Solutions Architect

1 year Contract

Our client is looking for an experienced Solution Architect to lead the end-to-end architecture of a strategic debit-card modernisation and core-banking integration programme within a major UK banking environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end solution architecture for debit-card and TM-Vault integration, covering lookup services, core-banking integration and changes across card-management, payment-gateway and clearing platforms.
• Define target-state architectures, solution designs, interface specifications and delivery roadmaps.
• Design integration patterns using REST APIs, SOAP, Kafka/event-driven services and batch processing.
• Architect solutions across Google Cloud Platform, Kubernetes, hybrid cloud and on-premises environments.
• Lead architecture decisions covering hosting, data movement, caching, orchestration, resilience, security, performance and observability.
• Produce and govern architecture artefacts including HLDs, LLDs, interface contracts, data flows, NFRs and Architecture Decision Records (ADRs).
• Work closely with Product Owners, Engineering, DevOps, Security, Infrastructure, QA and Service teams.
• Guide technical implementation across Java/Spring Boot microservices and integration services.
• Assess legacy integration constraints and design migration and coexistence strategies.
• Manage cross-platform dependencies, architecture risks and technical governance approvals.
• Conduct design reviews, technical assurance and production-readiness assessments.
• Support knowledge transfer, documentation and operational handover.
• Strong experience as a Solution Architect designing complex enterprise solutions within Banking, Cards, Payments or Core Banking.
• Strong expertise in API architecture, microservices, event-driven integration and batch processing.
• Strong knowledge of Kubernetes, hybrid cloud and on-premises integration.
• Good technical understanding of Java and Spring Boot architectures.
• Experience with Kafka or equivalent event-streaming technologies.
• Strong knowledge of REST/SOAP APIs, API gateways and API management.
• Experience with authentication, encryption, API security and secrets management.
• Strong understanding of cloud storage, data integration and distributed systems.
• Experience producing HLDs, LLDs, architecture diagrams, interface specifications and ADRs.
• Experience defining Non-Functional Requirements (NFRs) covering scalability, availability, resilience, latency, security, observability and recoverability.
• Understanding of CI/CD, automated quality controls and production-readiness practices.
• Strong stakeholder management, technical leadership and architecture governance experience.
• Experience with debit-card platforms and card lifecycle management.
• Knowledge of card ordering, lost-and-stolen servicing, PIN management, renewals, reissues and voice authorisation.
• Experience integrating legacy mainframe or card-management systems.
• Knowledge of ISO 8583, SOAP, file-based integration and modern API/event-driven patterns.
• Experience with Apigee, HashiCorp Vault, Google Cloud Storage or OpenShift.
• Familiarity with Jenkins, Harness, Splunk and Dynatrace.
• Experience with financial services architecture governance and security controls.
• Understanding of BIAN-aligned APIs and enterprise data models.
• Experience delivering large-scale banking transformation and platform modernisation programmes.

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