Senior Solution Architect-API at Old Mutual South Africa

Job Description

Planning

• Lead solution requirements gathering and ensure alignment with business objectives and constraints.
• Define and refine architecture runways for intentional architecture with the enterprise architect
• Provide input into business cases and costing
• Participate and provide architectural runway requirements into Programme Increment (PI) Planning

Architecture Capability

• Develop and oversee segment architecture views and ensure alignment with enterprise architecture.
• Maintain and oversee the segment and solution artifacts in the set enterprise repository and knowledge portals aligned to the rest of the architecture
• Manage the architecture processes based on the requirements for each architype
• Manage change impact of the architecture with stakeholders
• Develop and participate in the build of the solution architecture practice with embedded architects and engineers including the relevant methods, repository and tools
• Manage the segment and solution architecture considering the business, application, information/data and technology viewpoints
• Establish, enforce and implement standards, guardrails, frameworks, and patterns

Solution Design

• Lead and review conceptual, logical, and detailed designs
• Evaluate and approve solution options and technology selections
• Select appropriate technology, tools and build for the solution
• Oversee and maintain the solution blueprints
• Drive incremental modernisation initiatives in the delivery area

Risk, Governance and Compliance

• Identify, assess, and mitigate risks at a solution architecture level
• Ensure and enforce compliance with policies, standards, and regulations
• Lead architecture reviews and integrate with governance functions
• Integrate with other governance and compliance functions to ensure continuity in managing the investment and risk for the organisation pertaining to the solution architectures
• Establish and provide standards, guidance, and tools to delivery teams.

Implementation Guidance and Collaboration

• Establish and provide solution architecture guidance and tools to delivery teams
• Lead and facilitate collaboration with delivery teams to achieve architecture objectives
• Manage and resolve deviations and ensure up-to-date solution design documentation
• Identify opportunities to optimise delivery of solutions
• Oversee and conduct post-implementation reviews
• Develop code patterns and implementations where required

Communication and Knowledge Sharing

• Communicate the up-to-date views for the architecture
• Communicate and collaborate the relevant standards, practices, guardrails and tools to stakeholders
• Ensure that IT teams are well informed or trained in the respective architecture requirements
• Communicate and collaborate with stakeholders' relevant views on planning, technology assessments, risk, compliance, governance and project assessments
• Drive or participate in the relevant Centres of Excellence (CoEs)
• Communicating technology vision and roadmap aligned to the business strategy
• Participate in the architecture collaboration forums
• Ensure effective participation in the Agile Ceremonies

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERIENCE (REQUIRED FOR THE JOB)

• Matric 
• Degree or diploma in Information Technology, Computer Science, Engineering OR relevant diploma / degree
• Cloud Certifications (AWS or Azure)
• Financial Services experience in Insurance and/or Banking
• Proficiency with API Management platforms and API gateways
• Experience: Requires a minimum of 7 years in technical/solution design role and a minimum of 10 years’ relevant IT experience

ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERIENCE (PREFERRED, NOT A REQUIREMENT)

• TOGAF
• ArchiMate
• Experience with containerization (Docker, Kubernetes)
• Experience with CI/CD pipelines 
• Knowledge of GraphQL, gRPC, or other modern API protocols.
• Background in software development (Java, Python, Node.js)
• Background in software development (.Net, Java, Python, Node.js, etc.)
• The key focus for the senior solution architect is to perform planning aligned to business objectives on key solutions and objectives, build and participate the architecture capability building, perform solution architecture and design, manage architecture risk and compliance, provide design and build governance and support and communicate and share knowledge around the architecture practices, guardrails, blueprints and standards related to the solution design.

Skills

• Adaptive Thinking, Apache Kafka, API Platforms, Application Development, Building Architecture, Confidentiality, Database Administration, Database Queries, Data Classification, Data Compilation, Data Compression, Data Encoding, Data Modeling, Data Recovery, Design, Executing Plans, Gateway Servers, IT Architecture, Microservice Framework, Microservices Architecture, Software Development, Solution Architecture, Solutions Design, Teamwork, Test Case Management

Competencies

Education

• NQF Level 7 - Degree, Advance Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate or equivalent

Closing Date

• 21 October 2025