Lead Solution Architect - Sandton at Absa Group Limited (Absa)

Job Summary

• The CIB Markets Tech team is looking for a Lead Solution Architect to 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

• Architecture knowledge and experience required:
• Min 8 years of solution architecture experience
• Customer-facing experience disciplines
• Experience working with agile delivery disciples
• T-shaped expertise with a breadth of skill, understanding and experience across different areas of delivery, different banking functional/business domains as well as a depth of skill in technology and integration architecture
• Proven track record in implementing complex architectures and solutions with deep hands on experience in complex technical implementations
• Hands-on technology and engineering experience
• Computer and operating systems
• Infrastructure and engineering design
• DevOps
• System security measures
• Business analysis
• Database management
• Cloud development
• Web platforms
• Hardware and software management
• Network administration
• Project and product management
• Experience in software engineering and design architecture.
• Practical experience with projects in relevant engineering domain.
• Knowledge of cloud computing—Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services.
• Knowledge of typical enterprise integration patterns.
• Familiarity with principles of computer networks and IT security management.
• Understanding of business analysis techniques and processes.
• Strong organizational, analytical and system thinking skills.
• Excellent interpersonal communication and negotiation skills.

Preferred certifications:

• AWS Certified Solution Architect
• Axelos ITIL Master Certification
• Google Professional Cloud Architect
• Microsoft Azure Architect

Key Accountabilities: 

Expert communication: 

• Ability to clearly communicate the technical aspects, risks, challenges, and selling points of the solution. The Solution Architect is the centerpiece for all the parties involved in the solution, including business analysts, project managers, vendors, developers, and more. Additionally, the Solution Architect must be capable of providing advice, explanation, empathy, influence, and negotiation skills to navigate the solution with prowess.

Risk management and identification: 

• Identify, evaluate and assess risks to mitigate them and eliminate any factor that might hinder the successful delivery of the solution. Solution Architects know how to identify and reduce the threat of risks via tests in performance, security, user experience, and more.

Mastery of software development process and technical skills: 

• Poses extensive knowledge of technical aspects of the project to be able to provide guidance, identify risks, and assess the technology infrastructure of the solution. Due to dealing with many technical disciplines, it’s important that you are well informed about all the elements that play a role in the solution. While Solution Architects aren’t in the driver’s seat, technical knowledge provides them with the confidence, credibility, and expertise to advise and guide the solution on the right path.

Detail oriented: 

• There are many components that influence and affect the solution, which is why the Solution Architect must ensure constant and consistent evaluation of every aspect, as minor as it may seem, to understand what is valuable and discard what may be insignificant.

Solution construction and management:

• Ability to design and manage a solution comprehensively. To achieve this, Solution Architects must be assertive, responsible and multi-taskers to ensure the solution is satisfactorily built and managed.

People skills: 

• Ability to maneuver and manage business requirements and expected outcomes from numerous groups that work on the solution. Without people skills, Solution Architects don’t have the confidence and credibility to solve problems or to have the team trust their guidance.

Resource management: 

• Ability to resources efficiently and effectively. Resource management is crucial to staying within the budget, meeting deadlines, and providing a well-rounded solution without hiccups, which is why Solution Architects are critical in this area.

Education

• Bachelor's Degree: Information Technology