Technical Architect

Strong hands-on expertise in cloud-native architecture (AWS/Azure/GCP), microservices and event-driven design, containerization and orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes), and API-led integration patterns. Proficient in designing for scalability, resilience, high availability, and observability, with strong command of DevOps/CI-CD practices and security protocols (OAuth2, JWT, mTLS). Familiarity with integration frameworks (Kafka, MQ, ESB) and infrastructure-as-code (Terraform, CloudFormation). Working knowledge of the banking and payments domain, including ISO 20022-based payment architectures, payment hubs (e.g., FIS OPF), and core banking platforms (e.g., Finacle, Temenos, Flexcube), is a plus, but secondary to the core technical architecture skill set.

Technical Architecture Skills

• Strong businesstechnology alignment, with the ability to translate business capabilities into target architecture and solution architecture blueprints
  • Ability to articulate complex architecture constructs (microservices, distributed systems, integration patterns) to business and technical stakeholders
  • Expertise in driving architecture governance, design reviews, and ensuring adherence to enterprise architecture standards
  • Analyze system landscapes, legacy architectures, and technical constraints to design scalable, resilient, and cloud-native solutions
  • Demonstrate technical leadership, ownership, and accountability while mentoring teams and enforcing engineering best practices
  • Strong analytical and decomposition skills to break down monolithic systems into modular, loosely coupled services
  • Proficient in creating architecture artifacts such as HLDs, LLDs, sequence diagrams, data flow diagrams, and integration mappings
  • Apply design principles (SOLID, DRY, domain-driven design) and architecture patterns (event-driven, API-led, microservices)
  • Strategic mindset with the ability to evaluate technology stacks, platform capabilities, and build vs buy decisions
  • Strong focus on non-functional requirements (NFRs) including scalability, performance, security, availability, and observability
  • Experience in stakeholder management and leading architecture discussions, solutioning workshops, and technical roadmaps
  • Support pre-sales and solutioning through effort estimation, architecture proposals, and RFP responses
  • Ability to work in Agile/DevOps environments, collaborating across cross-functional squads and driving CI/CD and automation practices
  • Proficiency in architecture and modeling tools (Visio, Draw.io, ArchiMate, UML) and documentation platforms
• Hands-on expertise in containerization and orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes) and service mesh (Istio, Linkerd)
• Proficient in Infrastructure-as-Code (Terraform, CloudFormation) and observability tooling (Prometheus, Grafana, ELK/EFK)

Experience with API gateways and service-mesh security (mTLS, OAuth2/OIDC), and designing for serverless and event-driven compute models.

Banking & Payments Domain Knowledge (Secondary)

• Working knowledge of ISO 20022 message standards and end-to-end payment flows (pain, pacs, camt, admi)
• Familiarity with global payment schemes such as SEPA, SCT Inst, UK Faster Payments, and cross-border (SWIFT)
• Exposure to payment hubs/frameworks (preferably FIS OPF) and their integration with core banking systems
• Understanding of core banking functions (accounts, deposits, loans, CASA lifecycle) and platforms such as Finacle, Temenos, or Flexcube
• Awareness of regulatory and compliance requirements (PSD2, AML, KYC) impacting system design
• Prior experience in banking/payments engagements is preferred but not mandatory for candidates with strong technical architecture depth

Technical Architecture Skills (Primary)

• Deep expertise in cloud-native architecture (AWS/Azure/GCP)
• Strong command of microservices architecture and design patterns
• Skilled in API design and integration (REST, GraphQL, gRPC)
• Experience with event-driven and messaging systems (Kafka, MQ, event streaming)
• Hands-on with containerization and orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes)
• Proficient with service mesh and API gateways (Istio, Kong, Apigee)
• Working knowledge of Infrastructure-as-Code (Terraform, CloudFormation)
• Experience driving CI/CD and DevOps automation
• Familiarity with observability and monitoring (Prometheus, Grafana, ELK/EFK)
• Strong understanding of:
• High-volume, low-latency distributed systems design
• Security architecture (OAuth2/OIDC, mTLS, Zero Trust)
• Resilience patterns (circuit breaker, bulkhead, retries)

Banking & Payments Domain Knowledge (Secondary)

• Working knowledge of ISO 20022 message formats and payment flows
• Familiarity with payment schemes (SEPA, SCT Inst, UK Faster Payments, cross-border/SWIFT) and payment hubs (e.g., FIS OPF)
• Understanding of core banking functions (accounts, deposits, loans, CASA lifecycle)
• Exposure to core banking platforms (e.g., Finacle, Temenos, Flexcube)
• Awareness of regulatory and compliance considerations (PSD2, AML, KYC) is a plus, but not a primary requirement

Consulting & Leadership Skills

• Strong problem-solving and analytical thinking
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
• Ability to translate business requirements into technical architecture
• Experience leading distributed teams and large-scale implementations
• Strong documentation and presentation skills

Good to Have

• Experience with enterprise architecture frameworks (TOGAF)
• Exposure to DevOps, CI/CD pipelines
• Knowledge of data architecture and real-time analytics
• Prior consulting experience in Big4 or similar firms

Tools & Technologies

• API tools: Swagger, Postman
• Architecture tools: Visio, Draw.io
• Dev tools: Git, Jenkins, Docker, Kubernetes
• Requirements tools: Jira, ConfluenceRole & responsibilities

Preferred candidate profile