CTO / Principal Solution Architect | Director

Description

We are looking for an exceptional CTO-level Solution Architect who operates at the intersection of technology strategy, business outcomes, AI Architecture and AI-native engineering. This is a senior, client-facing role for a "caterpillar-shaped" technologist — someone with deep expertise across multiple business domains and technology stacks, spanning Enterprise & Business strategy, Technology Organization & Strategy, Solution Architecture and Implementation. You will be both a strategic advisor to C-level clients and a hands-on technologist willing to roll up your sleeves to prove ideas through POCs. Responsibilities Act as a trusted advisor to client CTOs, CIOs, CDOs and other C-suite stakeholders on technology strategy, target operating models and large-scale digital and AI transformation Own client relationships and shape future opportunities — extend your network deep into ED, MD and C-level decision-makers; sell vision at the highest level and pitch capabilities directly to executives Lead complex consulting engagements of large scale and international scope; oversee multiple client accounts; drive strategy and transformation programs from discovery through roadmap to execution Run executive workshops, technology assessments and architecture reviews; translate complex IT concepts for non-technical executives and guide them through technical intricacies Operate as a fluent AI-native technologist, aligned with EPAM's AI/Run™ Transform strategy — AI-Native Delivery (AI-powered SDLC with agentic workflows), AI-Driven Modernization and Agentic Solutions across the Product Development Lifecycle Define target-state AI reference architectures at enterprise scale; design AI Centers of Excellence, governance bodies and operating models that combine platform, product and federated team patterns Operate fluently in AI-native development environments daily; able to teach delivery teams how to do the same Maintain working fluency with GenAI / LLM stacks, agentic frameworks and AI-native engineering tools (e.g., Cursor and similar) Represent EPAM as a speaker at major external industry conferences and analyst events (Gartner, Forrester, IDC summits, hyperscaler/partner conferences, industry-vertical events) Present at EPAM internal C-level and senior leadership forums Author technology points of view, whitepapers, blueprints and reference architectures published through EPAM's Presales Portal, Technology platform and external channels Personally build AI POCs and proofs of value during pursuits and early-stage engagements — end-to-end, in code, deployed and demonstrable. Not just slideware Produce architectural artifacts: reference architectures, blueprints, target operating models, governance frameworks, transition roadmaps Lead pre-sales response on strategic, complex pursuits; partner with sales, account and consulting leadership on multi-million-dollar opportunities Evolve service offerings, accelerators and reusable IP; contribute to EPAM's offering portfolio Recommend top talent and senior staff for engagements; recruit, upsell and expand within accounts Mentor and coach Senior SAs, Lead Engineers and emerging architects; act as a mentor/coach to others advancing into senior leadership positions Requirements Deep, multi-stage career across software engineering, architecture and technology consulting, with significant time in client-facing senior advisory roles Demonstrable track record of leadership on large, international, transformational engagements end-to-end — from C-level discovery through architecture and delivery Proven success on multi-million-dollar technology programs Existing personal brand and senior network in the technology community "Caterpillar-shaped" expertise: deep in multiple technology stacks AND multiple business domains across enterprise, solution and implementation layers Strong command of cloud (AWS, Azure, GCP), microservices, event-driven architectures, integration and security-by-design AI-native fluency: GenAI / LLMs, RAG, agentic systems, MLOps, AI governance and ethics, AI-augmented SDLC; able to lead an AI POC personally Comfortable with industry-endorsed frameworks (TOGAF, ArchiMate, Zachman, BIAN, etc.) Outstanding executive communication and negotiation skills — proven track record of influence on C-level decisions Thought leadership in industry — recognized speaker and contributor in domain or technology communities Open-minded, curious and intellectually honest — actively seeks dissenting views, comfortable being challenged and changes course on evidence Ability to simplify the complex for non-technical audiences without loss of fidelity level; leads pre-sales response on EPAM's most strategic pursuits Nice to have Prior production experience with operation and construction of AI systems, beyond POCs, is a huge plus

Requirements

• Deep, multi-stage career across software engineering, architecture and technology consulting, with significant time in client-facing senior advisory roles

• Demonstrable track record of leadership on large, international, transformational engagements end-to-end — from C-level discovery through architecture and delivery

• Proven success on multi-million-dollar technology programs

• Existing personal brand and senior network in the technology community

• "Caterpillar-shaped" expertise: deep in multiple technology stacks AND multiple business domains across enterprise, solution and implementation layers

• Strong command of cloud (AWS, Azure, GCP), microservices, event-driven architectures, integration and security-by-design

• AI-native fluency: GenAI / LLMs, RAG, agentic systems, MLOps, AI governance and ethics, AI-augmented SDLC; able to lead an AI POC personally

• Comfortable with industry-endorsed frameworks (TOGAF, ArchiMate, Zachman, BIAN, etc.)

• Outstanding executive communication and negotiation skills — proven track record of influence on C-level decisions

• Thought leadership in industry — recognized speaker and contributor in domain or technology communities

• Open-minded, curious and intellectually honest — actively seeks dissenting views, comfortable being challenged and changes course on evidence

• Ability to simplify the complex for non-technical audiences without loss of fidelity level; leads pre-sales response on EPAM's most strategic pursuits

Responsibilities

• Act as a trusted advisor to client CTOs, CIOs, CDOs and other C-suite stakeholders on technology strategy, target operating models and large-scale digital and AI transformation

• Own client relationships and shape future opportunities — extend your network deep into ED, MD and C-level decision-makers; sell vision at the highest level and pitch capabilities directly to executives

• Lead complex consulting engagements of large scale and international scope; oversee multiple client accounts; drive strategy and transformation programs from discovery through roadmap to execution

• Run executive workshops, technology assessments and architecture reviews; translate complex IT concepts for non-technical executives and guide them through technical intricacies

• Operate as a fluent AI-native technologist, aligned with EPAM's AI/Run™ Transform strategy — AI-Native Delivery (AI-powered SDLC with agentic workflows), AI-Driven Modernization and Agentic Solutions across the Product Development Lifecycle

• Define target-state AI reference architectures at enterprise scale; design AI Centers of Excellence, governance bodies and operating models that combine platform, product and federated team patterns

• Operate fluently in AI-native development environments daily; able to teach delivery teams how to do the same

• Maintain working fluency with GenAI / LLM stacks, agentic frameworks and AI-native engineering tools (e.g., Cursor and similar)

• Represent EPAM as a speaker at major external industry conferences and analyst events (Gartner, Forrester, IDC summits, hyperscaler/partner conferences, industry-vertical events)

• Present at EPAM internal C-level and senior leadership forums

• Author technology points of view, whitepapers, blueprints and reference architectures published through EPAM's Presales Portal, Technology platform and external channels

• Personally build AI POCs and proofs of value during pursuits and early-stage engagements — end-to-end, in code, deployed and demonstrable. Not just slideware

• Produce architectural artifacts: reference architectures, blueprints, target operating models, governance frameworks, transition roadmaps

• Lead pre-sales response on strategic, complex pursuits; partner with sales, account and consulting leadership on multi-million-dollar opportunities

• Evolve service offerings, accelerators and reusable IP; contribute to EPAM's offering portfolio

• Recommend top talent and senior staff for engagements; recruit, upsell and expand within accounts

• Mentor and coach Senior SAs, Lead Engineers and emerging architects; act as a mentor/coach to others advancing into senior leadership positions

Seniority

• Director

Nice to have

• Prior production experience with operation and construction of AI systems, beyond POCs, is a huge plus