Principal Architect - Information Technology
Come join us to create what’s next. Let’s define tomorrow, together.
Description
United's Digital Technology team is comprised of many talented individuals all working together with cutting-edge technology to build the best airline in the history of aviation. Our team designs, develops and maintains massively scaling technology solutions brought to life with innovative architectures, data analytics, and digital solutions.
Job Overview and Responsibilities
The Principal Architect – IT leads the architectural design and strategy of our enterprise applications, with a specific focus on device integrations and logistics for Self-Service Kiosks. In this role, the Principal Architect will champion the development of resilient, high-performing, and scalable cloud systems capable of supporting diverse business capabilities and delivering continuous organizational value. The Principal Architect collaborates closely with enterprise architecture teams, guides development squads on large-scale system best practices, and serves as a critical bridge between IT and business stakeholders to translate complex needs into sustainable cloud solutions.
Combining deep technical expertise in system integration, scalability, and security with specialized knowledge of hardware and device integration layers, the Principal Architect will continuously evaluate emerging technologies and industry trends. The Principal Architect’s vision will ensure our self-service kiosk platform architecture remains innovative, modern, and perfectly aligned with our evolving strategic goals.
Continuously evaluate emerging technologies, cloud services, and industry trends to modernize the self-service platform and ensure alignment with evolving business goals.
Lead the design and implementation of secure, resilient integration layers connecting application software with kiosk hardware and Common Use platform(CUSS).
Anticipate future technology requirements and communicate those to leadership and multi-functional teams
Proactively identify emerging AI and digital self-service capabilities such as personalization, real-time decisioning, identity verification, and kiosk offline mode. Develop proof-of-concept applications and guide architectural evolution accordingly.
Lead AI SDLC, including AI – assisted requirements, architecture reviews, code generation, automated testing and release quality gates
Define maturity models and drive measurable improvements in velocity, quality and developer experience.
Establish engineering best practices, conduct rigorous design reviews, and mentor development teams in building high-scale, resilient systems.
Partner with cross-functional architects at the enterprise level to ensure applications are deeply integrated, highly performant, and capable of supporting multiple business capabilities
Advanced system visibility by implementing best-in-class observability dashboards and leveraging A/B testing to experiment with feature requirements.
Qualifications
What’s needed to succeed (Minimum Qualifications):
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Information Systems, other computer related field required
5+ years of relevant experience
Experience in common architecture frameworks such as Microservices, API management
Experience in designing and building applications using AWS (or Azure or GCP) cloud architecture & services and support of highly available and resilient multi-region platforms
Expertise in AWS and Kubernetes to support cloud infrasturcure.
DevOps and CI/CD:Strong knowledge of DevOps practices, including CI/CD, automation, and observability tools (Harness, Dynatrace, DataDog, Splunk).
Security and Vulnerability Management:Solid understanding of security best practices, including vulnerability management and mitigation.
Experience in hardware integration
PCI Compliance: Proven experience in implementing and maintaining PCI compliance for enterprise applications.
A mindset for continuous learning and staying updated on industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices
Must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer without sponsorship
Successful completion of interview required to meet job qualification
Reliable, punctual attendance is an essential function of the position
What will help you propel from the pack (Preferred Qualifications):
Master's degree in Computer Science
AWS certification
3-5+ years of AWS experience
1-3 years of Common Use platform experience
3-5 years of optimizing downstream dependencies for speed and reliability
1-3 years of experience with various kiosk functions and peripherals (IATA/AEA spec, Camera, Printers, Payment, Scanners, status LED's, etc)
The base pay range for this role is $140,600.00 to $183,108.00.
The base salary range/hourly rate listed is dependent on job-related, factors such as experience, education, and skills. This position is also eligible for bonus and/or long-term incentive compensation awards.
You may be eligible for the following competitive benefits: medical, dental, vision, life, accident & disability, parental leave, employee assistance program, commuter, paid holidays, paid time off, 401(k) and flight privileges.
United Airlines is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, veteran status, or any other protected category under applicable law. We provide reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. To request an accommodation, contact JobAccommodations@united.com