Chief Enterprise Architect - Smart campus

Chief Enterprise Architect DXC Technology | United Arab Emirates | On-site About the Role DXC Technology is seeking a Chief Enterprise Architect to lead the end-to-end enterprise architecture for a major greenfield enterprise transformation programme. Operating at Senior Manager level, you will chair the programme Design Authority and own the target architecture, principles, standards and roadmap across enterprise applications, data, integration, cloud, infrastructure, network, cybersecurity and smart campus technologies. You will lead a multidisciplinary architecture team, resolve cross-domain design decisions and act as a trusted technical advisor to client executives. The role combines enterprise architectural leadership with hands-on oversight of solution design, delivery assurance, vendor alignment and technical risk. Key Responsibilities Enterprise Architecture & Strategy • Own the target enterprise architecture and transformation roadmap, aligning technology decisions with organisational objectives, customer requirements and programme outcomes. • Define architectural principles, standards, reference patterns and solution blueprints across all technology domains. • Direct end-to-end solution design across smart campus, applications, integration, data, cloud, on-premises infrastructure, network and security. • Lead platform selection and build-versus-buy decisions, assessing business value, interoperability, scalability, cost and long-term maintainability. • Ensure architectural coherence across multiple workstreams and delivery partners. Design Authority & Governance • Chair the Design Authority and Architecture Review Board, providing authoritative direction and resolving cross-domain design decisions. • Establish architecture review processes, approval criteria and controls for managing deviations from agreed standards. • Own the governance of architecture deliverables, including solution blueprints, interface specifications and architecture decision records. • Guide architects and business stakeholders in capturing, validating and governing requirements. • Own programme-level architecture risks, technical issues and design dependencies, ensuring timely resolution and escalation. Enterprise Applications, Data & Integration • Oversee architecture across ERP, enterprise content management, CRM, IT service management and custom applications. • Define cross-domain integration principles and ensure consistent interfaces, data flows and interoperability. • Ensure application, data and integration designs support business processes and the wider target architecture. • Provide architectural oversight for higher education environments, including the alignment of academic, administrative and campus services. Smart Campus, Infrastructure & Security • Lead architectural integration across smart campus, building management systems and IoT solutions. • Govern cloud and on-premises hosting architecture, including compute, storage, networking and cybersecurity. • Embed security and data protection into architecture decisions throughout the programme. • Assure non-functional requirements covering availability, performance, capacity, resilience, recoverability and maintainability. • Validate hardware sizing and capacity assumptions against application workloads, concurrent users, growth forecasts and service requirements. Architecture Team & Delivery Leadership • Lead and mentor architects across applications, data, integration, infrastructure, network, security and smart campus workstreams. • Establish the architecture delivery cadence, priorities and milestones to meet programme timelines. • Review designs and provide implementation direction to engineering teams and delivery partners. • Work within agile, waterfall and hybrid delivery models while maintaining consistent architectural governance. • Develop architecture capability through coaching, knowledge sharing and reusable standards. Executive Engagement & Commercial Advisory • Act as the principal technical advisor to client executives, programme leadership and DXC account stakeholders. • Communicate complex architectural decisions, risks and trade-offs clearly to technical and non-technical audiences. • Manage vendor relationships and assess proposed solutions for architectural fit and delivery feasibility. • Support bids, estimates, proposals and statements of work through value-based solution design. • Evaluate total cost of ownership and the commercial implications of technology decisions. Required Qualifications & Experience • Bachelor’s degree in computer science, information technology, engineering or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience. • Typically 15+ years of experience in enterprise and solution architecture, including substantial Chief Architect, Enterprise Architect or Design Authority leadership. • Proven ownership of end-to-end architecture for large, complex enterprise transformation programmes. • Demonstrated experience designing greenfield enterprise application and infrastructure environments. • Strong cross-domain expertise spanning applications, data, integration, cloud, infrastructure, network and cybersecurity. • Demonstrated experience with smart campus or smart city solutions, building management systems and IoT. • Experience governing enterprise platforms such as ERP, ECM, CRM, ITSM and custom applications. • Strong understanding of on-premises infrastructure, hosting, network architecture and security solutions. • Experience validating solution sizing, capacity planning and non-functional requirements. • Practical knowledge of enterprise architecture frameworks, including TOGAF and Zachman, and agile and waterfall delivery approaches. • Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary architects, manage vendors and influence C-level stakeholders. • Experience supporting platform selection, technical proposals, statements of work and total cost of ownership assessments. Preferred Qualifications & Experience • Experience in higher education or complex institutional campus environments. • Master’s degree in a relevant discipline. • TOGAF certification or an equivalent enterprise architecture qualification. • Relevant cloud architecture or cybersecurity architecture certifications. • Experience operating within a multi-vendor or multi-supplier integration environment. What We Are Looking For An established architecture leader who combines strategic vision with sound technical judgement and delivery accountability. You should be confident making complex cross-domain decisions, building alignment among senior stakeholders and translating business priorities into secure, resilient and implementable enterprise designs. You will bring strong executive communication, structured problem-solving and the ability to develop an architecture team while maintaining clear ownership of programme-wide technical outcomes.