Job Description

The Sr. Enterprise Architect (EA) is accountable for UFCU’s enterprise technology architecture strategy, target-state design, and architecture governance, while also serving as a hands-on solution architect for high-impact initiatives. This role ensures UFCU platforms and solutions are secure-by-design, resilient, scalable, interoperable, and audit/regulator-ready, enabling consistent member and employee experiences. This role drives adoption of standards and architectural patterns through practical enablement, developer community engagement, and strong partnership with business and technology leaders.

The Sr. Enterprise Architect role reports to the Chief Technology Officer.

About UFCU

Our Credit Union was founded in 1936 and has grown to serve members throughout Texas and beyond. At UFCU, we are more than just a financial institution, and our people are more than just employees. We are dedicated to our purpose of empowering our Members to achieve financial success and build brighter futures

In pursuit of our aspiration that UFCU is loved by millions of Members and built to thrive for generations, we are guided by our values:

Purposefully Member-Obsessed

We are driven by a profound sense of empathy to deeply understand our Members’ needs and preferences, what brighter futures means to them, and the obstacles in their way. We act in our Members’ best interests, forever seeking to empower their financial success.

Possibilities Reimagined

We are inspired to courageously experiment, learn, and iterate in pursuit of positive impact for our Members, UFCU, and coworkers. We challenge assumptions, embrace diverse perspectives, and make use of data and insights.

Performance Excellence Rooted in Unwavering Integrity

We do the right thing, always. We champion teamwork, accountability, continuous improvement, and celebrate successful outcomes of others, fostering an inclusive environment of excellence and collaboration.

Essential Functions

Enterprise Architecture & Roadmaps

• Define and evolve the enterprise target architecture across applications, integration, data, security, and infrastructure
• Develop multi-year roadmaps aligned to business priorities
• Establish architecture principles (API-first, reuse, secure-by-design, observable systems)

Hands-On Solution Architecture

• Lead architecture for strategic initiatives including CRM, integration, onboarding/origination, and data platforms
• Produce actionable artifacts such as architecture diagrams, data flows, interface designs, and ADRs
• Define non-functional requirements and operational readiness expectations

Architecture Governance (ARB, Standards, Exceptions)

• Operate the Architecture Review Board (ARB)
• Define and maintain architecture standards and reference patterns
• Manage exception processes with clear timelines and remediation plans
• Ensure decisions are documented and traceable

Integration & API Architecture

• Define standards for APIs, eventing, and messaging patterns
• Drive adoption of reusable integration patterns
• Reduce point-to-point integrations and increase platform reuse

Data Architecture Alignment

• Promote domain-based data architecture and governance
• Ensure alignment on data quality, lineage, classification, and access
• Support scalable data consumption patterns for analytics and reporting

Security, Risk & Compliance Alignment

• Partner with Information Security and GRC to ensure secure-by-design solutions
• Embed controls for identity, encryption, monitoring, and resilience
• Ensure architectures are audit-ready and regulator-reassuring

Vendor Architecture Oversight

• Evaluate vendor solutions for architectural fit, integration feasibility, and risk
• Define integration and architecture expectations for third-party platforms
• Assess total cost of ownership and long-term viability

Other

• Adheres to all company policies, procedures, and business ethics codes.
• Completes required regulatory training as assigned.
• Maintains strict adherence to and compliance with all laws, rules, regulations, and internal controls specific to the role, including but not limited to Bank Secrecy Act, Anti-Money Laundering, USA Patriot Act, OFAC and Fair Lending regulations.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

Knowledge

• Advanced knowledge of enterprise architecture practices across application, integration, and data domains
• API and event-driven integration patterns
• Security architecture fundamentals
• Resiliency and operational design principles

Skills

• Clear communication of architecture and trade-offs
• Demonstrated cross-functional collaboration and influence
• Experience with vendor evaluation and architecture assessment
• Development of practical, reusable patterns

Abilities

• Ability to operate at both strategic and hands-on levels
• Ability to identify and mitigate architectural risks early
• Ability to balance standardization with delivery speed

Core Competencies

• Demonstrating Member Obsession

• Puts themselves in the Member’s shoes
• Looks for friction points
• Makes it personalized and easy

• Demonstrating Performance Excellence

• Sets standards for elevating excellence
• Ensures elevated quality
• Takes responsibility
• Conducts continuous improvement

• Demonstrating Innovation

• Challenges current thinking
• Approaches change with a positive mindset

Experience

Minimum Requirements

• 5-7+ years of experience in architecture or engineering roles with increasing responsibility
• Experience in complex enterprise environments
• Exposure across multiple domains such as integration, data, CRM/contact center, and cloud
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, Business, or a related field or relevant experience in lieu of degree
• Must be bondable

Preferred Requirements

• Experience in regulated industries
• Experience working with credit unions, community banks, regional financial institutions or regulated environments

Physical Demands

The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by an employee, with or without accommodation, to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Frequent

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, and ability to adjust focus.
• Employee will make extensive use of the telephone and virtual communications requiring the ability to explain complex information effectively and accurately.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

• This position requires frequently working onsite at UFCU Plaza in Austin, Texas.
• This position may involve periodic stressful conditions.
• May occasionally require an adjusted work schedule, overtime, and evening/weekend hours.
• May occasionally move from one work location/branch to another.
• Public contact position, requiring appropriate professional appearance.
• Frequent computer use at a workstation of up to two hours at a time.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate