Lead Architect: AI & Data
Location: Worldwide
Introduction to TM Forum
TM Forum is a global alliance of telco and tech companies, leading the industry in defining the building blocks for new operating models, impactful partnerships, and advanced software platforms. TM Forum helps its members unlock data value, creating numerous opportunities across the communications ecosystem. At DTW – Ignite, Accelerate, and Collaboration events, TM Forum provides a platform for industry change-makers to share ground-breaking innovation, market developments, product launches, and business transformation journeys. We proudly count the world’s top 10 CSPs and all key hyperscalers as our active, strategic members. With over 800 members, we are on a mission to reinvent the telco industry as a vibrant part of the digital landscape and a driving force in shaping its future. To find out more, visit: tmforum.org.
Role Overview
As a Lead Architect for TM Forum, you will be a senior technical leader responsible for driving the architectural vision, evolution, and alignment of the Open Digital Architecture (ODA) with industry needs. You will work at the intersection of technical innovation, industry collaboration, and practical implementation, ensuring that ODA continues to serve as a foundation for digital transformation across global service providers.
Your focus will either be on one of the three missions: AI & Data, Composable IT & Ecosystems, or Autonomous Networks, or one of the five areas of ODA: Governance, Business, Information Systems, Implementation, or Deployment & Runtime
Key Responsibilities
Lead the Strategic Development and Evolution of ODA
Define, evolve, and communicate the overarching strategy for the Open Digital Architecture (ODA), ensuring it remains relevant and forward-looking. Establish and continuously refine architectural principles, reference models, and technical frameworks. Ensure these artifacts are practical, consistent, and actionable for adoption by a global community of telecom and technology stakeholders. Lead the Architecture governance for ODA across Collaboration, Innovation and Catalyst projects
Facilitate Member Collaboration and Co-Creation
Actively engage with TM Forum members—including Communications Service Providers (CSPs), technology vendors, hyperscalers, and system integrators—to co-create, review, and validate architecture artifacts. Support working groups, provide leadership in collaborative sessions, and ensure outputs reflect real-world needs and deliver tangible value to members. Support Engagement management attracts, grows and retains members.
Ensure Alignment with Industry Standards and Ecosystems
Monitor, assess, and guide the alignment of ODA with other key industry frameworks and standards such as Mplify Alliance (formally MEF: Metro Ethernet Forum), 3GPP (mobile telecom standards), ETSI (European standards), and cloud-native ecosystems (e.g., CNCF). Proactively identify areas of synergy and differentiation to ensure ODA complements and enhances the broader technology landscape.
Provide Architecture Governance and Expert Guidance
Serve as a key contributor to architecture review processes, validating member implementations against TM Forum principles and standards. Offer deep subject matter expertise to guide members in adopting best practices, ensuring technical conformance, scalability, and alignment with strategic goals.
Champion Thought Leadership and Industry Advocacy
Represent TM Forum in global industry forums, conferences, webinars, and publications. Articulate the technical depth, strategic importance, and business value of ODA to a range of audiences—from engineers to C-level stakeholders—positioning the Forum as a leader in digital transformation for telecoms and beyond.
Collaborate Across Architectural Leadership
Work closely with other lead architects, domain experts, and strategic stakeholders to ensure alignment between ODA and TM Forum’s broader mission goals. Foster a shared vision, drive consistency across initiatives, and contribute to an integrated and impactful member experience.
Act as Asset Owner for ODA Artifacts
Serve as an Asset Owners for relevant components of ODA. Collaborate with the TM Forum product team and member contributors to define priorities, maintain roadmaps, ensure quality, and drive adoption of architectural assets. Promote best practices and act as the voice of the user in steering the evolution of these products.
Key Skills & Experience
Experience: 10+ years in enterprise or solution architecture roles, preferably in telecoms, digital services, or cloud-native software environments
Knowledge of ODA or TM Forum Standards: Deep understanding of ODA principles, TM Forum Open APIs, and component models is highly desirable
Technical Expertise: Proven experience driving transformation ywith cloud-native architectures (e.g., Kubernetes, microservices), integration patterns, and API design (RESTful APIs, GraphQL)
Stakeholder Management: Ability to lead cross-functional teams and engage with stakeholders at all levels—from CTOs to solution developers.
Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to simplify complex technical concepts for diverse audiences
Diversity & Inclusion at TM Forum
At TM Forum, we’re building a workplace where everyone can belong, feel respected, supported and able to do their best work. We welcome talent from all walks of life to join our global community, which is made stronger by the different perspectives, backgrounds and experiences each person brings. We hire based on skills, potential and values, never on assumptions about who someone is or where they come from. We actively work to ensure our recruitment and people practices are fair, inclusive and free from bias.
Skills Required
- 10+ years of experience in enterprise or solution architecture roles
- Experience in telecom, digital services, or cloud-native software environments
- Deep understanding of Open Digital Architecture principles, TM Forum Open APIs, and component models
- Proven experience with cloud-native architectures, including Kubernetes and microservices
- Experience with integration patterns and API design, including RESTful APIs and GraphQL
- Ability to lead cross-functional teams and engage stakeholders from CTOs to solution developers
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to simplify complex technical concepts for diverse audiences
What We Do
TM Forum is a global, nonprofit alliance representing more than 800 organizations across the connectivity ecosystem, including communication service providers, hyperscalers, network equipment providers, vendors, consultancies, and system integrators. It provides a collaborative environment for members worldwide to innovate, develop practical guidance, and deliver lasting change, renewed value, and a more sustainable future for telecommunications and related connectivity industries.
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