Head of Architecture - Advice & Wealth Management Technology

Head of Architecture - Advice & Wealth Management Technology

Location:

Charlotte, NC | Salary: $110,000 - $140,000

Vanguard is seeking a strategic and visionary Head of Architecture to lead technology design for our Advice & Wealth Management (AWM) Technology division. This new role will shape the long‑term roadmap for a new business and product strategy. Reporting to the Principal, Head of AWM Technology (dotted line to CTO), the role oversees Product, Domain, and Chief Architects. Build an architecture function, translating business strategy into scalable technology that delivers exceptional client and advisor experiences.

• Develop a multi‑year architecture strategy aligned with AWM’s business and product goals, guiding platform modernization, capability integration, and long‑term investment planning.
• Lead and mentor a team across product, domain, and enterprise architecture, fostering collaboration, consistency, and technical excellence.
• Partner with digital product managers and delivery leaders to ensure architectural designs enable successful execution of roadmaps and support scalable, supportable solutions.
• Define and enforce architecture principles and governance, reviewing critical designs and guiding trade‑offs to maintain alignment with enterprise standards and risk frameworks.
• Collaborate with enterprise technology teams—cloud, security, infrastructure, and data governance—to ensure alignment with firm‑wide strategy while advocating for AWM’s unique needs.
• Champion modern engineering practices including Dev Ops, continuous delivery, and automated testing, promoting speed and resilience without compromising architectural integrity.
• Bring broad wealth management industry into Vanguard’s architecture strategy, ensuring our platforms remain competitive and responsive to a rapidly evolving wealth landscape.
• Communicate architecture strategies to senior executives and stakeholders, translating complex technical concepts into clear, business‑aligned narratives that drive consensus and action.
• Maintain a long‑term strategic focus, providing oversight and guidance to ensure delivery aligns with architectural vision—without direct delivery management.

• 15+ years in enterprise architecture or large‑scale system design.
• Deep understanding of wealth management platforms, advisor tools, and client experience.
• Proven success in developing and implementing architecture roadmaps that support business transformation.
• Strong leadership and team‑building skills across multiple architecture domains.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder influence, including executive‑level engagement.
• Experience with cloud‑native design, microservices, APIs, and event‑driven systems.
• Business acumen and collaborative mindset with a focus on client outcomes.
• Familiarity with regulatory and risk frameworks in financial services.

Help build the next generation of wealth management capabilities and ensure Vanguard’s platforms are flexible, reliable, and ready to scale.

Sponsorship:
Vanguard is not offering visa sponsorship for this position.

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, and 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.

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.

• Seniority level:
  Director
• Employment type:
  
  Full‑time
• Job function:
  Engineering and Information Technology