Architect jobs in Houston, TX

SAP Domain Enterprise Architect 6+ Month Ongoing Contract Houston, TX (onsite 3x per week) The SAP Enterprise Domain Architect is a critical role responsible for defining and driving the enterprise-wide architecture vision, strategy, and framework, with a strong emphasis on SAP expertise, including its configuration, data model, and integrations, to support business objectives. This role extends to serving as an Enterprise Architect for Corporateand IT applications (IT4IT), overseeing applications and domain roadmaps to ensure alignment with business goals. The architect collaborates with business stakeholders, IT teams, and solution architects to create a cohesive architecture that spans applications, data, and infrastructure, leveraging SAP as a core platform. The role defines governance standards, integration patterns, and reusable components to enable scalable, secure, and efficient solutions across the enterprise. This position anticipates industry trends, evaluates emerging technologies, and provides thought leadership to optimize the technology ecosystem. The SAP Enterprise Domain Architect guides domain, platform, and solution architects by establishing standards, fostering reusability, and ensuring consistency in design and delivery. They lead proof-of-concept initiatives to assess innovative technologies, communicating findings to shape the enterprise roadmap. Success requires strategic vision, exceptional communication, and the ability to balance technical expertise with business acumen, ensuring architecture decisions drive measurable business value. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS Define and maintain the enterprise architecture strategy, with a focus on SAP configuration, data model, and integrations, to support business objectives. Oversee enterprise application and domain roadmaps for corporate and IT4IT systems, ensuring seamless integration with SAP and alignment with strategic goals. Collaborate with business stakeholders and IT teams to identify requirements, translating business needs into technical solutions that leverage SAP and other platforms. Develop and maintain high-level reference models, including SAP-specific data models, application architecture, and infrastructure strategies, to ensure consistency and scalability. Establish and enforce governance processes for applications, data, and integrations, with expertise in SAP's governance capabilities and IT4IT frameworks. Lead architectural reviews to ensure adherence to enterprise standards, best practices, and policies, particularly for SAP integrations and IT4IT applications. Optimize the technology landscape by reducing redundancies, enhancing SAP integrations, and improving application and data accessibility. Facilitate the reuse of SAP components, integration patterns, and application assets to accelerate development and improve efficiency. Assess emerging technologies (e.g., SAP BTP, cloud-native platforms, AI-driven solutions, IT4IT tools) and lead proof-of-concept initiatives to evaluate their impact on the enterprise roadmap. Maintain and manage enterprise architecture tools and repositories (e.g., SAP PowerDesigner, LeanIX, iServer) to support governance and portfolio management. Serve as a bridge between domain, platform, and solution architects, ensuring alignment with the enterprise architecture strategy. Drive the Architecture Community of Practice to promote thought leadership, share industry trends, and foster collaboration across teams. Consult on the use of SAP standards, IT4IT frameworks, and emerging technologies, ensuring compliance with enterprise policies. Develop and document architecture standards and guidelines, including SAP-specific and IT4IT best practices, for reference in solution design. Communicate strategic themes and business drivers to technical and non-technical stakeholders, ensuring clarity and alignment. Manage the application portfolio, identifying needs for SAP upgrades, IT4IT application enhancements, training, or new technology implementations. Provide expert guidance in forums such as Technology Innovation Reviews, Architectural Review Boards, and Engineering Reviews to enforce enterprise standards. Influence common modeling, design, and coding practices to ensure consistency and quality across technology implementations. Identify areas for improvement in the current architecture, such as redundancies, and develop plans to incorporate enhancements into the roadmap. EDUCATION DESCRIPTION Requires a bachelor's degree in Information Systems, Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field from an accredited college or university. A master's degree is preferred. EXPERIENCE Minimum of 12 years of experience in IT, with at least 7 years in an enterprise architecture role, including 5+ years of hands-on experience with SAP configuration, data modeling, and integrations. Extensive expertise in SAP's architecture, including SAP ECC, S/4HANA, SAP BTP, and integration tools (e.g., SAP PI/PO, CPI), with a deep understanding of SAP's data model and business processes. Proven ability to architect and manage enterprise roadmaps for corporate and IT4IT applications, ensuring alignment with business objectives. Expertise in enterprise architecture best practices, governance, and integration standards, with specific experience in SAP environments. Proven ability to collaborate across functions (e.g., business units, application teams, data, security, infrastructure) to deliver integrated solutions. Experience with enterprise architecture tools (e.g., SAP PowerDesigner, LeanIX, iServer) and data management tools (e.g., Collibra, Informatica). Strong knowledge of cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) and their integration with SAP and IT4IT systems. Familiarity with governance frameworks and compliance requirements (e.g., GDPR, CCPA, or utility-specific regulations) in SAP contexts. Certified in TOGAF standards with hands-on experience; SAP certifications (e.g., SAP Certified Technology Associate) or IT4IT certifications are highly desirable. Strong analytical skills with the ability to resolve complex architecture challenges and drive strategic decisions. Exceptional communication skills to articulate complex technical concepts to diverse stakeholders. Experience in the electric and gas utility sector or other regulated industries is a strong advantage. PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS Able to communicate effectively through written and verbal channels, in person or via technical equipment such as telephone or video conferencing. Able to demonstrate manual dexterity to operate a personal computer and common office equipment. WORKING CONDITIONS Able to work regular hours with occasional or mandatory overtime; may be required to work rotating shifts. Able to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment. CORE COMPETENCIES SAP Architecture SAP Configuration and Integration Enterprise Architecture IT4IT Application Architecture Data Modeling Architecture Governance Enterprise Architecture Tools Cloud Platforms Artificial Intelligence/Solution Innovation TOGAF Certification Functional Business Process Analysis Governance Innovation Cross-Functional Collaboration Roadmap Development Agile Methodology Architectural Review Board (ARB) Management Decision Making Thought Leadership Strategic Vision DESIRED BUT NOT MANDATORY SAP certifications (e.g., SAP Certified Technology Associate, SAP S/4HANA). Experience with real-time data processing or AI/ML architectures in SAP environments. Knowledge of advanced analytics platforms and their integration with SAP and IT4IT systems.