About us

Rural King is America’s Farm and Home Store, providing essentials to the communities we serve. With a wide array of necessities ranging from food and feed to farm and home products, Rural King serves over 150 locations across 17 states and is constantly expanding. Our annual sales exceed $2.5 Billion, and our heart beats in Mattoon, IL, home to our corporate office, distribution center, and flagship store.

 

One thing our customers appreciate is our unique shopping experience, complete with complimentary popcorn and coffee. It's just one way we show our appreciation for their support.

 

At Rural King, we value our associates and strive to create a positive, rewarding workplace. We offer growth opportunities, competitive benefits, and a people-first environment where dedicated individuals come together to serve rural communities passionately. Join us, and you'll find not just a job but a chance to grow professionally, contribute meaningfully, and make a difference in the lives of those we serve.

 

How we reward you

401(k) plan that provides a 100% match on the first 3% of your contributions and 50% of the next 2%

Healthcare plans to support your needs

Virtual doctor visits

Access to Centers of Excellence with Barnes Jewish Hospital and Mayo Clinic’s Complex Care Program

15% Associate Discount

Dave Ramsey’s SmartDollar Program

Associate Assistance Program

RK Cares Associate Hardship Program

24/7 Chaplaincy Services

Company paid YMCA Family Membership

What You’ll Do

The Principal Enterprise Architect, with a specialized focus on Oracle technologies, is a strategic leader responsible for the overall design and evolution of our enterprise-wide technology architecture. This role will drive the strategy, roadmap, and governance for all IT initiatives, including core database systems, applications (e.g., Oracle, HCL Commerce, Infios WMS, etc), and cloud services (OCI). The ideal candidate will bridge the gap between business objectives and technical implementation, ensuring our IT investments are scalable, secure, and aligned with long-term organizational goals.

 

• Lead the development of enterprise architecture strategies and roadmaps for IT platforms, encompassing applications, data, and infrastructure
• Act as the primary technical authority for IT solutions, providing expert guidance on complex architectural decisions and best practices for on-premise and cloud environments
• Design and oversee the implementation of large-scale, complex IT solutions, including migrations, upgrades, and integrations with other enterprise systems
• Partner with business and technology stakeholders to translate business requirements into robust and scalable architectural designs
• Establish and enforce architectural standards, policies, and governance models for all IT projects to ensure consistency, security, and cost-effectiveness
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to solution architects, developers, and engineers, fostering a culture of technical excellence
• Monitor emerging technologies and industry trends to assess their potential impact and value to the organization
• Deliver clear, audience-appropriate updates to executives and cross-functional teams
• Use discretion and independent judgment in daily decisions while maintaining high confidentiality and professionalism
• Actively participate in learning initiatives such as training programs, workshops, and webinars. Leverage these opportunities to acquire new knowledge, refine existing skills, and stay current on the latest developments
• Provide friendly, proactive, and professional internal and external support to others, assisting with inquiries, concerns, and issues promptly and effectively
• Demonstrate behaviors that exemplify Rural King’s Values: People First, Integrity, Attitude, Initiative, Teamwork, Accountability, and Continuous Improvement
• Perform other duties as assigned

Supervisory Responsibilities

 Yes

 

Essential Qualities for Success

• 10+ years of progressive experience in IT roles, with significant time spent in an enterprise or solutions architecture capacity, plus 2+ years leading or supervising teams
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (or equivalent experience)
• Deep, hands-on expertise with Oracle database technologies (e.g., RAC, Exadata, Oracle Autonomous Database, GoldenGate)
• Significant experience with Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI), including design, deployment, and migration strategies
• Significant experience with Orace Integration Cloud (OIC) in creating automatio