platforms

Data & analytics

AI & automation

Vendor evaluation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science/Information Systems/Engineering

Tools

Workday

Microsoft technologies

Cloud architectures

Enterprise SaaS platforms

Data & analytics ecosystems

Job description

About Northern Trust

As a global leader in innovative wealth management, asset servicing, asset management and banking services, Northern Trust (Nasdaq: NTRS) is proud to guide the world’s most successful individuals, families, corporations and institutions. Since 1889, we have aligned our efforts with our three guiding Principles That Endure: Service, Expertise, and Integrity. Together, they reflect the three cornerstones of business conduct which we strive to instill in our employees, whom we call partners, and to provide to our clients and the communities we serve worldwide. With more than 135 years of financial experience and over 24,000 partners, we serve the world’s most sophisticated clients using leading technology and exceptional service.

Position Summary

Northern Trust is seeking an experienced and visionary Solution Architect to lead technology strategy, architecture, and transformation initiatives supporting our Human Resources and Workforce technology ecosystem. This role will play a critical part in advancing Northern Trust's HR Talent Transformation journey while providing architecture leadership across key Human Resources, Workplace Services, and Enterprise Technology platforms. This role serves as a strategic technology leader responsible for defining and executing the future-state architecture, application portfolio strategy, and multi-year technology roadmap that enable Northern Trust's HR transformation objectives. The Architect will partner with business leaders, product owners, architects, engineers, security teams, and vendors to ensure technology investments align with business priorities, enterprise standards, and long‑term modernization goals. The successful candidate will combine solution architecture, portfolio management, technology strategy, and organizational leadership to drive innovation, simplify technology landscapes, and deliver scalable business capabilities across the enterprise.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and execute technology strategies and roadmaps supporting Northern Trust's HR Talent Transformation initiatives and workforce technology portfolio.
• Lead architecture and technology direction for strategic HR Talent Transformation initiatives, including Workday and related workforce technology platforms.
• Partner with business leaders, product owners, and technology teams to align technology investments with business priorities and enterprise objectives.
• Drive application portfolio rationalization, modernization, and consolidation efforts to reduce complexity, improve user experience, and optimize costs.
• Define and govern enterprise architecture standards, solution patterns, and technology principles across applications, integrations, data, AI, security, and cloud platforms.
• Evaluate new technologies, vendors, and platforms, providing recommendations that support long‑term strategic goals and operational excellence.
• Lead architecture and technical governance activities for major initiatives, ensuring alignment with enterprise standards, risk requirements, and regulatory obligations.
• Champion the adoption of shared capabilities, reusable services, automation, analytics, and AI‑enabled solutions across the portfolio.
• Serve as the primary architecture advisor for senior business and technology leaders, providing strategic guidance on investments, roadmaps, and technology decisions.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship across architects, engineers, consultants, and application owners while fostering innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or related discipline.
• 10+ years of experience in solution architecture, enterprise architecture, technology consulting, or related technology leadership roles.
• Experience developing technology roadmaps, architecture strategies, and modernization plans for enterprise applications.
• Experience leading complex cross‑functional initiatives involving multiple business and technology stakeholders.
• Strong communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience working with SaaS platforms, cloud technologies, integrations, and enterprise application ecosystems.
• Demonstrated ability to influence technology and business decisions across senior leadership and cross‑functional stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting Human Resources, Workplace Services, Corporate Functions, and other large-scale enterprise SaaS platforms within complex global organizations.
• Experience leading application portfolio management, technology modernization, or large-scale SaaS transformation initiatives.
• Experience with Workday, Microsoft technologies, cloud architectures, enterprise SaaS platforms, and data and analytics ecosystems.
• Knowledge of AI technologies, intelligent automation, workforce analytics, and digital experience platforms.
• Experience developing enterprise technology strategies, roadmaps, and architecture standards within complex organizations.
• Experience within financial services or other highly regulated industries.

Salary Range

$114,500 - 194,700 USD Salary range is a good faith estimate of base pay.

Benefits

• retirement benefits (401k and pension)
• health and welfare benefits (medical, dental, vision, spending accounts and disability)
• paid time off
• parental and caregiver leave
• life & accident insurance
• other voluntary and well‑being benefits
• discretionary bonus program that may include an equity component

Work Authorization

Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. without the need for employment‑based visa sponsorship now or in the future. Northern Trust 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).

Working with Us

As a Northern Trust partner, you will be part of a flexible and collaborative work culture, which has a strong history of financial strength and stability. Movement within the organization is encouraged, senior leaders are accessible, and you can take pride in working for a company committed to an inclusive workplace and assisting the communities we serve. Philanthropy is deeply rooted in Northern Trust’s history and is an essential element of our culture. Employees around the world give their time and talent to work for the greater good of their communities. Looking for greater? You found it. A global financial leader with more than 22,000 employees in 23 locations worldwide, Northern Trust empowers our employees to achieve more than just business goals. Our focus on work‑life balance, career mobility and unique opportunities are just a few of the reasons we’ve been named one of the world’s most admired companies.

Reasonable Accommodation

Northern Trust is committed to working with and providing adjustments to individuals with health conditions and disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please email our HR Service Center at [e-mail], or alternatively you can discuss your individual requirements with the recruiter you are working with.

Terms and Conditions

Candidate Privacy Notice California Applicant Privacy Notice Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision (U.S) Transparency in Coverage Disclosure – North America Northern Trust is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please email our HR Service Center or call 1-800-807-0302 (North America), [phone] (Asia Pacific), 1800-425-0333 (India), [phone] (Europe, Middle East and Africa) and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.

APAC/INDIA EEO STATEMENT

It is the policy and practice of Northern Trust to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants. Northern Trust does not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, religion or belief, nationality, ethnic or national origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, disability or age. All employment decisions will be made in a non‑discriminatory manner in accordance with our obligations under the law and codes of practice. This includes human resources’ decisions relating to recruitment, terms and conditions of employment, transfers, promotions and access to learning and development.

Canada EEO STATEMENT

Northern Trust is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Hiring and other employment decisions at Northern Trust are made without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, ancestry, national origin, ethnic origin, age, disability, citizenship, veteran status, sexual orientation, record of offences, marital status, family status, or any other characteristic protected under federal, provincial, or local law, regulation, or ordinance.

EMEA EEO STATEMENT

It is the policy and practice of Northern Trust to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants. Northern Trust does not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, religion or belief, nationality, ethnic or national origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, disability or age. All employment decisions will be made in a non‑discriminatory manner in accordance with our obligations under the law and codes of practice. This includes human resources’ decisions relating to recruitment, terms and conditions of employment, transfers, promotions and access to learning and development.

USA EEO STATEMENT

It is the policy of The Northern Trust Company to afford equal opportunity in all phases of employment without regard to an individual's age, race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, citizenship status, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic tests and information, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status or any other legally protected status.