Lead Solution Architect at Absa Group Limited (Absa)

Job Summary

• Drive the design and delivery of complex fit for purpose, business strategy-aligned, high impact, cross domain technology solution blueprints & associated solutions & build architectural capability in Dev teams across an estate.

Job Description

The Everyday Banking Integration (EBI Architect) team within Everyday Banking Core Technology is looking for a Lead Solution Architect who meets the following criteria and or requirements:

• Candidate must have previous system development experience, with a preference for Java back end development.
• Experience in Springboot, Cubernetes, Jenkins and AWS is an advantage
• Candidate need to have strong problem solving skills, and need to be able to work with complex system design incorporating multiple systems.
• Well developed communication skills, as architecture need to be negotiated between parties and presented to various approval forums.
• Knowledge of infrastructure and technical ability is required as part of the role may be to trouble shoot problems along with the development teams. Also required to look at toolsets and DB structures as part of design.
• Identify best cloud architecture solution to meet strategic goals (Migration from On-prem to Cloud)
• Ability to implement well architected principal solution by designing on the following principles: secure, cost optimization, scalable and fault tolerance capabilities
• Leverage a solid & deep understanding of the organization strategy to identify, design & deliver relevant, scalable, testable, re-usable technology solutions•
• Work in collaboration with delivery teams to independently analyse customer requirements & varying business capabilities & leverage analysis to identify & accurately spec / frame ‘the complex business problems we are aiming to solve’ with each solution design or solution evolution
• Through the above processes, leverage emotional, social & business / commercial quotient to understand consumers and the broader range of stakeholders, their opinions & perspectives and reconcile these within the solution designs (negotiation skills and dealing with complex and divergent stakeholder opinions are a must)
• Leverage expertise in analytical & creative problem solving to synthesise a solution design (build a solution from its components) beyond the analysis of the problem
• Lead design thinking processes to successfully deliver solution blueprints & associated roadmaps
• Create end to end solution blueprints & ensure these can be implemented across all phases of the initiative life-cycle (ideation through to product launch & commercialization)
• Design & or contribute to the design & implementation of detailed feasibilities & business cases
• Leverage a strong engineering background to make the right choices in solution design – this knowledge includes but is not limited to: domain driven design, loosely coupled integration, microservices and other modern software design practices
• The above extends to identifying the best fit tools to be used for a particular solution, understanding those that would not be a good choice and leveraging researching skills to pivot towards something better
• Assume ‘one stop’ shop accountability for solution blueprint design & delivery decisions within an organization based on the above
• Work with project / program management teams to design solution roadmaps aligned to the strategic requirements of an organization and through which the solution can be implemented across all phases of the initiative life-cycle (ideation through to product launch and commercialization)
• Work embedded, as part of a delivery team, to ensure the successful design & implementation of solution blueprints
• Ensure that the detail of the solution (across all architecture domains) is accurate to the implementation of the initiative, true to the bank’s architectural principles/preferences, implementable by the different teams involved in the solution
• Work as part of embedded delivery teams to conduct solution reviews, code reviews, testing and other disciplines associated with solution design & delivery
• Attend various Group & Business specific architectural design forums and present solution designs and detailed business cases for approval
• Leverage synthesis & creative problem skills to identify risk (impending danger & challenges) and work with a cross functional group of stakeholders across the value chain for support & direction
• Conduct solution reviews against defined customer metrics and ensure the ongoing achievement of business results through solution implementation
• Ensure a solid understanding of emerging & evolving architectural principles and hold one stop shop accountability for the evolution of solutions in alignment with these principles (where it makes sense to do so)
• Build architectural capability across delivery teams in a business to ensure ongoing evolution of skills in solution delivery
• Contribute to the architecture body of knowledge
• Contribute to the design & evolution of architectural principles and preferences

People

• Participate in peer reviews (code, solution, testing etc.) and transfer knowledge and capability across delivery teams for improved solutioning & evolving architectural practices
• Set & Cascade solution direction across technology delivery teams
• Build & evolve the architectural capability of Delivery teams across the business – through active coaching & information / knowledge sharing
• As an SME, support the proactive attraction, recruitment, development, & retention of strong technology teams across an estate
• Leverage and embed agile practices in delivery teams and work to build strong self-directed, high performance teams through agile working practices (including daily, weekly, etc. sprint routines, regular & honest feedback etc.)

Financial & Vendor Management, Risk & Governance

• Carry the ‘one stop shop’ accountability for all risk associated with solution design (from ideation to deployment)
• Apply the organization risk & governance frameworks
• Ensure solution design alignment to Group guidelines & ensure solutions are sustainable for the enterprise
• Proactively involve / engage chapter & guild leads in solution decision making, applying an enterprise wide lens to product & service development
• Ensure solution design alignment to regulatory requirements and continuously update knowledge on regulatory requirements for the successful design of new & evolution of existing solutions
• Deliver on time & on budget (always)

Education

• Bachelor's Degree: Information Technology