Solution Architect (Mashreq Global Network Pakistan)

The Solution Architect role within the Retail Banking Group (RBG) is responsible for designing and reviewing optimal technology solutions that align business requirements with the enterprise technology strategy. This position involves guiding solution development and review processes, creating scalable and fit-for-purpose architectures, and overseeing the implementation of detailed designs. The architect works across both agile squads and traditional waterfall-managed systems, collaborating closely with business, product, engineering, and technology teams to deliver value-driven outcomes that support RBG’s strategic objectives.

Key Responsibilities

- Drive the identification and design of solutions that address evolving business needs within retail banking.
- Ensure adherence to RBG architectural governance and Enterprise Architecture standards throughout the solution and software lifecycle.
- Review and support engineering teams in building robust, scalable products and platforms.
- Lead the adoption of APIs and microservices across retail banking systems, including external APIs for partner integrations and open banking, as well as internal APIs for modular service orchestration.
- Promote reusability and extensibility across retail platforms to accelerate product delivery.
- Recommend and oversee modernization initiatives to meet changing retail banking requirements.
- Guide development teams in implementing security architecture and standards specific to customer-facing applications.
- Embed non-functional requirements such as performance, availability, and scalability into all solution designs.
- Collaborate effectively within agile delivery models, working closely with product, engineering, and operations teams to ensure timely and scalable solution delivery.
- Maintain a retail-focused technology radar to monitor emerging trends and recommend innovations for continuous improvement.
- Contribute to enterprise architecture roadmaps from a retail perspective, ensuring scalability and adaptability.

Required Qualifications

- Over 15 years of application development experience, including at least 5 years in Solution Architecture roles.
- Strong knowledge of banking technology with a minimum of 5 years’ experience in solutioning banking applications.
- Proven ability to operate within both retail digital squads and systems of record, balancing agile and waterfall methodologies.
- Expertise in developing blueprints, high-level, and low-level designs.
- Experience guiding technology teams to ensure application and platform stability, including performance testing and tuning.
- Ability to critically evaluate technology solutions from vendors and internal teams to propose optimal approaches.
- Skilled in identifying weaknesses in current application landscapes and recommending effective solutions.
- Experience defining both functional and non-functional application requirements.
- Proficiency in architecting microservices-based applications.
- Familiarity with online commerce and omni-channel retail business practices.
- Deep understanding of multi-cloud technology stacks.
- Strong knowledge of Domain Driven Design, microservices, APIs, and front-end development tools such as Java, Node.js, SpringBoot, API Gateway, service mesh, React, React Native, .NET Core, and emerging AI technologies.
- Advanced knowledge of SQL and NoSQL databases including SQL Server, Oracle, and MongoDB.
- Expertise in security standards such as OAuth 2.0, FAPI 2.0, TLS, mTLS, GDPR/PII compliance.
- Experience working within Agile DevOps environments using continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) processes.
- Senior stakeholder management skills.

Preferred Qualifications and Benefits

- Enterprise Architecture certification such as TOGAF is preferred.
- Exposure to cutting-edge retail banking technology trends and the opportunity to influence enterprise architecture roadmaps.
- The role offers collaboration with diverse teams in a dynamic environment focused on innovation and scalability.

This position is ideal for a seasoned professional who thrives in a complex, fast-paced banking technology environment and is passionate about driving architectural excellence and modernization initiatives.