The Lead Solution Architect owns the Architecture practice within SkyTeam and directly manages the Solution Architecture team. The role is accountable for architecture governance, solution quality, architecture standards, technology investment planning, and the long-term evolution of SkyTeam’s application, integration, data, and AI architecture capabilities. The role ensures technology investments, products, services, platforms, and data capabilities align with SkyTeam’s business strategy and technology roadmap.
SkyTeam delivers digital capabilities that enable a seamless travel experience across its member airlines and partners. The Lead Solution Architect is accountable for the long term effectiveness, sustainability, scalability, and risk profile of SkyTeam’s technology ecosystem, ensuring technology initiaitves align with business strategy, security requirements, and long-term objectives. The role owns architecture governance, technology standards, data and AI architecture, technology investment planning, and technology governance processes across SkyTeam. The role manages the Solution Architecture team, serves as the final authority for major technology initiatives, and acts as the principal technology advisor to Digital leadership on technology strategy, modernization, data, and AI initiatives.
KEY RESULT AREAS / KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Architecture Leadership and Governance
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Own SkyTeam’s architecture standards, governance processes, reference architectures, and technology design principles, and technology governance forums.
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Serve as the final architectural approval authority for major technology initiatives and architecture exceptions.
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Accountable for the architectural quality, scalability, resilience, security, and maintainability of solutions delivered across the technology portfolio.
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Define and monitor architecture KPIs and drive continuous improvement across the architecture practice.
Team Leadership-
Lead, mentor, and develop the Solution Architecture team, fostering a high-performing architecture capability.
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Provide technical guidance, coaching, and oversight to Solution Architects throughout the solution lifecycle.
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Allocate architectural resources across initiatives and establish priorities based on business needs and strategic objectives.
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Support recruitment, onboarding, development planning, and performance management for Solution Architects.
Technology, Data and AI Strategy
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Own SkyTeam’s target-state technology, data, and AI architecture roadmaps.
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Establish architectural principles and governance for applications, integrations, data platforms, analytics, automation, and AI-enabled capabilities.
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Ensure solutions are designed to support future AI and Agentic AI capabilities through strong data foundations, interoperability, and governance.
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Accountable for architecture investment planning and prioritization, ensuring technology investments support business objective and long-term strategy.
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Evaluate and provide approval recommendations for major technology initiatives, platforms, and architecture-related investments.
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Identify technology risks, architectural debt, and capability gaps, and recommend investment priorities.
Portfolio Oversight
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Provide architectural oversight across SkyTeam products, platforms, and strategic initiatives.
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Resolve architecture decisions and design trade-offs across teams, vendors, and member airlines.
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Act as the escalation point for architecture-related risks and issues.
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Ensure compliance with architecture, security, privacy, and operational standards.
Stakeholder and Partner Management
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Partner with business leaders, product teams, member airlines, and technology providers to align architecture decisions with business objectives.
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Represent SkyTeam architecture in strategic discussions with member airlines, vendors, and executive stakeholders.
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Balance business value, delivery speed, technical quality, and operational risk in architectural decision making.
MAIN INTERFACES / KEY CONTACTS
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Full-time position based in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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Hybrid working model requiring a minimum of three days per week in the SkyTeam office.
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Occasional travel to member airlines, partners, and industry events may be required.
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SkyTeam Digital teams: VP of Digital, Director of Common Services, CISO, Directors of Digital Products, Digital Product Owners, Solution Architects, Tech Leads, Engineering Teams and IT Operations, Business Representatives, SkyTeam contractors and consultants.
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Skyteam airline members and other external stakeholders: Business representatives, member airline architects, vendors (for Skyteam enabled products) and cloud provider representatives.
Responsibilities and tasks of the position are not limited to the above mentioned, and deviations can occur at any point in time as the position evolves.
REQUIRED SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE
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Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Software Engineering, Business Technology, or equivalent experience.
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10+ years of experience in solution architecture, enterprise architecture, technology leadership, or related roles.
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Experience leading architects, technical teams, or architecture communities of practice.
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Proven ability to define architecture standards, governance frameworks, and technology roadmaps.
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Strong experience designing and governing cloud-native, API-driven, and integration-heavy solutions.
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Knowledge of data architecture, AI-enabled solutions, cybersecurity, privacy, resilience, and technology risk management.
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Experience working with business and technology stakeholders in complex, multi-organization environments.
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Experience with Agile delivery models and balancing governance with execution.
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Working knowledge of modern technology platforms, including cloud, APIs, CI/CD, infrastructure-as-code, observability, and architecture modelling tools.
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Experience managing vendors, technology partners, and distributed delivery teams.
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Airline industry experience is strongly preferred.
Experience/knowledge in the following will stand out:-
Key airline processes, including distribution, ticketing, settlement, check-in, boarding, baggage, cargo quote/book, loyalty and service recovery.
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Airline IT systems and standards, including PSS, reservation, ticketing, revenue accounting, ancillary services, inventory, DCS, loyalty/CEM, NDC, ONE Order, ONE Record, frequent flyer programs, lounge access, payment and settlement.
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Technology partners and industry bodies such as SITA, ATPCO, Amadeus, Sabre and IATA.
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Emerging technologies relevant to the travel ecosystem, including AI, Agentic AI, data platforms, cloud-native integration, digital identity and customer experience platforms.
COMPETENCIES
Architecture Leadership and Governance:-
Ability to define and govern architecture across applications, integrations, data, analytics, and AI capabilities.
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Ability to make sound technology decisions balancing business value, risk, cost, scalability, and maintainability.
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Ability to establish architectural direction and drive adoption across multiple teams and stakeholders.
People Leadership and Team Development:-
Ability to lead, coach, and develop architects and technical professionals.
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Ability to establish priorities, set expectations, and hold teams accountable for quality and delivery
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Ability to build and sustain a high-performing architecture practice.
Strategic Thinking & Innovation-
Ability to translate business strategy into technology, data, and AI roadmaps.
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Ability to evaluate emerging technologies and identify opportunities for innovation and competitive advantage.
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Ability to identify architectural debt, technology risks, and capability gaps.
Stakeholder Management:-
Strong interpersonal, communication, presentation, and influencing skills.
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Ability to engage effectively with executives, member airlines, vendors, and technical teams.
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Ability to align diverse stakeholders around strategic technology decisions.
Decision Making and Delivery:-
Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
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Ability to make decisions with incomplete information while managing risk appropriately.
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Ability to balance delivery speed, operational stability, technical quality, and long-term strategic goals.
With respect to SkyTeam values:
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Collaborative and team-oriented leadership style.
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Ability to work effectively across cultures and geographies.
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High integrity, curiosity, accountability, and customer focus.
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Commitment to continuous improvement, innovation, and operational excellence.
SkyTeam will offer you a complete salary package that includes unique benefits:
A challenging role at a unique employer in the Netherlands-
Salary: a competitive monthly gross salary depending on your experience
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Vacation pay: 8% of gross annual salary
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Vacation days: 27 vacation days for one year
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Birthday leave: additional PTO (1 day) on or around your birthday
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Public holiday exchange: exchange Dutch bank holidays with any bank holiday culturally significant to you
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Pension plan: everything you need for a good retirement
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Equipment: laptop, phone or e-sim
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Home office: create and equip your home office with our support.
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Travel allowance: travel allowance for public transport, bicycle, and car
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Discounted travel: reduced airfares after 6 months of your start date
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Learning environment: free access to LinkedIn Learning, Lunch & Learn sessions, and the opportunity to surround yourself with highly skilled colleagues
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Work from anywhere: flexibility to work from anywhere in the world (duration of max. four weeks)
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Hybrid way of working: we offer flexibility to work from home
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Fun events: potluck parties, monthly after work get-togethers, BBQs, annual summer/winter events, and more appealing team activities throughout the year
Application procedure:
Within a few weeks, we will assess your profile for this position, and should there be a match, we will contact you via email about the potential fit. If your skills and experience align with our needs, here is what you can expect:
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Preliminary chat with the Recruiter (Virtual).
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First Interview: You'll receive an invitation for a first interview in-person at our office in Amstelveen.
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Second Interview & Case Study: You'll be invited to a second round of interviews at our office in Amstelveen if the first interview goes well. This stage may also include a case presentation, providing you with an opportunity to showcase your problem-solving skills and industry acumen. On occasions, there might be a follow-up third/final Interview.
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Email Job Offer: Upon successful completion of the interviews, we'll present a job offer to you via email.
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Contract/Offer: Finally, with much excitement, we'll prepare a comprehensive employment contract formalizing your new role at SkyTeam.
SkyTeam is the global airline alliance dedicated to transforming the future of travel by powering the smartest and most integrated customer journey. Committed to innovation, responsibility, and collaboration, SkyTeam and our member airlines connect customers across an extensive global network. The alliance brings together diverse cultures and backgrounds through a shared passion for aviation—both passenger and cargo. We continuously evolve to meet the changing needs of travelers and the aviation industry.
At SkyTeam, we know the importance of fresh perspectives. With members spread across five continents and multiple time zones, we are flexible and agile, focused on delivering services that create synergy. Our headquarters in Amstelveen is home to a truly international team that reflects the diversity of our member airlines. With more than 30 nationalities represented on our team, we are proud to foster an inclusive, non-discriminatory workplace where differences are celebrated, successes are shared, and collaboration drives value for our members.
