Lead Systems Architect – Engineering Enablement

Lead Systems Architect

Wells Fargo is seeking a Lead Systems Architect within the Engineering Enablement domain. This role is pivotal in shaping the firm-wide strategy for development and testing frameworks. The ideal candidate is a forward-thinking technologist with deep expertise in modern engineering practices and tools, capable of influencing enterprise-wide architecture decisions. Success in this role requires adaptability, strong communication skills, and sound judgment in a dynamic environment.

In this role, you will:

• Lead the implementation of complex projects and initiatives that have companywide scope
• Assist in the creation of architectural artifacts for key technology initiatives
• Participate in the definition of future technology architecture and strategy
• Identify medium to high architectural impact projects
• Conduct complex technology and system assessments for architecture solutions
• Communicate the companywide Architecture strategy and direction to both management and systems related teams
• Make decisions in the development and maintenance of architectures
• Understand compliance and risk management requirements for supported areas
• Ensure applications adhere to established Wells Fargo standards, policies, methodologies and industry best practices
• Collaborate and consult with peers, colleagues and managers to resolve issues and achieve goals

Required Qualifications:

• 5+ years of Architecture experience, or equivalent demonstrated through one or a combination of the following: work experience, training, military experience, education

Desired Qualifications:

• Hands-on experience with development frameworks in Java, .NET, and Python.
• 3+ years of experience architecting solutions in test automation.
• 3+ Experience in automated testing frameworks and tools such as Selenium, Cucumber, JMeter, Karate, Playwright, and Cypress.
• 2+ Experience with containerization and orchestration tools.
• 2+ years of experience with Developer Portals (e.g., Backstage, Cortex, Port).
• 2+ years of experience with public cloud platforms (AWS, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure) or OpenShift Kubernetes.
• Deep understanding of software testing methodologies including Functional, Regression, Performance, API, Batch, Mobile, Chaos, Accessibility, and UI Testing.
• Strong experience designing and building RESTful APIs and microservices.
• Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines, service ownership, and cloud-native development workflows.
• Certifications in AWS, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure, or Red Hat OpenShift.
• Excellent analytical skills with high attention to detail.
• Strong organizational and prioritization abilities.
• Proven leadership in navigating ambiguity and driving change.
• Deep knowledge of architecture best practices and testing lifecycle management.

Job Expectations:

• Serve as the Product Architect for Engineering Enablement, overseeing development frameworks, the Developer Portal, and test automation strategy across various testing types (Unit, Regression, Functional, UI, Mobile, Batch, Performance, Chaos).
• Develop and maintain comprehensive architecture specifications for Quality Engineering and Development Enablement practices. Collaborate with stakeholders and secure approval through the Architecture Review Board (ARB).
• Standardize tooling and evaluate emerging development and testing technologies to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
• Optimize and rationalize the development and testing product portfolio by promoting reusability, eliminating redundancies, and retiring non-strategic tools.
• Advise leadership on platform and application architecture to meet complex business and technical needs.
• Provide strategic direction and subject matter expertise on testing tools and technologies.
• Partner with CIO teams to drive adoption of standard tools and enhance testing maturity across the organization.
• Define architecture standards and patterns to ensure consistency, scalability, and alignment with enterprise goals.
• Collaborate with product and engineering teams to manage the lifecycle and currency of key products.
• Ensure compliance with risk management and regulatory requirements.
• Enforce adherence to Wells Fargo's standards, policies, methodologies, and industry best practices.
• Exceptional verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to influence stakeholders across all organizational levels, including senior leadership.
• Strong negotiation and collaboration skills to build successful relationships.
• Proactive, innovative, and customer-focused mindset.
• Skilled in identifying key issues, engaging stakeholders, designing solutions, and driving resolution.