Principal Manager I (Principal Architect)

Overview

The Principal Manager I (Principal Architect) leads the Enterprise Architecture (EA) program, ensuring Judicial Council technology strategies align with compliance requirements and support the judicial branch’s strategic and operational goals. This role manages a team of enterprise architects and serves as a key advisor to Judicial Council leadership, driving technology direction that advances innovation and efficiency across the branch.  The Enterprise Architecture program is critical to Judicial Council operations and the success of the judicial branch.

Key Responsibilities:
• Lead the Enterprise Architecture Program: Define and maintain the enterprise architecture framework, standards, and governance.
• Manage and Mentor Team: Supervise enterprise architects, fostering professional growth and collaboration.
• Strategic Alignment: Partner with Judicial Council leadership to ensure technology initiatives align with branch-wide priorities.
• Compliance and Risk Management: Ensure adherence to security, privacy, and regulatory requirements.
• Innovation and Optimization: Identify emerging technologies and recommend solutions that improve efficiency and service delivery.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Communicate architecture strategies and decisions to executives, business units, and technical teams.

The ideal candidate will have experience leading and managing a highly skilled technical team, extensive knowledge of the California court systems and their operations, demonstrated innovative and thought leadership, and possess the ability to communicate effectively with all levels of leadership and staff.

The Judicial Council
The Judicial Council of California is the policy setting body for the state court system and has constitutionally conferred statewide rule-making authority. This authority includes developing, advocating for, and allocating the judicial branch budget. A majority of Council members are California state justices and judges; however, the Council also includes lawyers, legislators, and court administrators.

By enhancing its role as a leadership, knowledge, and service resource for the judicial branch, the Judicial Council’s staff organization seeks to continue to evolve as one of California’s most dynamic public service entities, focused on improving access to justice for all Californians by innovating and responding to the changing needs of the courts and the public. As a government body charged with improving the statewide administration of justice, the Judicial Council has multiple offices with diverse responsibilities relating to court policy and operations. As employees of the council, every member of staff should view and approach their work as one Judicial Council with a public service mission that is greater than the sum of its parts.

The Judicial Council strives for work life balance and includes substantial vacation and holiday time. In addition, we offer an excellent benefits package including pension, medical, dental, and vision coverage, flexible spending, up to $130 per month reimbursement for qualifying commuting costs, student loan forgiveness as part of Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), and retirement savings plans. In San Francisco, the office is only a 7-minute walk from the downtown Civic Center BART station. In Sacramento, the office is located minutes from downtown, just north of Discovery Park.

The Judicial Council offers hybrid work arrangements for many positions. The successful candidate will be expected to work in person at the Judicial Council’s San Francisco or Sacramento office at least two days per week, based on their office leader’s direction, and reside in the areas surrounding these locations. To be eligible for Judicial Council employment and participation in the Judicial Council’s Hybrid Work Program, a prospective or current employee’s primary residence/remote work location must be in the State of California and within a 150-mile driving radius of their assigned reporting location.

Responsibilities

• Supervisory duties
• Managing the Enterprise Architecture program and services
• Stakeholder engagement
• Strategic architectural leadership
• Financial and resource management
• Decision-making and risk management
• Change and innovation leadership

Other Duties and Responsibilities:
• Attend bi-weekly IT project status meetings
• Attend bi-weekly IT management meetings
• Attend semi-annually IT all staff meetings
• Take mandatory training courses

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree and six (6) years of professional analytical or managerial experience in assigned function, including, but not limited to, program analysis, development, implementation, research, and advising, including at least three (3) years of supervisory/management experience.

An additional four (4) years of professional experience as noted above may substitute for the bachelor’s degree. Or, additional directly related experience and/or education may be substituted on a year-for-year basis.

OR

Master’s degree in a directly related field for the assigned discipline and three (3) years of professional-level analytical or managerial experience in assigned function, including, but not limited to, program analysis, development, implementation, research, and advising, including at least three (3) years of supervisory/management experience.

Other Information

Please note, if you are selected for hire, verification of employment authorization to work in the United States will be required.

How To Apply

This position requires the submission of our official application, a cover letter, responses to the supplemental questions, and a resume. To ensure consideration of your application for the earliest round of interviews, please apply by 5PM on March 17, 2026.

To complete the online application, please click the Apply for Job button.

The Judicial Council provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities who request such accommodation. Reasonable accommodation needs should be requested through Human Resources at (415) 865-4260. Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) is available by dialing 711. Once connected, provide the relay operator with the number for Human Resources: 415-865-4260.

Pay and Benefits

$10,475 - $15,713 per month

Please note due to statewide fiscal conditions, the posted salary range is subject to a temporary 3% reduction. In exchange for this reduction, judicial branch employees accrue an additional 5 hours of paid personal leave per month through June 30, 2027.

Some highlights of our benefits package include:
• Health/Dental/Vision benefits program
• 14 paid holidays per calendar year
• Choice of Annual Leave or Sick/Vacation Leave
• 1 personal holiday per year
• Up to $130 per month reimbursement for qualifying commuting costs
• CalPERS Retirement Plan
• 401(k) and 457 deferred compensation plans
• Employee Assistance Program
• Basic Life and AD&D Insurance
• FlexElect Program
• Pretax Parking
• Long Term Disability Program (employee paid/optional)
• Group Legal Plan (employee paid/optional)
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

Equal Employment Opportunity

The Judicial Council of California Is an Equal Opportunity Employer.