Lead Enterprise Architect at Dentsu in Chicago, IL

Lead Enterprise Architect
Location: Chicago
Job Description:
Merkle is seeking a Lead Enterprise Architect to provide senior technical leadership across Adobe Experience Cloud engagements for enterprise clients. This role is responsible for leading architecture strategy, solution design, platform integration, and technical governance across complex customer experience programs.
The ideal candidate combines deep expertise across Adobe Experience Platform (AEP), Real-Time CDP, Adobe Journey Optimizer (AJO), and Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) with strong client-facing consulting skills. They can enter complex environments, quickly assess business and technical challenges, establish a practical path forward, and guide delivery teams toward successful outcomes.
This is not a pure strategy role and not a purely hands-on engineering role. It sits at the intersection of architecture, consulting, and delivery leadership, requiring both strategic thinking and implementation credibility.
Core Responsibilities
Enterprise Architecture & Solution Design
Lead discovery workshops and architecture assessments with enterprise clients.
Define scalable target-state architectures across Adobe Experience Cloud and adjacent technology ecosystems.
Develop solution blueprints spanning customer data, identity, personalization, activation, content, and journey orchestration.
Evaluate integration approaches, architectural trade-offs, and implementation risks.
Establish governance standards and architecture best practices.
Adobe Platform Leadership
Serve as a senior advisor across:
Adobe Experience Platform (AEP)
Real-Time CDP
Adobe Journey Optimizer (AJO)
Adobe Experience Manager Sites
Adobe Experience Manager Assets
Translate Adobe capabilities into practical client solutions.
Partner with Adobe teams and internal stakeholders to align architecture decisions with platform capabilities and roadmap considerations.
Client Advisory & Consulting
Build trusted relationships with technology and business stakeholders.
Facilitate architecture discussions and technical strategy sessions.
Communicate complex concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
Influence technical direction while maintaining a pragmatic focus on business outcomes and delivery feasibility.
Delivery Leadership
Provide architectural oversight throughout implementation lifecycles.
Guide solution architects, engineers, and delivery teams.
Review designs, identify risks, and resolve complex technical challenges.
Ensure architecture decisions balance scalability, cost, maintainability, security, and delivery timelines.
Practice Development
Contribute reusable architecture patterns, accelerators, and best practices.
Mentor architects and technical talent.
Support the growth and maturity of the Adobe practice through knowledge sharing and technical leadership.
Required Qualifications
15+ years of technology experience, including significant experience in architecture, solution design, technical consulting, or enterprise technology leadership roles.
Deep expertise in Adobe Experience Cloud with demonstrated architecture leadership experience in at least one of the following core platforms: Adobe Experience Platform (AEP)/Real-Time CDP, Adobe Journey Optimizer (AJO), or Adobe Experience Manager (AEM).
Candidates must possess significant hands-on or architecture-level experience with Adobe CDP (AEP/RTCDP), AEM, and/or AJO. Experience limited to Adobe Analytics, Target, Campaign, Marketo, or adjacent marketing technologies alone is not sufficient for this role.
Proven experience designing and delivering enterprise-scale implementations involving customer data management, journey orchestration, digital experience platforms, content management, or related Adobe Experience Cloud capabilities.
Demonstrated ability to lead architecture strategy, platform integration, and technical governance for large-scale Adobe implementations.
Experience designing and supporting enterprise-scale, multi-platform technology solutions.
Strong understanding of customer data ecosystems, marketing technology architecture, identity resolution, personalization, activation, measurement, and governance.
Experience integrating Adobe or similar platforms with cloud data platforms, customer data platforms, enterprise systems, and marketing technology stacks.
Working knowledge of cloud data technologies such as Snowflake, Databricks, Microsoft Fabric, BigQuery, or similar platforms.
Familiarity with generative AI concepts, AI-enabled customer experience technologies, and responsible AI practices.
Demonstrated ability to lead architecture and solution design conversations with clients and internal delivery teams.
Strong client-facing consulting skills with the ability to build credibility quickly and guide stakeholders through complex technical decisions.
Ability to operate independently in ambiguous environments and determine the appropriate path forward with limited direction.
Excellent verbal, presentation, and written communication skills.
Strong problem-solving abilities with a demonstrated ability to balance business goals, technical complexity, delivery realities, cost, risk, and governance considerations.
At least one relevant Adobe certification or equivalent demonstrated platform expertise.
Preferred Qualifications
Multiple Adobe certifications across Experience Platform, Real-Time CDP, Journey Optimizer, Experience Manager, Analytics, GenStudio, or related technologies.
Experience with Adobe GenStudio, Firefly, or other AI-enabled Adobe capabilities.
Experience architecting customer data, identity resolution, personalization, content supply chain, or journey orchestration solutions.
Familiarity with machine learning concepts, generative AI capabilities, responsible AI practices, and AI-enabled customer experience use cases.
Experience within a consulting, systems integration, digital transformation, or enterprise software services environment.
Experience working directly with Adobe, Adobe partners, or Adobe enterprise client implementations.
Experience mentoring architects, engineers, or technical delivery teams.
Familiarity with enterprise architecture frameworks, integration patterns, domain-driven design, data mesh, or related architecture approaches.
Participation in Adobe partner programs, technical communities, thought leadership initiatives, or industry events.
What Great Looks Like
The strongest candidate will be:
Highly independent and self-managing.
Comfortable leading architecture conversations without significant oversight.
Credible with both technical and business stakeholders.
Pragmatic rather than theoretical.
Skilled at navigating ambiguity and establishing a clear path forward.
Strong in architecture trade-offs, communication, and client influence.
Able to bridge Adobe platform capabilities with broader enterprise business objectives.
The annual base salary range for this position is $136,000 -$190,075. Placement within the salary range is based on a variety of factors, including relevant experience, knowledge, skills, and other factorspermittedby law. Additionally, this position is eligible for discretionary incentive compensation.
Benefits available with this position include:
Medical, vision, and dental insurance,
Life insurance,
Short-term and long-term disability insurance,
401k,
Flexible paid time off,
At least 15 paid holidays per year,
Paid sick and safe leave, and
Paid parental leave.
Dentsu alsocomplies withapplicable state and local lawsregardingemployee leave benefits, including, but not limited to providing time offpursuant tothe Colorado Healthy Families and Workplaces Act,in accordance withits plans and policies. For further detailsregardingDentsu benefits, please visit www.dentsubenefitsplus.com.
To begin the application process, please click on the “Apply” button at the top of this jobposting. Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis, and qualified candidates will be contacted fornextsteps.
Atdentsu, we believegreat workhappens whenwe’reconnected. Our way of working combines flexibility with in-person collaboration to spark ideas and strengthen our teams.Employees who live within a commutable distance of one of our hub offices, currently located in Chicago, metro Detroit, Los Angeles, and New York City, are required and expected to work from the office three days per week (two days per week for employees based in Los Angeles).Dentsu maydesignateother Hub offices at any time. Those who live outside a commutable range may bedesignated asremote, depending on the role and business needs. Regardless of your work location, we expect our employees to be flexible to meet the needs of our Company and clients, which may include attendance in an office.
Location:
Chicago
Brand:
Merkle
Time Type:
Full time
Contract Type:
Permanent
Dentsu is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees. We do this without regard to race, color, national origin, sex , sexual orientation, gender identity, age, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, ancestry, physical or mental disability, marital status, political affiliation, religious practices and observances, citizenship status, genetic information, veteran status, or any other basis protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.
Dentsu is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to, among others, individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans. If you need an accommodation because of a disability to search and apply for a career opportunity with us, please send an e-mail to ApplicantAccommodations@dentsu.com by clicking on the link to let us  know the nature of your accommodation request and your contact information. We are here to support you.
Additional Locations: New York