Principal Solutions Architect

Principal, Solutions ArchitectSalary: $175k-$225k + 30% bonusLocation: Chicago, ILHybrid: 3 days onsite, 2 days remoteQualificationsBS degree in Computer Science, similar technical field, or equivalent practical experience.10+ years of relevant work experienceExperience in the capital markets industry.Software development experience in Java, Python, or C#, including building high-throughput, low-latency services for data-intensive or transaction-oriented systemsStrong knowledge of Kafka or other messaging/streaming systems, including topic design, partitioning strategies, and producer/consumer patterns for reliable, event-driven communication.Fluent in object-oriented design principles, software design patterns, and modern architecture practices (e.g., microservices, event-driven architecture, domain-driven design), with the ability to apply them to real-world, large-scale systems.Knowledge of identity and access management using OAuth2/OIDC flows (client credentials, authorization code with PKCE), JWT-based token validation, and integration with identity providers (e.g., ForgeRock, SailPoint).Knowledge of schema management and data serialization formats, preferably Protocol Buffers (Protobuf), including schema evolutionUnderstanding of data lake-house architecture and table formats such as Apache IcebergFamiliarity with Infrastructure as Code principles and tooling preferably Terraform to enable repeatable, automated environment design.Working knowledge of DevOps tooling and practices such as Git, Jenkins, Docker, Artifactory, ArgoCD, and others to support automated build, test, and deployment of distributed, containerized applications.Experience working with Cloud ecosystems (AWS, PaaS, K8s)ResponsibilitiesDesign the applications’ architecture across distributed and enterprise technology platforms while leveraging patterns such as event-driven architecture, publish/subscribe messaging, and microservices while using infrastructure-as-code (IaC) practices to enable consistent, repeatable, and automated provisioning across environments.Define and enforce architectural standards, patterns, and best practices across engineering teams.Design streaming and batch-based systems that support both real-time and scheduled data flow across the organization.Shape and guide the architecture of message-based systems utilizing Kafka or similar platforms to enable reliable, decoupled, event-driven communication between services.Develop and oversee data architecture and integration strategies spanning streaming, batch, and message-based processing to ensure reliable, secure, and efficient data flow across systems.Own end-to-end solution architecture from ideation through implementation, including documentation of architectural decisions and system diagrams.Guide the development and deployment of distributed, cloud-native services, ensuring resilience, scalability, and cost-efficiency.Collaborate with DevOps, platform engineering, and security teams to ensure architectures are operable, resilient, and aligned with organizational standards.Review designs and code from engineering teams to ensure alignment with architectural standards, security requirements, and regulatory/compliance needs.Troubleshoot and resolve complex, cross-system issues spanning application, infrastructure, messaging, and data layers.Partner with engineering, data, and business teams to translate business requirements into robust, scalable technical solutions.