4 Days in the office from any of our locations in RI,  Iselin NJ, MA, Pittsburgh PA, or Phoenix AZ and couple other locations

Role is not relocation eligible. 

At Citizens, we invest in the humans who build the logic, ideas, and innovations that bring new technologies to life.

As a Principal Architect, you'll lead the full architectural lifecycle—from concept design through construction—ensuring all projects meet aesthetic, technical, regulatory, and budgetary standards. You’ll serve as the primary technical authority, mentor teams of architects, build client relationships, and drive innovation in sustainable materials and building technology. A licensed architect with a strong track record in design leadership, you excel at translating client vision into robust architectural solutions and managing multiple stakeholders across diverse environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead architectural vision and develop high-level design concepts and detailed plans for major projects.

• Review and approve architectural design, specifications, and construction documents for quality and compliance.

• Coordinate with clients, engineers, contractors, and stakeholders, managing trade-offs between aesthetics, budget, and regulations.

• Conduct site assessments to monitor progress and ensure alignment with design specifications.

• Research and incorporate new materials, construction methods, sustainable practices, and technologies.

• Mentor and guide junior architects, shaping design standards and fostering technical excellence.

• Engage in business development: present design proposals, manage client relationships, and support marketing efforts.

· Work with fellow team members and guide them on any technical deliveries.

· Have good experience in technologies such as Java, Python, GraphQL, IBM MQ, Kafka, API Connect, etc.

· Having experience in some of the payment products such as EPP (FISERV) and MTS (ACI) will be a plus.

· Having functional knowledge on different payment methods such as Real-time payments, ACH, Wires is a plus.

Essential Skills & Expertise

• Deep knowledge of architectural design principles, building codes, zoning, and sustainability standards .

• Strong leadership and team management capabilities, with proven mentoring experience

· Should possess 15+ year’s experience in technologies such as Java, Oracle, Springboot, Python, IBM MQ, Kafka, and other emerging technologies.

• Superior communication skills for effective presentations and negotiations with varied audiences .

• Innovation mindset with ability to integrate new materials, tech, and sustainable design .

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science or equivalent industry experience ; Master’s degree preferred .

• Extensive experience (usually 10+ years) across project lifecycle phases within architecture and software development

• Demonstrated success in leading large-scale, complex projects and cross-functional teams .

• Experience in business development and client-facing roles may be essential .

Hours & Work Schedule

• Hours per Week: 40
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday

Pay Transparency 

The salary range for this position is $ 132,000 - $ 198,000 per year plus an opportunity to earn an annual discretionary bonus. Actual pay is based on various factors including but not limited to the work location, and relevant skills and experience.   

We offer competitive pay, comprehensive medical, dental and vision coverage, retirement benefits, maternity/paternity leave, flexible work arrangements, education reimbursement, wellness programs and more. Note, Citizens’ paid time off policy exceeds the mandatory, paid sick or paid time-away policy of very local and state jurisdiction in the United States. For an overview of our benefits, visit https://jobs.citizensbank.com/benefits.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Citizens, its parent, subsidiaries, and related companies (Citizens) provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all colleagues and applicants for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, citizenship, physical or mental disability, perceived disability or history or record of a disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity or expression, genetic information, genetic characteristic, marital or domestic partner status, victim of domestic violence, family status/parenthood, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, pregnancy/childbirth/lactation, colleague’s or a dependent’s reproductive health decision making, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or any other category protected by federal, state and/or local laws. At Citizens, we are committed to fostering an inclusive culture that enables all colleagues to bring their best selves to work every day and everyone is expected to be treated with respect and professionalism. Employment decisions are based solely on merit, qualifications, performance and capability.

Equal Employment and Opportunity Employer

Job Applicant Data Privacy Policy

Background Check

Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the candidate successfully passing a background check, which may include initial credit, motor vehicle record, public record, prior employment verification, and criminal background checks. Results of the background check are individually reviewed based upon legal requirements imposed by our regulators and with consideration of the nature and gravity of the background history and the job offered. Any offer of employment will include further information.