Chief Architect - End User Technologies Vanguard is seeking a Chief Architect / Distinguished Engineer to define and drive the future of End User Technology at enterprise scale. This is a rare, high impact individual contributor role for a deeply technical leader who combines hands on engineering credibility with the ability to set multi-year architectural direction, establish durable standards, and lead complex modernization across a heterogeneous end user ecosystem.
You will operate as a technical force multiplier across Workplace Engineering-defining the end user technology "north star," resolving the most complex systemic challenges, and raising the engineering bar through mentorship, architectural rigor, and automation first practices.
Responsibilities: Enterprise End User Technology Strategy & Roadmap - Own and evolve the 3-year Workplace technology roadmap spanning endpoints, mobility, virtualization, and productivity/collaboration platforms-ensuring solutions integrate cleanly across domains and deliver measurable outcomes for crew productivity, experience, and risk posture.
- Drive modernization outcomes aligned to Vanguard's strategic initiatives (e.g., Windows 11 adoption, cloud VDI modernization, MDM platform modernization/migration, and Workplace AI / Copilot enablement).
Technical Architecture Leadership - Define and maintain reference architectures, patterns, and guardrails across the end user technology ecosystem, including: Windows endpoints and modern management (e.g., Intune strategy, governance, and operating model) macOS management at scale (e.g., Jamf or equivalent) Mobility platforms and modern mobility strategies (e.g., Workspace ONE and/or next-generation MDM approaches) Virtualization and VDI modernization (cloud-hosted virtual desktops and legacy retirement strategies) Productivity ecosystems (Microsoft 365, plus interoperability with Google where required)
- Lead hands-on proof-of-concepts and deep technical evaluations for emerging capabilities; translate findings into pragmatic standards, adoption plans, and operational models.
Platform Governance, Standards, and Decision Quality - Establish and run governance that prevents platform drift and enables safe acceleration, including configuration standards and guardrails RBAC/tagging strategy and separation of duties peer review/sign-off processes change control and release validation across the Workplace domain
- Provide architecture review, technical risk identification, and design validation for production changes before they ship.
Technical Escalation & Reliability Leadership - Serve as the highest-level escalation point for complex, cross-domain end-user technology failures and systemic issues (identity/device compliance edge cases, policy conflicts, virtualization performance, M365 service health/controls, etc.).
- Drive root-cause analysis and ensure outcomes become repeatable engineering improvements (automation, instrumentation, standards)
Engineering Excellence & Automation-First Operating Model - Set expectations for engineering rigor and durability, including code-driven configuration and infrastructure/policy-as-code patterns where practical CI/CD-enabled workflows where appropriate versioning, automated validation, and observability across endpoint + productivity platforms
- Champion scripting and automation for compliance, reporting, and operational efficiency (PowerShell, Python, Bash-whatever best fits the problem).
Org-Wide Technical Leadership - Mentor and level-up senior engineers and architects; raise design quality through reviews, coaching, and technical storytelling.
- Act as a primary architecture liaison across partner organizations (security, enterprise architecture, identity/access, and adjacent platform teams), driving alignment and durable, supportable designs.
Primary Technical Domains: You should be conversant and credible across multiple end user technology domains, including:
- Windows endpoints at enterprise scale: modern management, compliance, security controls, deployment and lifecycle patterns (including coexistence realities where needed)
- macOS enterprise management (Jamf or equivalent) and cross-platform posture
- Mobility / MDM modernization patterns and platform migration realities
- Virtualization / VDI modernization, including cloud strategy and legacy retirement planning
- Microsoft 365 services with policy/security configuration (Teams, Exchange, SharePoint, OneDrive) and identity integration (Entra/Azure AD patterns)
- Google ecosystem awareness (integration, coexistence, and impact in end-user environments), as applicable
- Security & compliance-by-design for end-user platforms (policy enforcement, auditability, data protection controls, and governance)
Required Qualifications: - 10+ years in enterprise end user / workplace engineering with demonstrated ownership of large-scale platforms and complex transformations (Windows + macOS + mobility + virtualization + productivity ecosystems).
- Proven ability to set technical strategy and translate it into executable roadmaps, standards, and measurable outcomes.
- Deep hands-on expertise across modern endpoint and workplace platforms (e.g., Intune/Jamf, M365 administration, identity/access patterns, automation).
- Strong engineering approach: automation-first mindset, design reviews, operationalization, reliability thinking, and disciplined risk management.
- Exceptional communication skills-able to influence senior stakeholders, drive alignment across teams, and make complex topics actionable.
Preferred / Differentiators: - Recognized industry leadership (speaking, publishing, open source, patents, standards bodies, vendor advisory participation).
- Demonstrated success modernizing workplace environments in regulated industries and partnering effectively with security/compliance stakeholders.
- Experience enabling enterprise-scale adoption of emerging productivity/AI capabilities (e.g., Workplace AI / Copilot, governance, adoption, and platform readiness).
Special Factors Sponsorship Vanguard is not offering visa sponsorship for this position.
About Vanguard At Vanguard, we don't just have a mission-we're on a mission.
To work for the long-term financial wellbeing of our clients. To lead through product and services that transform our clients' lives. To learn and develop our skills as individuals and as a team. From Malvern to Melbourne, our mission drives us forward and inspires us to be our best.
How We Work Vanguard has implemented a hybrid working model for the majority of our crew members, designed to capture the benefits of enhanced flexibility while enabling in-person learning, collaboration, and connection. We believe our mission-driven and highly collaborative culture is a critical enabler to support long-term client outcomes and enrich the employee experience.
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