Principal IT Solution Architect - NPI, Technical Integration

Our Mission

At Palo Alto Networks®, we’re united by a shared mission—to protect our digital way of life. We thrive at the intersection of innovation and impact, solving real-world problems with cutting-edge technology and bold thinking. Here, everyone has a voice, and every idea counts. If you’re ready to do the most meaningful work of your career alongside people who are just as passionate as you are, you’re in the right place.

Who We Are

In order to be the cybersecurity partner of choice, we must trailblaze the path and shape the future of our industry. This is something our employees work at each day and is defined by our values: Disruption, Collaboration, Execution, Integrity, and Inclusion. We weave AI into the fabric of everything we do and use it to augment the impact every individual can have. If you are passionate about solving real-world problems and ideating beside the best and the brightest, we invite you to join us!

We believe collaboration thrives in person. That’s why most of our teams work from the office full time, with flexibility when it’s needed. This model supports real-time problem-solving, stronger relationships, and the kind of precision that drives great outcomes.

Job Summary

The Team

Licensing Engineering & Technical Integration Strategy — an organization within IT Business Applications responsible for Palo Alto Networks' end-to-end licensing, entitlement, and integration engineering programs. We own the systems and architecture that power how our products are monetized, provisioned, and delivered across our entire Quote-to-Cash and Opportunity-to-Cash lifecycle.

Job Summary

As the Principal IT Solution Architect — NPI & Integration, you will be one of two principal architects responsible for the technical integration architecture across our entire Opportunity-to-Cash (O2C) flow. Working alongside your peer architect, you will own the solution strategy, L2 architectural design, and intelligent automation of our E2E NPI processes spanning Salesforce CPQ, SAP, and custom provisioning/licensing engines.

This is not a traditional architecture role. You will apply a "Design-First" first-principles mindset to embed intelligent automation, predictive analytics, and generative AI/LLM agentic workflows into our core Configure, Price, Quote (CPQ), billing, and licensing pipelines. You will own end-to-end technical execution of complex NPI monetization models, producing formal architecture artifacts that the execution team builds from.

You will serve as the strategic and technical bridge between core business monetization strategies and engineering execution — designing how our enterprise systems cohesively integrate and exchange data, while ensuring every integration pattern is reusable, scalable, and machine-readable for our AI SDLC framework.

This is an in office role in our HQ, Santa Clara, CA 3 days/week

Key Responsibilities

Integration Architecture & NPI Design

- Own end-to-end L2 technical system architecture for complex New Product Introductions across the full O2C flow (SFDC CPQ, SAP, licensing, provisioning, billing)

- Produce formal, reviewable architecture diagrams (Business, Data, Application, Physical layers) that engineering teams build from

- Design scalable integrations that balance business velocity with rigorous financial and technical standards

- Establish and maintain architecture-as-code practices so designs remain current and machine-readable

AI & Intelligent Automation

- Architect the transformation of E2E Q2C workflows using emerging AI capabilities

- Design architectures utilizing Large Language Models (LLMs) and Agentic frameworks to automate complex validations, data transformations, and process orchestration

- Contribute to the organization's AI Context Brain — embedding architecture knowledge into our AI SDLC framework

- Prototype AI-driven contract testing approaches to decouple dev-integration testing from upstream dependencies

Enterprise Integration & Cross-Team Orchestration

- Design holistic integration strategies across our enterprise software stack (Salesforce, SAP, custom engines)

- Define API contracts and interface specifications with upstream/downstream systems

- Work with NPI execution teams to ensure designs are executable, testable, and meet readiness gates

- Coordinate with external teams (SFDC, SAP, other IT orgs) on dependencies and integration patterns

Data Modeling & Financial Integrity

- Map complex, multi-tiered data flows across systems

- Design data validation and reconciliation patterns across system boundaries

Technical Leadership

- Lead technical design reviews with engineering and development teams

- Proactively identify dependencies, risks, and synergies across technical domains

- Elevate the technical capabilities of engineers on the NPI execution team through design guidance and architectural mentorship

- Develop proof-of-concepts for novel technical integrations and automation workflows

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Systems, or a related technical discipline

• 10+ years of professional experience in enterprise solution architecture, integration architecture, or technical product development

• Deep technical understanding of Quote-to-Cash (Q2C) and Opportunity-to-Cash (O2C) lifecycles with hands-on experience designing integrations across these domains

• Strong technical proficiency in Salesforce CRM/CPQ — understanding data models, API patterns, triggers, and complex configuration/amendment scenarios

• Demonstrated experience producing formal L2 architecture documentation (not just whiteboard sketches — artifacts that engineering teams build from)

• Deep expertise in API architectures (RESTful, GraphQL, event-driven), JSON/XML, and modern integration patterns

• Strong background in database design, data modeling, and multi-system data flow mapping

• Ability to read, write, and debug code (Python, Java, Node.js, or Apex) to lead hands-on technical design sessions and build working prototypes

• Exceptional analytical skills with demonstrated comfort navigating ambiguity and converting abstract product monetization concepts into robust system architectures

• Highly self-directed — proven ability to independently own complex technical workstreams without close supervision

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with AI/ML technologies, particularly LLMs and agentic frameworks, applied to enterprise process automation

• Experience with SAP integration patterns (billing, revenue recognition, financial flows)

• Background in SaaS/subscription business models, cybersecurity, or enterprise software companies

• Experience with FedRAMP or compliance-regulated environments

• Familiarity with architecture-as-code practices and keeping designs in sync with running systems

• Experience mentoring or technically guiding teams of 5-15 engineers on architectural decisions

Compensation Disclosure

The compensation offered for this position will depend on qualifications, experience, and work location. For candidates who receive an offer at the posted level, the starting base salary (for non-sales roles) or base salary + commission target (for sales/com-missioned roles) is expected to be the annual range listed below. The offered compensation may also include restricted stock units and a bonus. A description of our employee benefits may be found here.

$167,000.00 - $270,500.00/yr

Our Commitment

We’re trailblazers that dream big, take risks, and challenge cybersecurity’s status quo. It’s simple: we can’t accomplish our mission without diverse teams innovating, together.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for all qualified individuals with a disability. If you require assistance or accommodation due to a disability or special need, please contact us at  accommodations@paloaltonetworks.com.

Palo Alto Networks is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity in our workplace, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or other legally protected characteristics.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Is role eligible for Immigration Sponsorship? No. Please note that we will not sponsor applicants for work visas for this position.