Senior Solutions Architect (Business Banking) Contract

Role: Senior Solutions Architect (Business Banking)
Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Engagement: Contractual
Duration: 12 Months (Extendable Contract, Long-term with Marc Ellis)

Job Summary:

The Senior Solutions Architect is responsible for designing and governing secure, scalable, and high-performing technology solutions aligned with business objectives. Operating within the Architecture Chapter, this role ensures the consistent application of architectural standards, patterns, and best practices across Agile squads, platforms, infrastructure, and data teams. Reporting to the Head of Architecture and working in a matrix with delivery leads, the role demands deep technical expertise, strong solution orientation, and leadership qualities to support end-to-end solution delivery and platform resilience.

Domain Competencies:

• Develop and maintain architecture standards, guidelines, and best practices.
• Design and implement end-to-end architecture solutions based on requirements from product owners and business stakeholders.
• Lead the design of web applications, mobile apps, microservices, and supporting ecosystems in collaboration with internal departments and subsidiaries.
• Apply industry best practices to architecture, application design, and user experience.
• Ensure solution designs align with internal development standards, user journeys, wireframes, andestablished architectural patterns.
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in designing applications (web and mobile), microservices, and APIs.
• Minimum 5 years’ experience working with cloud-native technologies such as containers, service mesh, Kubernetes/OpenShift, and virtualization.
• Minimum 3 years’ experience in Cybersecurity or Information Security.
• Collaborate with security teams to ensure confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data assets.

Technical Competencies:

• Strong all-round knowledge of software engineering, solution architecture, and cybersecurity principles.
• Proven ability to design robust architecture solutions that balance user experience, performance, resiliency, reliability, and security.
• Experience integrating applications within diverse ecosystems including mobile apps, microservices, cloud-native technologies, event streams, APIs, and message brokers.
• Deep understanding of architectural patterns such as microservices and API-first design.
• Strong grasp of security concepts: Authentication, Authorization, Encryption, Logging/Monitoring, OWASP Top 10, Infrastructure & Cloud Security, and regulatory requirements.
• Experience using enterprise architecture tools (e.g., Enterprise Architect) and data modeling tools.
• Hands-on experience with cloud platforms such as Azure, AWS, OpenShift, and OCI.

Behavioural Competencies:

• Delivery-focused while ensuring the right balance of customer experience, business requirements, performance, reliability, and security.
• High energy, enthusiasm, and passion.
• Excellent analytical and critical thinking skills.
• Excellent stakeholder, time management, and expectation management skills.
• Autonomous decision-making ability with minimal guidance.
• High learning potential and adaptability to emerging technologies.
• Ability to coach and mentor associate/junior architects.

Core Objectives & Key Results (OKRs):

Business Delivery Enablement Dimension (How Am I Helping My Team/Tribe)

• Deliver complete and self-sufficient solutions and/or design documents within agreed timelines.
• Improve the efficiency of the architecture design workflow through automation.
• Contribute to building reliable and resilient platforms.

Chapter Enablement Dimension (How Am I Helping My Chapter)

• Deliver educational workshops to Chapter and Tribe members.
• Conduct peer review sessions.
• Ensure new solutions follow or define reusable blueprints/reference architecture.

Personal Development Dimension (How Am I Helping Myself)

• Invest time in improving personal and professional skills through the completion of technical and soft
skill programs, stretch assignments, and coaching/mentoring.