Chief Information Technology Architect

Position: Chief Architect Location: United Arab Emirates (UAE)Type: Full-Time / PermanentOverviewOur client is seeking a visionary Chief Architect to lead the design and implementation of large-scale IT infrastructure and managed services solutions for major government and enterprise programs across the UAE. The ideal candidate will bring deep technical expertise, strategic thinking, and a proven track record delivering mission-critical systems in complex, multi-stakeholder environments.Key ResponsibilitiesArchitectural Leadership:Define and maintain enterprise architecture blueprints across multiple domains — infrastructure, applications, data, and security — ensuring alignment with business objectives and regulatory frameworks.Solution Design:Lead the design of scalable, secure, and resilient IT solutions supporting large government and public sector projects.Governance & Standards:Establish architecture standards, frameworks, and best practices for IT operations, managed services, and cloud environments.Stakeholder Management:Collaborate closely with executive leadership, government authorities, and delivery teams to ensure alignment with technical and strategic priorities.Technical Oversight:Provide hands-on guidance during the design, implementation, and integration of infrastructure systems, ensuring performance, scalability, and compliance.Innovation & Strategy:Stay ahead of emerging technologies and drive digital transformation initiatives, including cloud adoption, automation, and smart city infrastructure.Mentorship:Develop and mentor architecture and engineering teams to build in-house technical excellence and capability.Required QualificationsExperience:Minimum 15+ years of experience in IT architecture and infrastructure delivery.Proven experience leading large-scale government or public sector projects in the UAE or GCC region.Strong background in managed IT services, data centers, network design, cloud infrastructure (Azure/AWS/GCP), and cybersecurity architecture.Expertise in designing mission-critical, high-availability systems with complex integration needs.Skills:Enterprise architecture methodologies (TOGAF, Zachman, etc.)Cloud-native and hybrid architecture design.Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.Deep understanding of UAE digital government standards and regulatory frameworks (e.g., NESA, DESC, TDRA).Preferred QualificationsUAE or GCC government project experience.Prior experience working with system integrators or managed service providers.Certifications: TOGAF, AWS Certified Solutions Architect, Azure Solutions Architect Expert, or equivalent.