Enterprise Technology, Chief Architect

Job Description Summary

Partners at all levels of the organization to develop, implement, and execute an organization-wide IT strategy that optimizes employee capabilities, achieves the organization's strategic objectives, and delivers competitive advantage.

Job Description

Enterprise Technology - Chief ArchitectRole Summary

The Enterprise Technology Chief Architect (ETCA) is responsible for defining, governing, and evolving enterprise-wide technology architecture across Raymond James’ broker‑dealer and RIA businesses, including the firm’s AI and advanced analytics capabilities.

The role ensures that all technology—including AI solutions—is secure, compliant, explainable, and aligned to advisor independence, fiduciary obligations, and regulatory expectations. The Chief Architect establishes architectural strategy and governance that enables innovation while protecting clients, advisors, and the firm.

Architectural Strategy & Governance (Core Accountability)

The Enterprise Technology Chief Architect owns enterprise architectural strategy and governance, including AI architecture, controls, and oversight.

Enterprise Architectural Strategy

• Define and maintain the enterprise technology and AI architecture vision, aligned to Raymond James’ wealth management strategy
• Establish enterprise architecture principles, reference architectures, and design patterns across:
  • Business applications
  • Data and analytics
  • Cloud and technology infrastructure
  • Security
  • Integrations and platforms
  • Artificial intelligence and machine learning solutions
• Translate business and technology goals into target‑state architectures and multi‑year roadmaps, explicitly addressing AI enablement and risk
• Guide strategic trade‑off decisions balancing innovation, advisor experience, regulatory risk, explainability, and operational resilience

AI Architectural Strategy

• Define the enterprise AI architecture strategy, including:
  • Model lifecycle management
  • Data sourcing and lineage
  • Model training, validation, deployment, and monitoring
  • Human‑in‑the‑loop and decision‑support patterns
• Ensure AI solutions are:
  • Transparent and explainable
  • Appropriately governed for fiduciary and regulatory use
  • Designed to augment—not replace—advisor judgment
• Establish AI architectural standards for:
  • Generative AI
  • Agentic AI
  • Predictive models
  • Advisor intelligence and automation tools
  • Client/business facing AI capabilities
  • AI for Tech solutions

Architecture Governance (Including AI Governance)

• Design and lead the enterprise architecture and AI governance framework, including:
  • Decision rights and review authorities
  • Architecture and AI design review boards
  • Documentation, traceability, and exception management
• Ensure AI governance aligns with:
  • SEC and FINRA expectations
  • Fiduciary standards and suitability requirements
  • Model risk management and supervisory oversight
• Provide architectural and AI oversight for:  (Note: this section could be part of a separate AI governance body)
  • New AI use cases and model deployments
  • Third‑party and vendor‑embedded AI solutions
  • Material changes impacting clients, advisors, or compliance
• Maintain auditable records of architectural and AI decisions in partnership with Risk and Compliance

Broker‑Dealer & RIA Platform Architecture

• Provide architectural leadership across core wealth capabilities, including:
  • Advisor desktop and workstation platforms
  • Client onboarding, KYC/AML, and suitability
  • Portfolio management, trading, billing, and performance reporting
  • CRM, workflow, and practice management tools
• Ensure architecture supports:
  • Commission‑based, fee‑based, and advisory programs
  • Hybrid advisors and dual‑registrant workflows
  • Multi‑custodial and product models
• Integrate AI capabilities in a controlled and compliant manner across platforms

AI, Data, & Analytics Enablement

• Define enterprise data and AI architecture supporting:
  • Advisor insights and productivity
  • Client personalization and segmentation
  • Portfolio analytics and risk monitoring
  • Supervisory surveillance and compliance reporting
• Establish data governance ensuring:
  • Data quality, lineage, and provenance for AI models
  • Privacy and information‑barrier protections
  • Regulatory defensibility of AI‑driven outcomes
• Partner with Data, Risk, and Compliance teams to operationalize model risk management and explainability standards

Integration, Ecosystem & Vendor AI Oversight

• Define enterprise integration standards enabling AI‑enabled platforms and fintech tools
• Evaluate and govern:
  • Third‑party AI solutions
  • Vendor‑embedded AI features
  • Advisor‑selected tools leveraging AI
• Ensure ecosystem participation adheres to architectural, security, and AI governance standards

Cloud, Infrastructure & AI Resilience

• Lead architecture for hybrid and cloud environments supporting AI workloads
• Ensure AI architectures support:
  • Scalability and cost controls
  • Secure model hosting and data access
  • Business continuity and resiliency
• Drive adoption of platform capabilities that safely operationalize AI at scale

Security, Risk & Regulatory Alignment

• Partner with the CISO and Risk leadership to embed:
  • Security‑by‑design and privacy‑by‑design
  • Responsible AI controls
  • Auditability of AI decisions and outcomes
• Ensure technology and AI architectures support:
  • Supervisory oversight
  • Client protection and fiduciary obligations
  • Regulatory examinations and audits

Leadership & Influence

• Build and lead a federated enterprise architecture and AI architecture practice
• Mentor senior architects and AI leaders across domains
• Act as a trusted advisor to executive leadership on AI risk, opportunity, and readiness
• Influence across decentralized business models through expertise and credibility

QualificationsExperience

• 15+ years in enterprise technology or architecture
• 7+ years in senior architecture leadership roles
• Deep experience in wealth management, broker‑dealer, or RIA environments
• Experience governing AI or advanced analytics solutions in regulated settings

Expertise

• Strong command of:
  • Enterprise architecture frameworks (e.g., TOGAF)
  • Wealth platforms and advisor ecosystems
  • AI and data architectures, including generative AI
  • Model governance, explainability, and risk controls
• Ability to balance innovation, advisor autonomy, and compliance

Measures of Success

• Clear, adopted enterprise and AI architecture strategies
• Effective AI governance with strong regulatory posture
• Safe and scalable deployment of AI capabilities
• Improved advisor productivity without increased risk
• High trust across Business, Technology, Risk, and Compliance
• Development and implementation of KPI’s which track outcomes and ROI related to adoption of Enterprise Architecture practices

Education

Bachelor’s: Computer and Information Science, Bachelor’s: Data Science, Bachelor’s: Information Technology, High School (HS) (Required)

Work Experience

General Experience - More than 15 years, Manager Experience - More than 15 years

Certifications

Travel

Less than 25%

Workstyle

Hybrid

The total compensation for this position includes base salary or wages, and may include components such as additional compensation (cash or equity), discretionary bonuses, or commissions. This position is eligible for a benefits package that may include medical, dental, and vision; life insurance; critical illness insurance and accident insurance; disability benefits; retirement savings; paid time off (including vacation, holidays, and sick leave); and parental leave.  Eligibility for benefits and specific offerings may vary based on position and employment status. To view more details of the benefits offered, visit Myrjbenefits.com.

At Raymond James our associates use five guiding behaviors (Develop, Collaborate, Decide, Deliver, Improve) to deliver on the firm's core values of client-first, integrity, independence and a conservative, long-term view. 
We expect our associates at all levels to:
•  Grow professionally and inspire others to do the same
•  Work with and through others to achieve desired outcomes
•  Make prompt, pragmatic choices and act with the client in mind
•  Take ownership and hold themselves and others accountable for delivering results that matter
•  Contribute to the continuous evolution of the firm

At Raymond James – as part of our people-first culture, we honor, value, and respect the uniqueness, experiences, and backgrounds of all of our Associates.  When associates bring their best authentic selves, our organization, clients, and communities thrive. The Company is an equal opportunity employer and makes all employment decisions on the basis of merit and business needs.