Principal Architect - Enterprise AI

What You'll Do

Role Summary

As a Principal Architect, Enterprise AI, you will shape how Avalara adopts AI across the enterprise. You will turn new AI capabilities and validated pilots into scalable architecture standards, reusable patterns, decision frameworks, and governance guardrails.

This is a senior individual contributor role reporting to the VP of Enterprise AI Transformation. While you will influence teams across the organization, you will not have direct people management responsibilities.

You will combine strategic enterprise architecture with hands-on AI exploration. You will stay current with advances in AI, personally test new models, agent frameworks, copilots, and tools, and translate their potential into practical architectural guidance. You will help shorten the path from discovering a new AI capability to using it productively, responsibly, and safely at scale.

You will have a full time remote opportunity with Avalara based in the United States of America.

What Your Responsibilities Will Be

Responsibilities

• Define and maintain enterprise architecture standards, reference patterns, and governance guardrails for AI-enabled solutions moving from pilot to production.
• Establish decision models for build, buy, or integrate choices; model and vendor selection; data access; security; and responsible AI adoption.
• Design scalable architecture patterns for AI-enabled workflows and agentic processes across data, APIs, identity, security, and cloud platforms.
• Test new AI models, LLMs, agent frameworks, and tools to inform enterprise adoption.
• Design proof-of-concepts, define success criteria, and guide solutions from pilot to production.
• Lead architecture reviews and communicate trade-offs, risks, and growth to partners.
• Partner with teams to translate needs into governed, implementation-ready solutions.
• Ensure teams through demos, workshops, and reusable templates to support safe AI adoption.

What You’ll Need To Be Successful

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent practical experience.
• 10+ years of experience in enterprise, solution, or platform architecture, including architecture standards, reference patterns, and governance frameworks.
• Platform architecture experience across integrations, data, cloud infrastructure, APIs, identity, and security.
• Hands-on experience building and prototyping with modern AI/LLM tools, APIs, and agent frameworks.
• Experience with enterprise architecture frameworks such as TOGAF or equivalent.
• Experience with AWS, Azure, or GCP and associated AI/ML services.
• Experience guiding teams and executive decision-making.
• Experience with AI enablement programs, workshops, or communities of practice.
• Experience architecting automation, integration, or orchestration platforms such as n8n, Boomi, MuleSoft, or Workato.
• Public writing, speaking, or open-source contributions related to applied AI.

Pay Range Details

We provide the base pay range(s) below in compliance with state specific laws. Pay ranges may be different in other locations.

Colorado $153,300-$203,100 (annually)

Washington $153,300-$279,600 (annually)

California $153,300-$306,300 (annually)

NYC $185,500-$306,300 (annually)

The pay range above is the general base pay range for you in the state listed. We base your actual salary/wage on multiple factors, such as geographic location, candidate experience and qualifications, and market and business considerations. This role is eligible for an annual bonus based on personal and company performance, depending on the terms of the applicable plan and your role.

Avalara is an AI-first Company

AI is embedded in our workflows, decision-making, and products.  Success here requires embracing AI as an essential capability.

• You’ll bring experience using AI and AI-related technologies, ready to thrive here.

• You’ll apply AI every day to business challenges - improving efficiency, contributing solutions, and driving results for your team, our company, and our customers.

• You’ll grow with AI by staying curious about new trends and best practices, and by sharing what you learn so others can benefit too.

How We’ll Take Care Of You

Total Rewards 

In addition to a great compensation package, paid time off, and paid parental leave, many Avalara employees are eligible for bonuses. 

Health & Wellness 
Benefits vary by location but generally include private medical, life, and disability insurance. 

Inclusive culture and diversity 
Avalara strongly supports diversity, equity, and inclusion, and is committed to integrating them into our business practices and our organizational culture. We also have a total of 8 employee-run resource groups, each with senior leadership and exec sponsorship. 

What You Need To Know About Avalara

We’re defining the relationship between tax and tech.

We’ve already built an industry-leading cloud compliance platform, processing over 54 billion customer API calls and over 6.6 million tax returns a year. Our growth is real - we're a billion dollar business - and we’re not slowing down until we’ve achieved our mission - to be part of every transaction in the world.

We’re bright, innovative, and disruptive, like the orange we love to wear. It captures our quirky spirit and optimistic mindset. It shows off the culture we’ve designed, that empowers our people to win. We’ve been different from day one. Join us, and your career will be too.

We’re An Equal Opportunity Employer

Supporting diversity and inclusion is a cornerstone of our company — we don’t want people to fit into our culture, but to enrich it. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, age, gender, national orientation, disability, sexual orientation, US Veteran status, or any other factor protected by law. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know.