IT Software Architect, SaaS Enablement and Governance

OpenAI is scaling from an emerging, high-velocity startup into a mature enterprise operating model. The IT Software Architect will help shape the software, SaaS, Data integration, and agent-enabled architecture that lets the company move quickly while improving security, compliance, data quality, and customer, partner, and employee experience. This role is not a traditional ivory-tower architecture function. It is a hands-on governance and enablement role that partners with business teams, IT operations, Security, Procurement, Business Platforms, Applied teams and Data Engineering to guide software decisions, reduce unmanaged sprawl, and build reusable enterprise foundations.

Responsibilities

Own the target architecture for enterprise software, SaaS, integrations, APIs, and agent-enabled business systems across Corporate IT. Drive deprecation and consolidate targets for enterprise software.; Build lightweight governance patterns that guide teams before software and integration decisions become hard to unwind.; Create architecture standards for identity, access, data movement, API usage, admin rights, auditability, observability, and vendor integration.; Partner with Security to ensure software architecture addresses SSO, SCIM, MFA, privileged access, non-human identities, secrets, token storage, data residency, encryption, retention, and incident response readiness.; Partner with Procurement and Finance to evaluate renewals, rationalization opportunities, enterprise agreements, and build-versus-buy decisions.; Partner deeply with application verticals such as GTM, Finance, Legal, HR, Research, Product, and Operations teams to evaluate agentic business workflows and translate them into scalable enterprise system patterns.; Review proposed SaaS and internally built tools for overlap, risk, integration quality, ownership, lifecycle, supportability, and long-term fit.; Develop reusable architecture blueprints for common capabilities such as intake, workflow, approvals, knowledge management, customer/partner 360, data integration, reporting, content management, learning, surveys, and collaboration.; Help define where OpenAI-native GPT or agent-built solutions should replace or enable point SaaS tools.; Create clear decision records and architecture artifacts that are understandable by business leaders, engineers, security reviewers, and procurement partners.; Drive software catalog maturity by connecting tool inventory, business owner, system owner, integration path, data classification, access model, renewal, risk posture, and support model.

Requirements

10+ years of experience in enterprise architecture, business systems architecture, IT architecture, SaaS governance, integration architecture, or a related technical leadership role.; Strong understanding of SaaS operating models, software lifecycle management, software asset management, and vendor/platform governance.; Experience designing integrations across systems, experience in large scale SaaS such as CRM, ERP and Marketplace platforms.; Practical knowledge of identity and access patterns including SSO, OIDC, SAML, SCIM, RBAC/ABAC, privileged admin models, service accounts, OAuth apps, and token governance.; Ability to evaluate software from multiple angles: business value, architecture fit, security posture, data exposure, cost, supportability, user experience, and vendor strategy.; Comfort operating in ambiguity, building structure where little exists, and influencing senior stakeholders without relying only on formal authority.; Ability to write clear architecture decision records, governance standards, system diagrams, business cases, and executive-ready recommendations.; Strong partner orientation: able to help teams move faster while raising the quality of decisions.; Curiosity about AI-native enterprise architecture and where GPT, Codex, and agentic workflows can replace or enable traditional SaaS patterns.

Nice to have

Experience scaling IT or business systems from startup-stage tooling into mature enterprise architecture.; Experience with software rationalization, SaaS enablement and deprecation, vendor consolidation, or enterprise license optimization.; Experience with architecting systems in a high-growth environment.; Experience building governance for internally developed tools, low-code/no-code platforms, agents, or employee-built automation.; Experience working closely with Security, GRC, Legal, Procurement, and Finance on cross-functional risk and control programs.