Position Title:  Sr. Manager R&D Architecture

Sr. Manager R&D Architecture

Be a part of a revolutionary change.

At PMI, we’ve chosen to do something incredible. We’re totally transforming our business, and building our future on smoke-free products.

With huge change, comes huge opportunity. So, wherever you join us, you’ll enjoy the freedom to dream up and deliver better, brighter solutions and the space to move your career forward in endlessly different directions.

It’s so rare in R&D that everything aligns to create the ideal conditions for outstanding work. Right now, at PMI, that’s exactly what’s happening. R&D is the driving force for our bold new vision: to replace cigarettes with a revolutionary portfolio of alternative products.

Join us and you’ll have the resources, support and technology you need to break new ground and see ideas come to life. You’ll be surrounded by some of the brightest scientists in their fields, with fast access to subject experts and commercial decision-makers.

If you’re creative, courageous and ready to take risks, you can make a huge impact and propel your career in an endless number of directions. Ultimately, by delivering our smoke-free and beyond nicotine future

Your ‘day to day’

As Sr. Manager R&D Architecture, you will shape the end‑to‑end technology vision powering PMI’s R&D organization.

You’ll lead the definition of scalable, secure, and compliant architectures across Medical Science, Innovation, Quality, Regulatory, and Product Development—ensuring technology choices directly enable business impact and regulatory success.

Operating at the intersection of business strategy, digital innovation, and technology delivery, you’ll define the target‑state architecture for AI‑enabled R&D, accelerate high‑value use cases, and drive seamless integration across platforms such as LIMS, QMS, and OT/IoT. You’ll anticipate industry trends, guide modernization and application rationalization, and uphold architectural excellence through strong governance.

In this role, you’ll also build and inspire a high‑performing architecture team, collaborate closely with business and technology leaders, and partner with external experts—ensuring every architectural decision is evidence‑based, value‑driven, and aligned with PMI’s long‑term vision.

More specifically, you'll

• Define and steer Tech R&D architecture strategy, reference models, and multi-year roadmaps for the domain in scope.
• Assess technology trends and translate them into standards, patterns, and guardrails that accelerate value delivery while handling risk.
• Drive application rationalization to help the platforms on the technical debt management.
• Engage R&D leaders to map capabilities and prioritize architectural epics and investment.
• Shape decisions by presenting option analyses and NFR implications (reliability, scalability, performance, cybersecurity/OT safety), ensuring designs take in consideration operational constraints.
• Align global and local by governing solution choices across regions
• Establish and implement R&D architecture principles, ensuring their adherence across platforms by running architecture boards to approve domain and solution designs; monitor conformance and handle exceptions with clear risk visibility.
• Supervise risk and change in the R&D context; ensure compliance with internal standards and external regulations.
• Lead, develop, and coach a team of Domain Architects and Solution Architects; set priorities, supervise capacity, and foster a culture of business orientation, critical thinking, continuous learning, innovation, and autonomy.
• Build and foster an operating model where the Domain and Solution Architects:

- Act as the planning, integration, and communication focal point for new solutions within their domain.

- Provide architecture services insights; work on high level, cross functional initiatives ensuring alignment with business and IT strategies.

- Guide solutions within scope of the domain, providing oversight of more detailed solution architectures that are project/implementation driven.

- Provide oversight and leadership to Solution Architects in the domain.

- Curate input from the architecture community to establish principles, standards, and patterns used across IT products, aligned to enterprise direction.

• Build and foster an operating model where the Solution Architects:

- Own solution design and development across systems/platforms/applications to fulfill business needs.

- Serve as technical specialists on design, development, and implementation requirements.

- Ensure compatibility, interoperability, stability, usability, and performance of solutions.

• Advise and influence senior stakeholders; build strategic relationships internally and with key external partners to evolve the OPS architecture and accelerate delivery.
• Communicate progress, risks, and trade offs with clarity; ensure programs deliver on time, within scope, and on budget, in partnership with PMO and product/engineering leads.

Who we’re looking for

• Advanced degree preferred (Masters/MBA/Doctorate) in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field.
• Minimum 8 years’ experience in Information Technology with expertise across multiple architecture domains, including minimum 6 years’ experience in leading teams and resources in complex environments.
• Strong R&D Architecture expertise across main commercial packages in the domains in scope.
• Sound expertise in Architecture Design & Governance and Application Portfolio Management & Tech Debt.
• Demonstrated Enterprise Architecture Leadership skills. Ability to set vision and frame choices. Capability mapping skills.
• Sound expertise in engaging R&D leaders with a value & evidence mindset. Ability to translate operational goals into target architecture and executable roadmaps.
• Strong expertise in attracting, developing and retaining skilled professionals. Ability to lead through influence across global/regional/local teams and vendors, as well as to foster a flexible, agile, and innovative culture.
• Expertise in Application Portfolio Management & Tech Debt.
• Fluency in both written and spoken English.

What we offer

Our success depends on the people who come to work every single day with a sense of purpose and an appetite for progress.

Join PMI and you too can:

• Seize the freedom to define your future and ours. We’ll empower you to take risks, experiment and explore.
• Be part of an inclusive, diverse culture, where everyone’s contribution is respected; collaborate with some of the world’s best people and feel like you belong.
• Pursue your ambitions and develop your skills with a global business – our staggering size and scale provides endless opportunities to progress.
• Take pride in delivering our promise to society: a smoke-free future.

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