We're committed to bringing passion and customer focus to the business.
The IT Architect is responsible foraligning business strategy with technology capabilities across the Bank. This role partners directly with leadership and business units to understand banking processes, identify opportunities for transformation, and guide the design of scalable, compliant, and strategic solutions.
TheITArchitect serves as a trusted advisor to bothIT andbusinessleadership, ensuring that technology investments support business outcomes, regulatory requirements, and long-term enterprise architecture goals.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Partner with business unit leaders (Retail, Commercial, Lending, Treasury, etc.) to understand banking processes, pain points, and strategic goals
Translate business capabilities into technology architecture and solution direction
Establish and maintain enterprise architecture standards, reference models, and banking domainarchitectures
Provide strategic guidance on core banking systems, digital banking platforms, payments, lending systems, and vendor solutions
Lead architectural discussions for new business initiatives, ensuring alignment with regulatory, risk, and compliance requirements
Evaluate vendor solutionsbased onbusinessfit,scalability,integrationcomplexity,and risk
Serve as a key contributor to Architecture Review Board (ARB) decisions with a focus on business impact and enterprise alignment
Drive consistency in data flows, customer experience, and cross-channel integration across banking platforms
Provide executive-level briefings translating complex technical topics into business outcomes
Evaluate and remain current with emerging technologies that can be used tobenefit theBank
Design, test, and evaluate various technical solutions, as needed
Prepare proposals, briefings, and other information pertaining to current and emerging operational technologies
Qualifications
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
Skills
Ability to bridge business and technology—translating business needs into architectural direction
Experience advising senior leadership and driving cross-functional alignment
Strong analytical skills for evaluating business processes and identifying transformation opportunities
Excellent communication skills—able to present to executives and business stakeholdersin one-on-one, small group, and executive sessions
Ability to read, analyze, and interprettechnical and financial reporting and/or legal documents
Ability to lead and advise teams of technical associates regarding projects or strategic initiatives of the organization
Mustbe able to prioritize assignments while working on multiple projects
Ability to operate independently and provide strategic guidance in a fast-paced and evolving environment
Ability to assess existing and emerging technologies and identify opportunities to leverage for the advantage of the organization
Education and/or Experience
Bachelor's degree in a related field
Experience working within a regulated financialinstitutionenvironment
Understanding of regulatory and compliance considerations (FFIEC, GLBA, data protection, etc.)
8+yearsof experience across enterprise architecture, solution architecture, or senior technology leadership roles
Technical & Architecture Competencies
Advanced knowledge of modern cloud and infrastructure technologies (Azure preferred)
Strong knowledge of enterprise architecture frameworks and principles (TOGAF-style thinking, capability modeling, etc.)
Deep understanding of banking systems and processes, including core banking (Jack Henry & Associates experience preferred), lending, payments, and digital channels
Integration patterns (APIs, middleware, event-drivenarchitectures)
Intermediate/Advanced Office Automation experience
Architecture documentation and modeling tools (Microsoft Visio,Lucidchart,and/or other similar tools
Data architecture concepts, including data flow, governance, and lifecycle management
Certificates, Licenses, Registrations (Preferred, Not Required)
Enterprise architecture certifications (e.g., TOGAF or equivalent)
Azure Solutions Architect Expert
Bankingand financial services certifications
Other Qualifications
Strong understanding of securityprinciples, regulatory requirements, and risk considerations within a financial services environment
Experience participating in governance processes such as an Architecture Review Board, change management,and/or vendor risk review processes
Other
This role is not a traditional infrastructure or cloud engineering position. The ideal candidate will operate at the intersection of business and technology, helping shape how banking capabilities are delivered through modern, scalable, and secure solutions.
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensivelistingof activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Activities, duties and responsibilities may change at any time with or without notice.
Equal Employment Opportunity Information: Simmons First National Corporation and its subsidiaries are committed to a policy of equal employment with respect to a person's race, color, religion, sex, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, covered veterans, military status, physical or mental disability or any other legally protected classifications.
We were founded as a community bank. More than 100 years later, we still act like one.
For over a century, we’ve worked hard to help make our customers’ dreams come true – dreams like buying a home, starting a business or simply having the ability to manage your money safely and securely, anywhere you happen to be.
Simmons Bank has 200 locations and employs 2,800 associates across our six-state footprint.
