Domain Architect - Dia R&D

The Domain Architect – Diagnostics R&D is a senior-level, key position within the SPG Enterprise Architecture Business Partnering Functions team. This position plays a critical role between the Strategy, Portfolio & Governance (SPG) organization and the Diagnostics R&D function. Reporting directly to the Head of Enterprise Architecture - Business Partnering Functions with a dotted line to the Head of Dia RDT for DIA R&D, you will champion our enterprise architecture practices while deeply understanding the unique complexities of the Diagnostics R&D environment.

Crucially, in our federated RDT model, you will act as the principal orchestrator of the Diagnostics R&D architecture network. By leading this network—which includes yourself alongside all domain and solution architects embedded directly within the Diagnostics R&D organization—you will drive architecture governance and strategy formulation, ensure enterprise coherence, and translate business goals into adaptable, future-ready roadmaps.

Description of the Area

The Enterprise Architecture Business Partnering Functions area serves as the strategic architectural point of contact for business domain leaders, fostering collaboration to align applications, business capabilities, and information assets with technology solutions. For the Diagnostics R&D domain, this involves deeply integrating with teams such as DIA R&D Labs, DIA R&D Computational Science and Engineering, DIA R&D Instrumentation, DIA Clinical Development and Medical Affairs, and DIA Portfolio & Project Management to drive efficiency and innovation with end-to-end accountability. This role ensures that the bridge between SPG’s enterprise vision and Diagnostics R&D’s operational execution is seamless, collaborative, and highly effective.

The Opportunity

• Strategic Business Partnering: Act as the strategic liaison between SPG EA and Diagnostics R&D. Partner with the Head of Dia RDT for DIA R&D and the R&D DT Leadership team to align business priorities with multi-year roadmaps and target-state architectures and ensure domain strategies are coherent with enterprise strategies.

• Architecture Network Orchestration: Lead the Diagnostics R&D architecture network by shaping and promoting shared strategic priorities. Enable Domain and Solution Architects to execute efficiently while maintaining alignment and maximizing the use of shared principles and platforms.

• Architecture Governance Leadership: Provide leadership for governance activities across Diagnostics R&D in collaboration with other embedded domain architects. Oversee architecture deliverables, technology guardrails, and create alignment on non-functional requirements (e.g., security, resilience). Represent architecture within other Governance bodies (e.g. Portfolio).

• Critical Program Delivery: Drive the success of large, critical technology programs in Diagnostics R&D. Translate strategy into action and ensure transformative initiatives deliver intended business value while providing architectural oversight.

• Domain Architecture Deliverables: Lead the development and upkeep of core architecture artifacts for Diagnostics R&D. Ensure data accuracy across the standard architecture and RDT toolchain, delivering key outputs such as Capability Maps, Target-State Architectures, Architecture Standards, and Reference Architectures.

• Portfolio & Investment Alignment: Work with Diagnostics R&D Portfolio Management and Functional Heads to embed architectural insights into investment decisions. Evaluate the impacts of strategies, address architectural gaps, and prevent fragmentation by maximizing platform reuse and managing technical debt.

• Technology Innovation & Vendor Evaluation: Monitor emerging technology trends and evaluate vendors to ensure alignment with Diagnostics R&D needs. Stay updated on vendor developments to maintain an effective and future-ready architecture.

Qualifications

Education / Experience

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree with 7+ years of experience in IT and architecture.

• Deep domain experience within the Diagnostics R&D environment. Comprehensive understanding of the scientific, clinical, and engineering processes (e.g., Computational Science, Instrumentation, Laboratory Operations) that drive diagnostics innovation forward.

• A successful history of contributing as a Domain or Enterprise Architect within a complex, matrixed, or federated global organization.

Technical Skills

• Proficiency in designing target-state architectures and evolving capability roadmaps for complex R&D organizations.

• Cloud-native architecture on AWS: microservices, event-driven patterns, API-first design, infrastructure-as-code. Practical experience with multi-tenant scientific platforms, not just enterprise SaaS.

• Data architecture for R&D: lakehouse patterns, streaming and batch pipelines, data lineage, and observability across heterogeneous scientific data sources.

• Regulatory-aware architecture in Diagnostics or Life Sciences (IEC 62304, 21 CFR Part 11, EU IVDR, GxP) — able to meet compliance requirements without defaulting to heavyweight processes.

• Application portfolio rationalization: dependency mapping, decommissioning sequencing, data migration, and the governance to sunset legacy systems without breaking business continuity.

• Cross-domain technical fluency spanning clinical development systems, computational science platforms, laboratory informatics (LIMS, ELN), and instrumentation. Must be able to challenge and align Solution Architects across these domains.

• Knowledge of architecture frameworks (e.g., TOGAF) as a reference.

• Experience utilizing flexible delivery methodologies to drive meaningful value, prioritizing practical outcomes over rigid process adherence. We value tradeoff analysis.

• A thorough and pragmatic approach to developing sustainable, outcome-driven solutions.

Strongly Preferred

• AI/ML platform architecture: model serving, GPU orchestration, ML pipelines at organizational scale.

• Agentic AI patterns: tool orchestration, agent-to-agent protocols (MCP, A2A), guardrails, and human-in-the-loop design for scientific workflows. Usage of LLMs and SLM in Lifesciences.

• Instrumentation and lab systems integration: edge-to-cloud telemetry, instrument data acquisition, OT/IT boundary in diagnostics.

• Proven ability to govern through influence, reference architectures, and design reviews rather than gate-based control.

• Understanding of Hardware Development patterns.

Additional Qualifications

• Network & Community Leadership: Demonstrated ability in leading and influencing federated networks of architects without direct reporting lines. Inspires and empowers diverse partners to align and act with a unified voice.

• Strategic Advisory & Executive Influence: Builds trust and serves as a trusted advisor to senior leadership and Global Function Heads. Combines business acumen and executive presence to guide strategic decisions and influence senior stakeholders without direct authority.

• Effective Communication: Excels in storytelling, translating complex architectural concepts into relatable narratives. Balances enterprise coherence (ensured by SPG) with the agility and autonomy of local Diagnostics R&D execution.