Principal Enterprise Architect

Job Description

Principal Architect, Enterprise AI

Company: Avalara

Job Level: Principal / I6

Function: Enterprise AI Transformation

Help Shape the Future of Enterprise AI at Avalara

At Avalara, AI isn't just another technology initiative. It's central to how we're transforming the way we operate, innovate, and deliver value to our customers.

We're looking for an exceptional Principal Architect, Enterprise AI who is deeply passionate about artificial intelligence, relentlessly curious about emerging technologies, and excited to turn AI innovation into real, measurable business transformation.

This is an opportunity to help define how an established global technology company adopts, architects, governs, and scales AI across the enterprise.

We're not looking for someone who simply understands AI at a conceptual level. We want someone who lives and breathes AI — someone who is constantly experimenting with new models, building with emerging tools, challenging conventional approaches, and identifying opportunities to fundamentally reimagine how businesses operate.

You'll bring the architectural depth of a seasoned enterprise technologist, the hands-on curiosity of an AI builder, and the strategic mindset of a transformation leader.

What You'll Do

Lead Enterprise-Wide AI Transformation

• Help shape Avalara's enterprise AI architecture strategy and accelerate AI adoption across business functions, technology platforms, and operational workflows.
• Identify opportunities to transform existing business processes through generative AI, agentic AI, intelligent automation, and emerging AI capabilities.
• Translate ambitious AI transformation opportunities into scalable architectures, actionable roadmaps, and measurable business outcomes.
• Partner with engineering, business, data, security, and technology leaders to drive AI-first thinking across the organization.
• Influence senior stakeholders and executive leadership on AI architecture decisions, technology investments, and transformation priorities.

Be at the Forefront of AI Innovation

• Stay exceptionally current with the evolving AI ecosystem, including OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Microsoft, AWS, and emerging AI platforms.
• Personally explore, test, and evaluate new LLMs, AI agents, orchestration frameworks, copilots, and AI development tools.
• Bring a strong point of view on what emerging AI technologies can realistically deliver in