Enterprise Architecture Consultant - Sacramento, CA - Hybrid

Role: Enterprise Architecture Consultant Location: Sacramento, CA Hybrid (3 days; every 3rd week) Duration: 6 Months + extensions
Overview: We are seeking an experienced Enterprise Architecture Consultant to lead tactical architecture execution while designing and establishing a centralized EA Office within a unified Strategy & Governance function. This role will work closely with PMO and Business Relationship Management (BRM) teams to align technology initiatives with organizational strategy, enable shared services, and drive automation and AI-enabled transformation. The consultant will balance hands-on architecture delivery with building governance structures, operating models, and enterprise standards to ensure sustainable, scalable, and compliant technology adoption.
Key Responsibilities: Tactical Enterprise Architecture (Approx. 50%)

• Develop solution intents, Architecture Decision Records (ADRs), and reference architectures aligned with enterprise standards.
• Define and enforce standards across cloud, data, integration, security, and AI/ML domains.
• Lead or coordinate Architecture Review Board (ARB) activities, managing exceptions and technical debt.
• Maintain capability maps, technology roadmaps, and alignment with business and PMO portfolios.
• Embed security, privacy, and regulatory compliance into architecture design.
• Conduct vendor and tool evaluations to ensure interoperability and cost-effectiveness.
• Oversee CMDB optimization, change reviews, and technology lifecycle governance.
• Align IT solutions to organizational strategy through stakeholder engagement.

B. EA Office Design, Stand-Up & Integration (Approx. 50%)

• Define EA operating model, RACI structure, service catalog, and engagement processes with PMO/BRM.
• Establish demand-to-delivery lifecycle (intake review delivery checkpoints benefits tracking).
• Define EA organizational structure including domain architects, analysts, and shared services integration.
• Implement EA tooling, dashboards, and workflow automation capabilities.
• Develop compliance and performance dashboards to track architecture adoption.
• Lead change management, onboarding, and enterprise adoption of EA practices.

Shared Services & Automation Enablement

• Standardize intake and triage workflows across portfolios.
• Establish AI/data governance guardrails and model governance frameworks.
• Enable financial analytics and traceability from portfolio investments to outcomes.
• Automate PMO workflows (stage gates, reporting, and operational dashboards).
• Integrate architecture, portfolio, and financial data into unified decision-making views.

Expected Deliverables:

• EA Charter, Operating Model, Governance Framework, and ARB structure.
• Capability maps, enterprise standards, and technology roadmaps.
• Automated intake workflows, dashboards, and architecture repositories.
• AI governance frameworks, reusable data/ML pipelines, and migration playbooks.
• Financial analytics dashboards linking investment to business outcomes.

Required Qualifications: Experience:

• 15+ years of progressive IT experience across infrastructure, data, and business systems.
• Extensive experience in enterprise data architecture, governance, and migration initiatives.
• Demonstrated background implementing AI and automation within IT governance environments.
• Experience designing enterprise governance models spanning procurement, cybersecurity, AI, and integrations.
• Strong executive-level communication, facilitation, and stakeholder engagement skills.

Architecture & Technology Expertise:

• Enterprise and solution architecture, including capability modeling and ADR development.
• Cloud platforms, integration architectures, and identity/access management.
• Data and AI ecosystems (ETL/ELT, governance frameworks, ML lifecycle management).

Process & Governance:

• Operating model design, demand/portfolio management, and ARB governance leadership.

Automation & Tools:

• Experience with tools such as Power Platform, Microsoft 365/Copilot, Azure DevOps, Jira, and Microsoft Purview (or comparable solutions).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Certifications such as TOGAF, ITIL, COBIT, Azure, or SAFe (or equivalent).
• Master's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical discipline.

Core Competencies:

• Executive communication and change leadership.
• Systems thinking and analytical problem-solving.
• Strong collaboration and coaching mindset across technical and business teams.