Your success is a train ride away!
As we move America’s workforce toward the future, Amtrak connects businesses and communities across the country. We employ more than 20,000 diverse, energetic professionals in a variety of career fields throughout the United States. The safety of our passengers, our employees, the public and our operating environment is our priority, and the success of our railroad is due to our employees.
Are you ready to join our team?
Our values of ‘Do the Right Thing, Excel Together and Put Customers First’ are at the heart of what matters most to us, and our Core Capabilities, ‘Building Trust, Accountability, Effective Communication, Customer Focus, and Proactive Safety & Security’ are what every employee needs to know and do to be most impactful at Amtrak. By living the Amtrak values, focusing on our capabilities, and actively embracing and fostering diverse ideas, backgrounds, and perspectives, together we will honor our past and make Amtrak a company of the future.
Job Summary
The Distinguished Architect [Data & Intelligence] is responsible for providing visionary companywide architecture services to ensure portfolio technology investments are aligned with corporate goals and the ability to move toward the future in an evolving business environment. As a Digital Technology expert, this role utilizes communication, influence, guidance, and governance processes to maximize return on technology investment, reduce time to capability, and minimize operational costs. The Distinguished Architect uses strategic thinking to select technology capabilities, strategize, and build solutions that deliver business-relevant capability change.
As part of the DT architecture team, the Distinguished Architect communicates technology target state, roadmaps, and progress to portfolio leaders and stakeholders. They promote awareness and understanding of architecture principles across the organization while evangelizing strategic enterprise change and providing technical leadership.
This position is onsite in Washington, DC, Wilmington, DE, Philadelphia, PA, or Chicago, IL.
Essential Functions
- Set the architectural vision for core capabilities and align patterns for consistency and reuse
- Define enterprise principles, patterns, and guidance for data capabilities, platforms, and infrastructure, including how applications are built, deployed, and maintained to align with strategic needs and maximize technology investments
- Provide oversight and governance for current and future architecture states to ensure alignment with organizational goals
- Ensure reference architectures, standards, and guidelines are secure, stable, and compliant with industry standards
- Drive adoption and reuse of preferred resources, processes, and technologies across portfolios
- Mentor architects and DT teams, fostering a culture of excellence
- Communicate effectively across all organizational levels
- Create strategic roadmaps outlining the evolution of Digital Technology architecture to support long-term business strategy
- Guide investment decisions to ensure technology aligns with business vision
- Envision architecture strategies that drive competitive differentiation and business transformation
- Solve complex, cross-domain architectural challenges and provide technical direction
- Design and govern scalable, secure, and efficient solutions for enterprise initiatives
- Translate complex technical concepts for technical and non-technical audiences
- Act as a liaison between engineering and business teams
- Support the adoption of innovative technologies and architectural patterns
- Work with solution architects and engineering leads on complex enterprise solutions
- Ensure large-scale systems are performant, secure, and maintainable
- Contribute to the evolution of architectural standards
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Data and Intelligence, or related field with 13+ years of relevant experience, or equivalent experience with at least 5 years in a Principal or Senior Principal Architect role within a large, complex enterprise.
- Repeated experience leading complex architecture initiatives over $7 million in regulated, multi‑stakeholder environments.
- Proven contribution to the architecture profession through research, publications, innovation, training, or standards organizations.
- Experience delivering significant business value within $500M+ enterprises by providing architectural vision and platform direction.
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple architecture engagements and cross‑functional teams.
- Strong communication, collaboration, analytical, and problem‑solving skills.
Preferred Qualifications
- Master’s degree in business or related field.
- 17+ years of progressive technology and architecture experience.
- Relevant certifications including Databricks, AWS/Azure AI, or GenAI programs.
- Transportation or regulated‑industry experience.
- Expertise across multiple architecture domains.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Lakehouse platforms (Databricks, Iceberg, Delta)
- Data mesh and domain‑driven data design
- GenAI architectures (RAG, agents, fine‑tuning)
- ML platforms (MLflow, Vertex AI, SageMaker)
- ERP, OT, and CRM integrations
- Architecture best practices and value methodologies
- Agile delivery for business value realization
The salary/hourly range is $179,300.00 – $232,416.00. Pay is based on several factors including but not limited to education, work experience, certifications, etc. Depending on an employee’s assigned worksite or location, Amtrak may consider a geo-pay differential to be applied to the employee’s base salary. Amtrak may offer additional incentive and pay programs to recognize and reward our employees, including a short-term incentive bonus based upon factors such as individual and company performance that is commensurate with the level of the position. In addition to your salary, Amtrak offers a comprehensive benefit package that includes health, dental, and vision plans; health savings accounts; wellness programs; flexible spending accounts; 401K retirement plan with employer match; life insurance; short and long term disability insurance; paid time off; back-up care; adoption assistance; surrogacy assistance; reimbursement of education expenses; Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibility; Railroad Retirement sickness and retirement benefits; and rail pass privileges. Learn more about our benefits offerings here.
Requisition ID:166277
Work Arrangement:06-Onsite 4/5 Days Click here for more information about work arrangements at Amtrak.
Relocation Offered:No
Travel Requirements:Up to 25%
You power our progress through your performance.
We want your work at Amtrak to be more than a job. We want your career at Amtrak to be a fulfilling experience where you find challenging work, rewarding opportunities, respect among colleagues, and attractive compensation. Amtrak maintains a culture that values high performance and recognizes individual employee contributions.
Amtrak is committed to a safe workplace free of drugs and alcohol. All Amtrak positions requires a pre-employment background check that includes prior employment verification, a criminal history check and a pre-employment drug screen.
Candidates who test positive for marijuana will be disqualified, regardless of any state or local statute, ordinance, regulation, or other law that legalizes or decriminalizes the use or possession of marijuana, whether for medical, recreational, or other use. Amtrak's pre-employment drug testing program is administered in accordance with DOT regulations and applicable law.
In accordance with DOT regulations (49 CFR § 40.25), Amtrak is required to obtain prior drug and alcohol testing records for applicants/employees intending to perform safety-sensitive duties for covered Department of Transportation positions. If an applicant/employee refuses to provide written consent for Amtrak to obtain these records, the individual will not be permitted to perform safety-sensitive functions.
In accordance with federal law governing security checks of covered individuals for providers of public transportation (Title 6 U.S.C. §1143), Amtrak is required to screen applicants for any permanent or interim disqualifying criminal offenses.
Note that any education requirement listed above may be deemed satisfied if you have an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
Amtrak is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race/color, to include traits historically associated with race, including but not limited to, hair texture and hairstyles such as braids, locks and twists, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth and related conditions, such as lactation), national origin/ethnicity, disability (intellectual, mental and physical), veteran status, marital status, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, genetic information, citizenship or any other personal characteristics protected by law.
5-10 years96
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Job Description
Download ResumeYour success is a train ride away!
As we move America’s workforce toward the future, Amtrak connects businesses and communities across the country. We employ more than 20,000 diverse, energetic professionals in a variety of career fields throughout the United States. The safety of our passengers, our employees, the public and our operating environment is our priority, and the success of our railroad is due to our employees.
Are you ready to join our team?
Our values of ‘Do the Right Thing, Excel Together and Put Customers First’ are at the heart of what matters most to us, and our Core Capabilities, ‘Building Trust, Accountability, Effective Communication, Customer Focus, and Proactive Safety & Security’ are what every employee needs to know and do to be most impactful at Amtrak. By living the Amtrak values, focusing on our capabilities, and actively embracing and fostering diverse ideas, backgrounds, and perspectives, together we will honor our past and make Amtrak a company of the future.
Job Summary
The Distinguished Architect [Data & Intelligence] is responsible for providing visionary companywide architecture services to ensure portfolio technology investments are aligned with corporate goals and the ability to move toward the future in an evolving business environment. As a Digital Technology expert, this role utilizes communication, influence, guidance, and governance processes to maximize return on technology investment, reduce time to capability, and minimize operational costs. The Distinguished Architect uses strategic thinking to select technology capabilities, strategize, and build solutions that deliver business-relevant capability change.
As part of the DT architecture team, the Distinguished Architect communicates technology target state, roadmaps, and progress to portfolio leaders and stakeholders. They promote awareness and understanding of architecture principles across the organization while evangelizing strategic enterprise change and providing technical leadership.
This position is onsite in Washington, DC, Wilmington, DE, Philadelphia, PA, or Chicago, IL.
Essential Functions
- Set the architectural vision for core capabilities and align patterns for consistency and reuse
- Define enterprise principles, patterns, and guidance for data capabilities, platforms, and infrastructure, including how applications are built, deployed, and maintained to align with strategic needs and maximize technology investments
- Provide oversight and governance for current and future architecture states to ensure alignment with organizational goals
- Ensure reference architectures, standards, and guidelines are secure, stable, and compliant with industry standards
- Drive adoption and reuse of preferred resources, processes, and technologies across portfolios
- Mentor architects and DT teams, fostering a culture of excellence
- Communicate effectively across all organizational levels
- Create strategic roadmaps outlining the evolution of Digital Technology architecture to support long-term business strategy
- Guide investment decisions to ensure technology aligns with business vision
- Envision architecture strategies that drive competitive differentiation and business transformation
- Solve complex, cross-domain architectural challenges and provide technical direction
- Design and govern scalable, secure, and efficient solutions for enterprise initiatives
- Translate complex technical concepts for technical and non-technical audiences
- Act as a liaison between engineering and business teams
- Support the adoption of innovative technologies and architectural patterns
- Work with solution architects and engineering leads on complex enterprise solutions
- Ensure large-scale systems are performant, secure, and maintainable
- Contribute to the evolution of architectural standards
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Data and Intelligence, or related field with 13+ years of relevant experience, or equivalent experience with at least 5 years in a Principal or Senior Principal Architect role within a large, complex enterprise.
- Repeated experience leading complex architecture initiatives over $7 million in regulated, multi‑stakeholder environments.
- Proven contribution to the architecture profession through research, publications, innovation, training, or standards organizations.
- Experience delivering significant business value within $500M+ enterprises by providing architectural vision and platform direction.
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple architecture engagements and cross‑functional teams.
- Strong communication, collaboration, analytical, and problem‑solving skills.
Preferred Qualifications
- Master’s degree in business or related field.
- 17+ years of progressive technology and architecture experience.
- Relevant certifications including Databricks, AWS/Azure AI, or GenAI programs.
- Transportation or regulated‑industry experience.
- Expertise across multiple architecture domains.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Lakehouse platforms (Databricks, Iceberg, Delta)
- Data mesh and domain‑driven data design
- GenAI architectures (RAG, agents, fine‑tuning)
- ML platforms (MLflow, Vertex AI, SageMaker)
- ERP, OT, and CRM integrations
- Architecture best practices and value methodologies
- Agile delivery for business value realization
The salary/hourly range is $179,300.00 – $232,416.00. Pay is based on several factors including but not limited to education, work experience, certifications, etc. Depending on an employee’s assigned worksite or location, Amtrak may consider a geo-pay differential to be applied to the employee’s base salary. Amtrak may offer additional incentive and pay programs to recognize and reward our employees, including a short-term incentive bonus based upon factors such as individual and company performance that is commensurate with the level of the position. In addition to your salary, Amtrak offers a comprehensive benefit package that includes health, dental, and vision plans; health savings accounts; wellness programs; flexible spending accounts; 401K retirement plan with employer match; life insurance; short and long term disability insurance; paid time off; back-up care; adoption assistance; surrogacy assistance; reimbursement of education expenses; Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibility; Railroad Retirement sickness and retirement benefits; and rail pass privileges. Learn more about our benefits offerings here.
Requisition ID:166277
Work Arrangement:06-Onsite 4/5 Days Click here for more information about work arrangements at Amtrak.
Relocation Offered:No
Travel Requirements:Up to 25%
You power our progress through your performance.
We want your work at Amtrak to be more than a job. We want your career at Amtrak to be a fulfilling experience where you find challenging work, rewarding opportunities, respect among colleagues, and attractive compensation. Amtrak maintains a culture that values high performance and recognizes individual employee contributions.
Amtrak is committed to a safe workplace free of drugs and alcohol. All Amtrak positions requires a pre-employment background check that includes prior employment verification, a criminal history check and a pre-employment drug screen.
Candidates who test positive for marijuana will be disqualified, regardless of any state or local statute, ordinance, regulation, or other law that legalizes or decriminalizes the use or possession of marijuana, whether for medical, recreational, or other use. Amtrak's pre-employment drug testing program is administered in accordance with DOT regulations and applicable law.
In accordance with DOT regulations (49 CFR § 40.25), Amtrak is required to obtain prior drug and alcohol testing records for applicants/employees intending to perform safety-sensitive duties for covered Department of Transportation positions. If an applicant/employee refuses to provide written consent for Amtrak to obtain these records, the individual will not be permitted to perform safety-sensitive functions.
In accordance with federal law governing security checks of covered individuals for providers of public transportation (Title 6 U.S.C. §1143), Amtrak is required to screen applicants for any permanent or interim disqualifying criminal offenses.
Note that any education requirement listed above may be deemed satisfied if you have an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
Amtrak is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race/color, to include traits historically associated with race, including but not limited to, hair texture and hairstyles such as braids, locks and twists, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth and related conditions, such as lactation), national origin/ethnicity, disability (intellectual, mental and physical), veteran status, marital status, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, genetic information, citizenship or any other personal characteristics protected by law.