Principal Architect – Enterprise Architecture & AI Transformation Advisory

Role: Principal Architect – Enterprise Architecture & AI Transformation Advisory

Location

India (Mumbai / Remote) | Global client-facing role

Role Context

This is not a delivery architect role.

You will build and lead a new advisory practice at the intersection of:

• Enterprise Architecture (EA)
• AI Transformation
• Technology decision intelligence

Your mandate is to create market-facing intellectual property, advise CXOs, and anchor QKS as a credible alternative to firms like Gartner and Forrester in enterprise architecture and AI transformation.

What You Will Own

1. Enterprise Architecture Research & IP Development

Define QKS’s point of view on modern Enterprise Architecture (AI-first, composable, data-centric)

Build:

• EA maturity models (AI readiness, data readiness, platform maturity)
• Enterprise architecture benchmarking frameworks
• Industry-specific reference architectures

Publish:

• Research reports
• Strategic POVs
• Vendor capability assessments

2. AI Transformation Advisory (Revenue Ownership)

Engage with CIOs, CTOs, CISOs on:

• AI-led enterprise transformation
• Architecture modernization
• Platform and data strategy

Lead:

• Architecture assessments
• Transformation blueprints
• Vendor evaluation and selection

Translate research into billable advisory engagements

3. Market Positioning & Thought Leadership

Act as a public-facing authority for QKS in:

• Webinars, panels, executive roundtables
• Analyst and enterprise interactions

Contribute to QKS brand as a decision intelligence platform (SPARK Plus)

4. Cross-Functional Leadership

Work with:

• Research teams (to productize frameworks)
• Sales (to support deal conversion)
• Product (to embed advisory into SPARK Plus)

Mentor analysts and architects

What You Must Bring

Experience

15–20+ years in:

• Enterprise Architecture leadership
• OR Chief Architect / CTO roles
• OR Tier-1 consulting firms such as Accenture, Deloitte, PwC

Experience working with large enterprises (Fortune 1000 / large BFSI preferred)

Core Capabilities

1. Enterprise Architecture Depth

Strong hands-on experience in:

• Data architecture
• Integration architecture
• Cloud-native platforms
• Application modernization

Familiarity with frameworks like TOGAF (practical application, not theoretical)

2. AI Transformation Understanding

Clear understanding of:

• AI/ML lifecycle in enterprises
• Data platforms enabling AI
• Governance, risk, and compliance for AI

Ability to translate AI into architecture decisions

3. Advisory & Structured Thinking

Ability to:

• Build frameworks from first principles
• Create decision models for CXOs
• Simplify complex architecture into actionable insights

4. Content & Thought Leadership

Proven ability to:

• Write high-quality strategic content
• Develop POVs and frameworks
• Speak confidently with senior stakeholders

5. Commercial Acumen

Comfortable in:

• Pre-sales discussions
• CXO advisory conversations

Ability to influence and support high-value deal closures

What Will Differentiate You

• Experience building or leading architecture transformation programs
• Strong personal brand (speaking, writing, industry presence)
• Ability to challenge conventional EA thinking and define AI-first architecture paradigms

Success Metrics (First 12 Months)

• Defined and launched QKS Enterprise Architecture framework/IP
• Delivered paid advisory engagements with CXOs
• Established QKS credibility in EA + AI transformation conversations
• Contributed to revenue through advisory and research pull-through