Principal Consultant – Application Modernization

Principal Consultant – Application Modernization

Requirements

• Significant, demonstrable experience leading large-scale application transformation and modernization engagements for enterprise clients.
• Deep expertise and practical knowledge across key areas of Application Modernization: Modernization Strategies & Patterns, Application Portfolio Assessment, Cloud-Native Architecture & Development, Cloud Platforms (Azure, AWS, GCP), DevOps & DevSecOps, Programming Languages/Frameworks, Database Modernization, Legacy Systems.
• Strong understanding and practical application of Agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban) and modern Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) principles.
• Results-oriented with a focus on delivering measurable business outcomes through technology.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills.
• Proven ability to architect robust, scalable, and secure technical solutions that directly address business needs.
• Strong leadership qualities with the ability to motivate and guide technical teams.
• Collaborative team player, adept at working with internal teams, clients, and partners.
• Strong customer-centric focus.
• Ability to manage priorities and work effectively under pressure and meet deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate application portfolio assessment, modernization strategy development, target architecture design (including microservices, serverless, containerization), roadmap creation, and planning workshops.
• Lead discovery sessions to deeply understand client business objectives, pain points, existing application landscape (including legacy systems), and technical constraints.
• Ensure client expectations regarding modernization outcomes (e.g., cost savings, agility, scalability), timelines, technical approaches, and potential challenges are clearly defined and managed.
• Lead technical project teams in delivering Application Modernization consulting services and implementation projects, covering various modernization patterns (e.g., Rehost, Replatform, Refactor, Rearchitect, Rebuild, Replace).
• Drive and manage project objectives, gather detailed functional and non-functional requirements for modernized applications, track project tasks/milestones, manage status reporting, identify dependencies, and ensure engagements deliver tangible business value through successful modernization, on time.
• Break down complex application modernization challenges into manageable workstreams, identify key factors (e.g., technical debt, data migration complexity, organizational change readiness), and determine the optimal modernization approach for specific applications or portfolios.
• Perform final review, editing, and sign-off on project deliverables such as assessment findings, modernization strategy documents, target state architecture blueprints, migration plans, and potentially code reviews or PoC results.
• Present modernization strategies, proposed architectures, project updates, and final deliverables effectively to both technical stakeholders and client executive management.
• Lead, mentor, and guide consultants and client team members, fostering best practices in modern software development, cloud-native principles, and specific modernization techniques.
• Support business development activities by leading client discovery meetings specifically aimed at identifying, qualifying, and shaping application modernization opportunities.
• Act as the subject matter expert for Application Modernization offerings during the sales cycle, contributing to project scoping, effort estimation, defining value propositions, developing proposals, and presenting compelling solutions to prospective clients.
• Develop and nurture strong client relationships, positioning AHEAD as a trusted advisor, and effectively communicate the business and technical benefits of application modernization to C-Level executives and IT leadership.
• Actively contribute to the development and enhancement of AHEAD’s Application Modernization service offerings, methodologies (e.g., assessment frameworks, pattern selection guides), standardized deliverables, and reusable assets.
• Maintain deep knowledge and understanding of the current and emerging landscape of application development, architecture, and modernization, including key trends (e.g., DevSecOps, AI/ML integration, event-driven architectures), technologies (e.g., Kubernetes, service mesh, specific PaaS/FaaS offerings), and cloud provider advancements.
• Establish and maintain technical credibility through thought leadership activities (e.g., writing blog posts, presenting at webinars/conferences, contributing to open source) focused on application modernization.
• Mentor junior team members and peers, sharing expertise in application modernization strategies, cloud-native development, and modern software engineering practices.
• Consciously foster a collaborative and innovative workplace culture consistent with AHEAD’s values and guiding principles.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in a pre-sales or consulting role, defining technical requirements and scoping application modernization projects, is highly preferred.
• Prior consulting experience specifically in application development, architecture, or modernization is strongly preferred.