Baker McKenzie

The Senior Enterprise Applications Architect will design, oversee, and evolve the Firm's global application landscape. The role-holder will ensure that all applications, whether custom-developed or commercial off-the-shelf (COTS), are robust, scalable, secure, performant, and seamlessly integrated to support the Firm's strategic imperatives, particularly delivering excellence in complex, cross-border, high-value work and amplify data. 

The individual will provide technical and thought leadership to development teams within the Technology Enablement group and guide the selection and integration of third-party solutions.

Main responsibilities: 

• Define and maintain the Firm's global application strategy and roadmap, ensuring alignment with business capabilities and enterprise architecture principles
• Lead and supervise the architectural design of complex application solutions, including custom development projects, proof of concepts, and integration patterns for COTS products and innovation initiatives; ensure adherence to enterprise architectural standards, best practices, and security policies
• Evaluate, recommend, and select appropriate application technologies, frameworks, and platforms, such as cloud-native services, microservices, and Application Programming Interface (APIs) that meet performance, scalability, and security requirements
• Establish and provide architecture guidance for robust and scalable integration solutions between diverse applications and systems across the global enterprise, enabling seamless data flow and process automation
• Provide technical leadership, guidance, and mentorship to development teams within Custom Development (System Engineering), Data Operations, Innovation, and Integration teams, fostering a culture of high-quality code, innovation, and continuous improvement
• Ensure application architectures and designs are optimized for performance, scalability, and reliability in a global, 24/7 operational environment
• Ensure security best practices are embedded into all phases of the application development lifecycle, working closely with cybersecurity teams
• Collaborate with vendors for COTS solutions, ensuring their products integrate effectively into Baker McKenzie's architectural landscape
• Collaborate with the Innovation Group to evaluate and prototype new application technologies and patterns that could provide a competitive advantage or enhance legal service delivery

Skills and experience: 

• A bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field; a master's degree is preferred
• Extensive experience in software development and application architecture, with strong experience in a senior architect role within a large, complex enterprise
• Extensive experience with modern application architecture (e.g., microservices, event-driven, serverless) and cloud platforms (Azure, AWS, GCP)
• The Open Group Architecture Framework (TOGAF) Certification
• Proficient in multiple programming languages (e.g., C#, Java, Python, JavaScript) and associated frameworks
• Strong understanding of API design, integration patterns, and data exchange formats (REST, SOAP, JSON, XML)
• Understanding of architectural frameworks and languages, such as TOGAF, SparX, and ArchiMate
• Experience in DevOps practices, Continuous Integration (CI)/ Continuous Delivery (CD) pipelines, and automated testing
• Experience in the legal or professional services industry is highly desirable
• Experience working in a global organization with diverse, distributed teams
• Deep technical expertise in software design, development, and integration
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, able to think strategically about application ecosystems
• Excellent communication skills, able to articulate complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences
• Leadership and mentoring abilities, fostering a collaborative and high-performing team environment
• Negotiation, mediation, and diplomatic skills in dealing with complex, multi-dimensional stakeholder groups
• Able to balance technical excellence with business pragmatism
• Proactive in identifying and addressing technical debt and architectural risks

Reports to: Head of Enterprise Architecture, Technology Enablement

Travel requirements: Some travel may be required

Position type: Specialist

Development framework: Senior Manager

At Baker McKenzie we are different in the way we think, work and behave. With our team of 13,000 people, including over 6,500 locally admitted lawyers, in over 70 offices worldwide, we have a passionately collaborative community of 60 nationalities and are committed to world-class career development to everyone in every job at every level. Baker McKenzie can offer you both the uncompromising commitment to excellence expected of a top firm paired with a passionately global and genuinely collaborative working environment.

Baker McKenzie is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to promoting diversity and inclusion for all. Our unique international culture is reflected in the drawing together of a worldwide family of individuals from diverse cultures and backgrounds in all of our offices. We encourage the best people - regardless of race, religion or belief if any, gender, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation or age - to fulfill their professional aspirations with us. We are committed to ensuring an inclusive and accessible experience for all candidates.