Sr Director, Solutions Architecture

Company Description
McDonald's is proud to be one of the most recognized brands in the world, with restaurants in over 100 countries that serve 70 million customers daily. As the global leader in the food service industry, our legacy of innovation and hard work continues to drive us.
From drive thru updates to delivery to mobile order and pay, we are innovating quickly and growing. Joining McDonald's means thinking big and preparing for a career that can have influence around the world.
Department Overview
The McDonald's Global Architecture team is responsible for the architecture, design, integration, and management strategy of McDonald's digital and restaurant landscape. Currently seeking an experienced Senior Director of Solution Architecture to lead a high-impact team of solution architects and drive strategic technology transformation across the organization. This role is pivotal in guiding architectural governance, and partnering with executive stakeholders to deliver scalable, forward-looking solutions that support global business priorities.
The Senior Director builds strong relationships with business and IT stakeholders, communicates the value of solution architecture, ensures satisfaction with architectural services and performance, and shapes the delivery of high-impact technology solutions across the organization.
Responsibilities

• Build, lead, and mentor a team of Principal and Solution Architects, fostering a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing culture.
• Provide strategic guidance on architecture and technology direction, ensuring alignment with enterprise goals and digital transformation priorities.
• Engage directly with executive stakeholders to advise on technology investments, solution design, and implementation strategies.
• Develop and maintain architectural roadmaps that support the integration of brick-and-mortar operations with digital platforms, including mobile, e-commerce, and POS systems.
• Establish and evolve architecture governance processes, ensuring all solution designs meet McDonald's standards and drive business value.
• Stay current with emerging technologies, including cloud computing (GCP), GenAI, and mobile platforms, and assess their applicability to McDonald's tech strategy.
• Collaborate with external vendors and partners to evaluate, select, and implement technology solutions that align with enterprise architecture.
• Support strategic planning and prioritization of technology initiatives across the organization, including goal-setting within the architecture team.
• Foster strong partnerships with engineering teams, ensuring solution architects are effectively engaged in delivery and execution.
• Promote thought leadership across architecture and engineering communities, driving innovation and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership experience, including managing and developing high-performing architecture teams
• 15+ years' experience in designing, implementing and/or consulting of distributed systems and enterprise-scale solutions
• Strong communication skills, with experience engaging VP+ stakeholders.
• Deep understanding of cloud computing (GCP preferred), mobile apps, and modern architecture patterns.
• Technology & Architecture: Deep knowledge of IT principles, cloud services (SaaS, PaaS, IaaS), APIs, microservices, and AI (including generative AI).
• Proven success in delivering solutions with third-party vendors and offshore teams.
• Experience in fast-paced environments with shifting priorities and high-impact initiatives.
• Bachelor's or master's degree in computer science, Information Technology, or a related field.

Compensation
Bonus Eligible: Yes
Long - Term Incentive: Yes
Benefits Eligible: Yes
Salary Range
The expected salary range for this role is $193,610-$251,690 per year
The above represents the expected salary range for this job requisition. Ultimately, in determining your pay, we may also consider your experience, and other job-related factors.
Additional information
At McDonalds we are People from all Walks of Life...
People are at the heart of everything we do, and they make the McDonalds experience. We embrace diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture that means people can be their best authentic self in our restaurants and offices, which helps us to better serve our customers. We have a strong heritage of diversity and representation within our communities, which we are proud of. The diversity of our people, customers, Franchisees, and suppliers gives us strength.
We do not tolerate inequality, injustice, or discrimination of any kind. These are hugely important issues and a brand with our reach and relevance means we have a very meaningful role to play.
We also recognise our responsibility as a large employer to continue being active in our communities, helping to develop skills and drive aspirations that will help people to be more aware of the world of work and more successful within it, whether with McDonalds or elsewhere.