Chief Enterprise Architect

UK, USA, Spain & India

About the role

The Chief Enterprise Architect shapes AstraZeneca’s technology future. Working at the intersection of science, data, AI and engineering, the role drives the evolution of AstraZeneca’s digital ecosystem so that technology accelerates the discovery, development and delivery of medicines. The role provides strategic technology leadership across platforms, data, AI, cloud and digital products, while enabling autonomous teams to innovate safely and at scale. Rather than acting as a central control point, the role establishes clear technology principles, reusable platforms and lightweight guardrails that help teams move faster, reduce complexity and deliver measurable business and patient impact.

Key Responsibilities

The role is accountable for shaping a modern, product- and platform-oriented technology architecture across AstraZeneca.

Technology Strategy and Guardrails

• Define AstraZeneca’s enterprise technology strategy, technology principles and strategic investment priorities.
• Establish lightweight architectural guardrails that enable teams to move quickly while maintaining enterprise coherence.
• Simplify decision-making, reduce organisational friction and remove unnecessary architecture bureaucracy.
• Advise the CIO, Executive Leadership Team and senior business leaders on strategic technology choices.

AI and Intelligent Platforms

• Define AstraZeneca’s enterprise AI architecture and technology strategy, including generative AI, agents, machine learning and advanced analytics.
• Establish reusable AI platforms, services and patterns that can be adopted safely across R&D, clinical, operations, commercial and corporate functions.
• Partner with scientific, clinical and commercial teams to unlock AI-driven value while ensuring security, compliance and measurable outcomes.

Platform Strategy and Engineering

• Build and evolve enterprise platforms that accelerate delivery and reduce duplication.
• Champion platform engineering, API-first architecture, self-service capabilities and a strong internal developer experience.
• Reduce cognitive load on product and engineering teams by creating reusable technology capabilities.

Digital Product and Business Transformation

• Shape multi-year transformation programmes around business outcomes, product delivery and value creation.
• Ensure technology platforms support AstraZeneca’s priorities across R&D, Clinical Development, Manufacturing, Commercial and Corporate Functions.
• Drive modernisation and rationalisation where it improves speed, resilience, cost or user experience.

Risk, Compliance and Resilience

• Embed security, privacy, resilience, GxP and regulatory compliance into technology design without slowing delivery unnecessarily.
• Make balanced risk decisions that support innovation in a regulated environment.

Leadership and Culture

• Build a world-class technology strategy and architecture community across AstraZeneca.
• Attract and develop exceptional architects, engineers and product-minded technology leaders.
• Foster a culture of curiosity, experimentation, simplicity, collaboration and speed-to-value.

Success Measures

• Increased reuse of enterprise platforms and shared capabilities.
• Faster technology decision-making and reduced delivery friction.
• Greater adoption of AI capabilities across the enterprise.
• Improved developer productivity and internal customer experience.
• Reduced technology complexity, duplication and avoidable cost.
• Clearer link between technology investment and business, scientific and patient outcomes.

Education, Qualifications, and Experience

• Significant senior technology leadership experience in a global, complex organisation
• Experience shaping technology strategy across cloud, data, AI, platforms and digital products
• Track record of enabling product and engineering teams through platforms, patterns and guardrails
• Experience operating successfully in regulated environments
• Ability to influence C-suite stakeholders and translate technology strategy into measurable business outcomes

Desirable

• Pharmaceutical, life sciences, healthcare or regulated-industry experience
• Experience in a digital-native, product-led or platform-led technology organisation
• Knowledge of GxP, clinical systems, R&D, manufacturing or commercial technology landscapes
• MBA, advanced technical degree or equivalent experience

Skills and Capabilities

• Strategic technology leadership
• Product mindset and customer focus
• Platform thinking and API-first architecture
• AI and digital fluency
• Systems thinking and ability to simplify complexity
• Executive influence and storytelling
• Commercial acumen and outcome orientation
• Organisational change leadership
• Ability to balance autonomy, speed, security and regulatory obligations
• Talent development and community leadership

Desirable

• Recognised thought leader in AI, cloud, digital platforms or enterprise technology strategy
• Experience building platform engineering or internal developer experience capabilities
• Experience scaling data and AI ecosystems across a large enterprise
• External speaking, publishing or industry engagement

Why Join Us?
 

At AstraZeneca, we’re dedicated to being a Great Place to Work. Where you are empowered to push the boundaries of science and unleash your entrepreneurial spirit. There’s no better place to make a difference to medicine, patients, and society. An inclusive culture that champions diversity and collaboration, and always committed to lifelong learning, growth, and development. We’re on an exciting journey to pioneer the future of healthcare. 

If you are ready to take on this exciting challenge and be part of a team dedicated to revolutionizing talent acquisition in the pharmaceutical industry, we want to hear from you! Join us at AstraZeneca and let's make a real difference in the lives of patients around the world. 

Office Working Requirements
 

When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we unleash bold thinking with the power to inspire life-changing medicines. In-person working gives us the platform we need to connect, work at pace and challenge perceptions. That’s why we work, on average, a minimum of three days per week from the office. But that doesn’t mean we’re not flexible. We balance the expectation of being in the office while respecting individual flexibility. Join us in our unique and ambitious world.

If you're interested.. Apply today!

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