Senior Guidewire Architect

Title: Senior Guidewire Architect

Location: Hybrid - Jersey City, NJ, or Raleigh, NC (2 days per week onsite)

Client Industry: Insurance

Compensation: $70 - $90/hr. (Contract-to-Hire)

We have partnered with our client in their search for a Senior Guidewire Architect to lead the end-to-end architecture of their Guidewire InsuranceSuite implementation. This role demands deep expertise in Guidewire products (particularly PolicyCenter and BillingCenter), strong knowledge of commercial P&C insurance operations, and proven experience delivering enterprise-scale solutions.

As the technical authority, you will define best practices, design integrations, and ensure architectural consistency across multiple projects. You will work closely with business stakeholders, development teams, and third-party vendors to align the implementation with the organization's strategic goals.

Responsibilities

• Architectural Leadership
  
  
  
  • Define and implement the Guidewire architecture strategy, ensuring scalability, security, and performance.
  
  
  • Oversee the Guidewire Cloud InsuranceSuite implementation, ensuring alignment with enterprise IT standards.
  
  
  • Provide technical leadership in design patterns, configuration strategies, and integration approaches.
  
  
  
  


• Solution Design & Integration
  
  
  
  • Lead complex integrations between Guidewire modules (PolicyCenter, BillingCenter) and enterprise systems (e.g., underwriting, finance, CRM, data warehouses).
  
  
  • Develop data models, integration frameworks, and configuration strategies to optimize performance.
  
  
  • Ensure architectural compliance by reviewing technical designs, coding practices, and security protocols.
  
  
  • Resolve complex technical challenges through design reviews and best practice recommendations.
  
  
  
  


• Technical Oversight & Governance
  
  
  
  • Establish coding standards, security policies, and performance benchmarks for Guidewire development.
  
  
  • Conduct code and design reviews to ensure high-quality, reliable, and scalable solutions.
  
  
  • Implement governance frameworks to manage design changes, minimize technical debt, and mitigate risks.
  
  
  
  


• Stakeholder & Vendor Management
  
  
  
  • Collaborate with third-party implementation partners, ensuring deliverables meet architectural standards.
  
  
  • Communicate technical roadmaps, risks, and mitigation strategies to senior leadership.
  
  
  • Work closely with product managers and business leaders to align Guidewire enhancements with business needs.
  
  
  
  


• Leadership & Mentorship
  
  
  
  • Mentor and guide solution architects, developers, and QA analysts, fostering a culture of technical excellence.
  
  
  • Promote knowledge-sharing initiatives and continuous learning within the organization.
  
  
  
  


• Continuous Improvement & Innovation
  
  
  
  • Stay updated on Guidewire releases, cloud technologies, and P&C insurance trends.
  
  
  • Evaluate and recommend new tools, technologies, and best practices to enhance system performance and user experience.
  
  
  
  

Skills Required

• Technical Expertise
  
  
  
  • 8 years of IT architecture experience in the P&C insurance industry.
  
  
  • 5 years of hands-on Guidewire experience (PolicyCenter, BillingCenter, or ClaimCenter), including configuration, integration, and performance optimization.
  
  
  • Strong knowledge of Guidewire Cloud InsuranceSuite, including Java, Gosu, and related frameworks.
  
  
  • Experience with Guidewire DataHub, InfoCenter, and Digital Portals is a plus.
  
  
  • Hands-on experience with microservices, RESTful APIs, messaging queues (Kafka), and cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud Platform) is highly desired.
  
  
  • Deep understanding of U.S. commercial P&C insurance underwriting and billing workflows.
  
  
  
  


• Leadership & Communication
  
  
  
  • Proven track record of leading large-scale Guidewire implementations and cross-functional teams.
  
  
  • Strong communication and presentation skills, able to convey technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
  
  
  • Experience in vendor management, risk assessment, and executive reporting.
  
  
  • Strong organizational skills, capable of managing multiple projects and priorities.
  
  
  
  


• Industry Knowledge & Methodologies
  
  
  
  • Strong understanding of P&C insurance products, business processes, and regulatory requirements.
  
  
  • Experience with Agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban) and DevOps practices (CI/CD, automated testing) is a plus.
  
  
  
  

Education & Work Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field.


• Guidewire Certification required.


• 8 years of IT architecture experience, with at least 5 years in a senior or lead Guidewire architect role.

About Korn Ferry

Korn Ferry unleashes potential in people, teams, and organizations. We work with our clients to design optimal organization structures, roles, and responsibilities. We help them hire the right people and advise them on how to reward and motivate their workforce while developing professionals as they navigate and advance their careers. To learn more, please visit Korn Ferry at ;/span>