Sr. SaaS Solutions Architect

We're looking for a hands-on technical leader who can strategically evaluate, architect, and build SaaS solutions. You'll be the critical decision-maker between building custom capabilities and integrating third-party platforms, while having the technical depth to implement either path. This role combines strategic thinking, vendor evaluation, hands-on development, and technical leadership.

Your decisions will shape our technology stack, influence $X M+ in annual technology spend, and directly impact our ability to scale and compete.

• Lead technical evaluation of SaaS vendors against business requirements
• Conduct proof-of-concept implementations with vendor platforms
• Assess vendor architecture, security posture, API capabilities, and scalability
• Build detailed TCO models comparing build vs buy scenarios
• Present recommendations to engineering and business leadership with clear trade-off analysis
• Define evaluation frameworks and decision criteria for SaaS adoption
• Maintain architecture principles and standards for third-party integrations
• Monitor emerging SaaS trends and identify optimization opportunities
• Evaluate vendor lock-in risks and plan mitigation strategies
• Conduct quarterly reviews of existing SaaS portfolio for optimization
• Design and implement SaaS features when build decisions are made
• Develop integrations between internal systems and third-party platforms
• Build abstractions and middleware to prevent vendor lock-in
• Create internal tools and automation for SaaS management
• Implement authentication, authorization, and data synchronization layers
• Write production-quality code across the stack
• Lead architecture reviews and design discussions
• Mentor engineers on integration patterns and best practices
• Establish coding standards for SaaS integrations
• Drive technical excellence through code reviews and pairing
• Serve as primary technical contact with SaaS vendors
• Negotiate technical requirements and SLAs with vendors
• Review and approve vendor security and compliance documentation
• Lead vendor technical escalations and incident response
• Build relationships with vendor engineering teams for partnership opportunities

• 8+ years of hands-on software engineering experience
• Expert-level proficiency in at least one language:
  Python, Go, Java, or Node.js
• Strong full-stack capabilities (both backend and frontend)
• Production experience with cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, or Azure)
• Deep understanding of API design (REST, GraphQL, webhooks)
• Extensive experience integrating with enterprise SaaS platforms (Salesforce,Workday, Service Now, etc.)
• Hands-on with authentication protocols: OAuth 2.0, SAML, OIDC
• Experience with iPaaS platforms:
  Zapier, Workato, Mule Soft, or similar
• Understanding of multi-tenancy, data isolation, and SaaS architecture patterns
• Familiarity with API gateways, rate limiting, and webhook architectures
• Experience with containerization (Docker) and orchestration (Kubernetes)
• Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, Cloud Formation, or Pulumi)
• CI/CD pipelines and automated testing
• Observability tools (Data Dog, New Relic, Grafana, or similar)
• Database design (SQL and No
  
  SQL)
• Data modeling and ETL/ELT patterns
• Security best practices: encryption, key management, secrets handling
• Understanding of compliance frameworks (SOC 2, GDPR, HIPAA)
• Proven track record of making successful build vs buy decisions
• Experience conducting vendor evaluations and technical due diligence
• Ability to build financial models (TCO, ROI analysis)
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for executive audiences
• Experience translating business requirements into technical solutions
• Ability to influence without authority across engineering and business teams
• Experience mentoring and growing…