Application Modernization Lead

About the Role

As the Application Modernization Lead, you will be the visionary driving our enterprise-wide transition from legacy systems to a modern, agile, and secure technological landscape. Reporting directly to the SVP of IT Modernization, you will define the roadmap, design target architectures, and lead the charge in reducing technical debt while enabling future growth through Cloud-native and API-driven solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and drive the enterprise-wide Application Modernization Strategy and roadmap.
• Prioritize modernization projects based on business value, technical debt, cost, and risk.
• Develop modernization blueprints for transitioning legacy systems into future-ready architectures.
• Design and oversee the implementation of modular, Cloud-native, and API-first Target Architectures.
• Establish reference architectures, design guidelines, and reusable patterns for the organization.
• Analyze the current technology stack to select appropriate technologies that align with organizational goals.
• Identify systems for retirement, replacement, or replatforming to reduce complexity and operational costs.
• Present TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) and ROI analysis to senior management to facilitate decision-finding.
• Collaborate with external vendors to design modernization solutions.
• Evaluate technical proposals and maintain high-quality delivery standards from partners.
• Manage and mentor the Application Modernization team.
• Build internal capabilities to reduce long-term dependency on external vendors.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, IT, or a related field.
• Experience: At least 8 years of experience in Application Architecture, Integration, or Modernization.
• Leadership: Proven track record in a leadership role (Lead, Manager, or Head) within Software Development.
• Background: Experience working within medium to large-scale organizations with complex system environments.

Core Technical Skills

• Architecture Expertise: Deep knowledge of transitioning from Monolithic to Microservices, Modular Architecture, and API-first design.
• Modernization Strategies: Practical experience with the 6Rs (Refactor, Replatform, Rebuild, Retire, Replace, etc.).
• Integration & Cloud: Proficiency in Integration Architecture (API Gateways, Middleware, Message Queues) and Cloud-native patterns (Containers, Orchestration, Observability).
• DevOps: Strong understanding of CI/CD, Infrastructure as Code (IaC), and Automation.
• Legacy Knowledge: Understanding of legacy systems (e.g., older Java/.NET versions, ESB) and effective migration pathways.