Strategic Client Architect at Salesforce in Chicago, IL

Strategic Client Architect Location: Illinois - Chicago Metro - Remote To get the best candidate experience, please consider applying for a maximum of 3 roles within 12 months to ensure you are not duplicating efforts. Job Category Sales Job Details About Salesforce Salesforce is the #1 AI CRM, where humans with agents drive customer success together. Here, ambition meets action. Tech meets trust. And innovation isn’t a buzzword — it’s a way of life. The world of work as we know it is changing and we're looking for Trailblazers who are passionate about bettering business and the world through AI, driving innovation, and keeping Salesforce's core values at the heart of it all. Ready to level-up your career at the company leading workforce transformation in the agentic era? You’re in the right place! Agentforce is the future of AI, and you are the future of Salesforce. What You’ll Do 1. Strategic Architecture & Executive Advisory Partner with CIOs, CTOs, and Chief Architects to define enterprise-wide digital transformation strategies powered by Salesforce and AI Define future-state architectures, roadmaps, and transformation blueprints across data, AI, integration, and applications Act as a trusted advisor, aligning business strategy with technology execution Influence customer architecture decisions at enterprise scale and long-term platform adoption 2. Pre-Sales Leadership & Deal Execution Lead technical strategy for priority deals, supporting account teams in winning new business Conduct discovery sessions, white-boarding, and architecture visioning to shape solution direction Own and lead Proof of Concepts (POCs), translating requirements into working solutions that validate business value Handle technical objections, risk mitigation, and due diligence processes 3. Solution Architecture & Technical Depth Design scalable, multi-cloud architectures across Salesforce (MuleSoft, Informatica, AI, Industry Clouds, integrations, etc.) Translate business requirements into end-to-end solution architectures and implementation roadmaps Guide customers through legacy modernization and cloud transformation Evaluate and integrate Salesforce and third-party technologies into cohesive architectures 4. AI, Data & Innovation Leadership Champion adoption of AI/ML, automation, and data-driven architectures Define patterns for trusted AI, governance, and scalable enterprise data strategies Stay ahead of emerging trends and translate them into customer-relevant innovation 5. Customer Lifecycle Ownership (Pre-Sales → Value Realization) Lead the full solution lifecycle: Pre-sales strategy Architecture design Handoff to delivery Ongoing value realization and adoption Ensure alignment between architecture decisions and measurable business outcomes 6. Leadership, Mentorship & Community Building Mentor Solution Engineers, Technical Architects, and partners Build and contribute to a global architect community and reusable assets Act as a multiplier, elevating technical capability across the organization What You Bring Experience 10+ years in: Enterprise architecture, solution architecture, or technical consulting Pre-sales, advisory, or customer-facing roles Proven experience engaging with executive stakeholders (CIO/CTO level) Track record of leading complex, multi-product deals and transformations Technical Expertise Deep knowledge of: Cloud architecture (SaaS, PaaS, multi-cloud) Enterprise data strategy & integration AI/ML, automation, and analytics Security and governance in hybrid environments Hands-on capability: Prototyping / POCs Coding or configuration (e.g., APIs, integrations, app architecture) Business & Sales Acumen Ability to: Translate business needs into compelling technical solutions Tie architecture decisions to business value and ROI Navigate complex sales cycles and influence deal strategy Strong storytelling and executive communication skills Leadership & Influence Experience mentoring architects and engineers Ability to lead cross-functional teams (Sales, Product, Engineering, Partners) Thought leadership through frameworks, white papers, or industry engagement Preferred Qualifications Salesforce certifications (MuleSoft Platform Architect, Application/System Architect, etc.) Experience with enterprise architecture frameworks (TOGAF, SAFe) Background in consulting, system integrators, or large-scale enterprise IT Industry domain expertise (e.g., Retail, Manufacturing, Consumer Goods, Automotive, Energy & Utilities) What Success Looks Like Trusted advisor to strategic customers Influences multi-million dollar deals and long-term platform adoption Drives measurable customer outcomes through architecture excellence Elevates the technical capability and credibility of the broader team Why This Role Is Different This is not just an architect role and not just pre-sales. It’s a hybrid of: Enterprise strategist Technical thought leader AI transformation advisor Hands-on architect You’re expected to think like a CIO, sell like a top SE, and build like an architect. Unleash Your Potential When you join Salesforce, you’ll be limitless in all areas of your life. Our benefits and resources support you to find balance andbe your best, and our AI agents accelerate your impact so you cando your best. Together, we’ll bring the power of Agentforce to organizations of all sizes and deliver amazing experiences that customers love. Apply today to not only shape the future — but to redefine what’s possible — for yourself, for AI, and the world. Accommodations If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or the recruiting process, please submit a request via this Accommodations Request Form. Please note that Salesforce uses artificial intelligence (AI) tools to help our recruiters assess and evaluate candidates’ resumes and qualifications throughout the recruiting process. Humans will always make any candidate selection and hiring decisions. Please see our Candidate Privacy Statement for more information about how we use your personal data and your rights, including with regard to use of AI tools and opt out options. Posting Statement Salesforce is an equal opportunity employer and maintains a policy of non-discrimination with all employees and applicants for employment. What does that mean exactly? It means that at Salesforce, we believe in equality for all. And we believe we can lead the path to equality in part by creating a workplace that’s inclusive, and free from discrimination. Know your rights: workplace discrimination is illegal. Any employee or potential employee will be assessed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications – without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, transgender status, age, disability, veteran or marital status, political viewpoint, or other classifications protected by law. This policy applies to current and prospective employees, no matter where they are in their Salesforce employment journey. It also applies to recruiting, hiring, job assignment, compensation, promotion, benefits, training, assessment of job performance, discipline, termination, and everything in between. Recruiting, hiring, and promotion decisions at Salesforce are fair and based on merit. The same goes for compensation, benefits, promotions, transfers, reduction in workforce, recall, training, and education. In the United States, compensation offered will be determined by factors such as location, job level, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Certain roles may be eligible for incentive compensation, equity, and benefits. Salesforce offers a variety of benefits to help you live well including: time off programs, medical, dental, vision, mental health support, paid parental leave, life and disability insurance, 401(k), and an employee stock purchasing program. More details about company benefits can be found at the following link: https://www.salesforcebenefits.com. At Salesforce, we believe in equitable compensation practices that reflect the dynamic nature of labor markets across various regions. The typical base salary range for this position is $173,460 - $231,980 annually There is a different range applicable to specific work locations. In California and New York, and select cities in the metropolitan areas of Boston, Chicago, Seattle, and Washington DC, the base pay range for this role in those locations is $190,750 - $255,150 per year. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for the job location during the hiring process. The range represents base salary only, and does not include company bonus, incentive for sales roles, equity or benefits, as applicable. Additional Locations: Massachusetts - Boston Metro - Remote, Texas - Remote, Michigan - Remote, Minnesota - Remote, Georgia - Atlanta Metro - Remote