Principal Guidewire Architect

Role Summary

Key Responsibilities

Enterprise Architecture Ownership

• Define and own enterprise-wide architecture for PolicyCenter, BillingCenter, and ClaimCenter.
• Establish reference architectures, design standards, and long-term modernization roadmap.
• Approve all critical architecture and integration decisions.
• Ensure solutions meet performance, scalability, security, and compliance standards.
  

Architect Leadership & Governance

• Lead and manage a group of Guidewire Architects reporting directly into this role.
• Review, challenge, and approve solution designs from reporting Architects.
• Ensure architectural consistency and discipline across all delivery pods.
• Actively intervene in complex technical or delivery escalations.
  

Delivery Governance (Pod Model)

• Govern multiple delivery pods through reporting Architects.
• Define and track delivery KPIs across pods (quality, velocity, stability).
• Ensure no delivery surprises through proactive technical oversight.
• Drive root-cause fixes for systemic delivery or quality issues.
  

Capability Building & Talent Development

• Build and scale Guidewire capability at an organizational level.
• Mentor Architects and senior technical leaders.
• Define training plans, certification paths, and succession strategy.
• Eliminate single-point dependency by institutionalizing knowledge.
  

Technical Authority & Escalation Ownership

• Serve as the final technical escalation point for Guidewire-related issues.
• Guide platform upgrades, version migrations, and modernization initiatives.
• Enforce engineering discipline and best practices across teams.
  

Client & Executive Engagement

• Partner with client architects, onshore leadership, and internal executives.
• Provide architectural leadership during presales and critical programs.
• Represent offshore technical leadership with confidence and credibility.
  

Mandatory Requirements

• 15+ years of Guidewire implementation and architecture experience.
• Strong hands-on expertise across PolicyCenter, BillingCenter, and ClaimCenter.
• Guidewire Ace Certification – Mandatory.
• Proven experience leading multiple Architects and offshore delivery teams.
• Strong technical depth in GOSU, Java, integrations, REST/SOAP, messaging, and data architecture.
• Strong P&C insurance domain expertise.
• Experience working with global clients and senior stakeholders.
• Leadership Expectations
• Sets direction and enforces standards.
• Makes final technical decisions.
• Builds leaders and strong delivery teams.
• Owns outcomes, not just designs.
• Drives execution with discipline.