What are the responsibilities and job description for the Emerging Technology Architect position at Q2 Holdings, Inc.?
As passionate about our people as we are about our mission. Why Join Q2? Q2 is a leading provider of digital banking and lending solutions to banks, credit unions, alternative finance companies, and fintechs in the U.S. and internationally. Our mission is simple: build strong and diverse communities through innovative financial technology—and we do that by empowering our people to help create success for our customers. What Makes Q2 Special? Being as passionate about our people as we are about our mission. We celebrate our employees in many ways through our year-round Q2 ChangeMakers awards program and global moments of recognition and connection. We invest in the growth and development of our team members through ongoing learning opportunities, internal mobility, and meaningful leadership relationships. We also know that nothing builds trust and collaboration like having fun and giving back together. From company-wide volunteer days to events like our Q2 Homecoming Week—featuring learning, community service, and culture-building experiences—we create opportunities to connect, grow, and make an impact. The Emerging Technology Architect designs and evolves enterprise AI systems and architectures that enable scalable, secure, and high-impact adoption across the organization. This role defines end-to-end AI solution patterns involving large language models, APIs, retrieval-augmented generation, vector search, intelligent agents, orchestration workflows, Snowflake, cloud platforms such as AWS and Azure, and enterprise data integration. The role partners across data, engineering, business applications, operations, identity and access management, and governance teams to create reusable frameworks that accelerate delivery while supporting security, access controls, compliance, and audit needs. This position may require minimal travel for collaboration, planning, or stakeholder engagement. A Typical Day: Design enterprise AI solution patterns that align business needs with scalable, secure, and maintainable implementation approaches. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to translate complex business challenges into structured architecture recommendations. Identify, analyze, and resolve gaps related to scalability, data readiness, interoperability, and operational adoption of AI systems. Define reusable frameworks and standards that improve delivery consistency and accelerate adoption across teams and use cases. Evaluate solution options, assess trade-offs, and provide recommendations that balance performance, cost, risk, and business value. Guide teams through architecture decisions that support responsible AI adoption and long-term maintainability. Influence organizational direction by promoting best practices, shared patterns, and practical governance approaches across engineering and business teams. Stay current on emerging AI and enterprise technology practices and assess their applicability to organizational priorities. Bring Your Passion, Do What You Love. Here’s What We’re Looking For: Typically requires a Bachelor’s degree in (relevant degree) and a minimum of 12 years of related experience; or an advanced degree with 8 years of experience; or equivalent related work experience. Strong understanding of enterprise architecture principles, system design, integration patterns, and scalable delivery models. Demonstrated experience with AI and machine learning technologies including large language models, retrieval-augmented generation, vector databases, intelligent agents, and cloud-based AI platforms (AWS, Azure, or equivalent). Experience partnering with business and technical stakeholders to define practical solutions for complex organizational needs. Ability to evaluate ambiguous problems, structure recommendations, and communicate trade-offs clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences. Demonstrated judgment in balancing innovation, security, governance, cost, and operational feasibility. Strong collaboration skills with the ability to influence across teams and organizational boundaries without direct authority. Working knowledge of responsible technology adoption, AI governance, risk management, access controls, and enterprise control environments. This position requires fluent written and oral communication in English. Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time. Health & Wellness Hybrid Work Opportunities Flexible Time Off Career Development & Mentoring Programs Health & Wellness Benefits, including competitive health insurance offerings and generous paid parental leave for eligible new parents Community Volunteering & Company Philanthropy Programs Employee Peer Recognition Programs – “You Earned it” Click here to find out more about the benefits we offer. Our Culture & Commitment: We’re proud to foster a supportive, inclusive environment where career growth, collaboration, and wellness are prioritized. And our benefits go beyond healthcare—offering resources for physical, mental, and professional well-being. Click here to find out more about the benefits we offer. Q2 employees are encouraged to give back through volunteer work and nonprofit support through our Spark Program (see more). We believe in making an impact—in the industry and in the community. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or veteran status. Applicants in California or Washington State may not be exempt from federal and state overtime requirements Mission Q2’s mission is to build strong and diverse communities by strengthening their financial institutions. That mission shapes the technology we build, how we serve our customers, and how we show up for each other. Vision We started with a straightforward belief: technology could fundamentally change how financial institutions serve their communities. More than 20 years later, that belief still drives us. Q2 delivers digital banking and lending solutions that help financial institutions deepen relationships, improve experiences, and grow. Across every department and region, Q2 team members bring creativity, collaboration, and purpose to building technology that makes banking stronger, easier, and more human. Culture & Values Q2’s culture is built by Q2ers and grounded in ten guiding principles that define how we show up for each other, our customers, and our communities. We take our mission seriously. We also have fun doing it. Teams across the company work together to solve hard problems, move quickly, and make a real impact on the financial institutions and communities we serve. We’re also helping shape how AI is applied in financial services, bringing the same disciplined, banking-first approach Q2 has practiced for more than 20 years to this next chapter of innovation.