Principal Architect

The role

This Principal Architect sets architecture standards, integration patterns and technical governance for AIOS, the AI operating system, across all client engagements. The role reviews and approves squad-level architecture decisions and mentors architects and senior engineers. It works across squads without direct reporting authority.

What you will do

• Define target-state enterprise architecture for complex AIOS transformations
• Define and maintain platform-wide standards for agent design, orchestration, integration and API design
• Review and approve squad-level architecture decisions
• Lead development and adoption of reusable reference architectures and technical capabilities
• Partner with Agent Architects and Senior Agent Engineers to drive adoption of platform patterns
• Serve as senior technical advisor to CIOs, Chief Architects and enterprise technology leaders
• Develop and maintain security and data governance patterns for AI systems
• Mentor and coach junior architects and senior engineers
• Identify and address architecture technical debt
• Serve as escalation point for architecture decisions spanning multiple squads

Required qualifications

• 15+ years of experience in enterprise technology delivery, including senior leadership or executive client-facing roles
• Experience designing enterprise-scale AI platforms with agentic AI, RAG, orchestration frameworks, API ecosystems and cloud-native architectures
• Experience providing technical leadership across multiple enterprise transformations simultaneously
• Deep expertise in agent orchestration frameworks, integration architecture, API design and enterprise software architecture patterns
• Demonstrated experience defining and scaling reusable technical standards across teams or at enterprise scale
• Strong grounding in security and data governance patterns for AI/ML systems in regulated environments
• Ability to influence enterprise architecture decisions at CIO, Chief Architect and executive levels without direct reporting authority
• Experience establishing reference architectures, technical standards and governance models adopted across delivery organizations
• Excellent communicator who can translate architecture standards into practical guidance for engineers at different levels

Nice to have

• Prior experience as a Principal Architect or Chief Architect at a software/SaaS or AI company
• Experience with Azure AI, AWS Bedrock, Google Vertex AI, OpenAI, Anthropic or comparable enterprise AI ecosystems
• Track record of building reusable component libraries or platforms that drove measurable adoption
• Experience with enterprise architecture governance frameworks
• Background in financial services technology or regulated industries
• Experience designing observability, monitoring and governance systems for AI/ML platforms
• Published papers, speaking engagements or open-source contributions demonstrating architecture thought leadership

Benefits

• Fully company-paid health benefits
• Annual bonus opportunities
• Generous vacation and holidays
• RRSP matching
• Employer-paid insurance coverage
• Wellness resources
• Extensive paramedical benefits
• Paid volunteering days
• Professional growth and career advancement opportunities

Before you apply

• Zafin may use AI and automated technology to screen or assess applicants; it will not use AI to conduct interviews or make hiring decisions
• Accommodations are available on request for candidates in all parts of the selection process

About the company

Zafin is an AI platform company in Toronto, Canada, helping regulated financial institutions modernize how critical work is designed, governed and delivered. Its products include Zafin AIOS, the Zafin Banking Platform and Zafin IO.