Sr. SaaS Solutions Architect

ABOUT THE ROLE 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. Impact: Your decisions will shape our technology stack, influence $X M+ in annual technology spend, and directly impact our ability to scale and compete. Key Responsibilities Strategic Assessment (40%) Build vs Buy Evaluation                                                        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                                                                                                                   TECHNOLOGY STRATEGY   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        Hands-On Development (40%)                                                     Building Custom Solutions                                                      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     Technical Leadership                                                           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                  Vendor Management & Integration (20%)                                          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                                                                  Required Qualifications                                                                                                 Software Development                                                           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)                    SaaS & Integration                                                             Extensive experience integrating with enterprise SaaS platforms (Salesforce,Workday, ServiceNow, etc.)                                                    Hands-on with authentication protocols: OAuth 2.0, SAML, OIDC                Experience with iPaaS platforms: Zapier, Workato, MuleSoft, or similar       Understanding of multi-tenancy, data isolation, and SaaS architecture patterns                                                                       Familiarity with API gateways, rate limiting, and webhook architectures       Infrastructure & DevOps                                                        Experience with containerization (Docker) and orchestration (Kubernetes)     Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, CloudFormation, or Pulumi)                CI/CD pipelines and automated testing                                        Observability tools (DataDog, New Relic, Grafana, or similar)                 Data & Security                                                                Database design (SQL and NoSQL)                                              Data modeling and ETL/ELT patterns                                           Security best practices: encryption, key management, secrets handling        Understanding of compliance frameworks (SOC 2, GDPR, HIPAA)                  Strategic & Business Skills                                                                                                                            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        Leadership & Collaboration                                                     Ability to influence without authority across engineering and business teams Experience mentoring and g