Lead Open Finance & Digital Banking Architect

Halian; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 300,000 - 500,000; Full time

Job summary

Halian Group is seeking an experienced Solution Architect for Open Finance and Digital Banking to design and deliver a regulated ecosystem and API-led integrations for partners and fintechs in the UAE. You will own end-to-end architecture, drive scalable API platforms, and govern security and compliance across cross-functional teams.

Leverage extensive experience in Open Finance, UAE regulations, and enterprise-scale API design to guide strategic technical decisions and innovate with AI-driven

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in solution architecture within digital banking and Open Finance.
• Experience with UAE Open Finance framework (CBUAE, FAPI 2.0, mTLS, SCA).
• Proven design and delivery of enterprise-scale API platforms.
• Hands-on with API gateways (Kong or similar), Cloud platforms (AWS), and microservices/event-driven architectures.
• Deep understanding of security, identity, and compliance frameworks (OAuth2, OIDC, FAPI; SOC2, BCBS 239, PDPL).
• Experience in regulated banking environments and strong stakeholder management across exec and engineering levels.
• Experience leveraging AI in architecture or SDLC processes (automation, documentation).
• Ability to drive strategic technical decisions independently.

Responsibilities

• Own and evolve the end-to-end solution architecture for the Woven platform and Open Finance API ecosystem.
• Design and implement a scalable API architecture covering regulated APIs and partner offerings.
• Define and manage API platform strategy, including developer portals, onboarding, and API monetisation.
• Lead the design and implementation of API control planes (e.g., Kong, OpenMeter).
• Produce and maintain architecture decision records (ADRs) and ensure alignment across stakeholders.
• Ensure compliance with CBUAE Open Finance regulations, security standards, and governance frameworks.
• Embed risk, compliance, and audit controls into architecture and delivery pipelines.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including product, engineering, risk, and executive leadership.
• Provide architectural oversight across Retail, SME, and Corporate banking domains.
• Drive adoption of AI-enabled architecture practices (automation, documentation, testing).
• Translate business strategies into technical solutions and implementation roadmaps.
• Continuously assess emerging technologies and provide innovation-led recommendations.

Skills

Solution architecture

Digital Banking

Open Banking/Open Finance

Regulated API platforms

Stakeholder management

AI in architecture

Strategic technical decisions

Executive communication

API design

Cloud platforms

Microservices

Event-driven architectures

Security/compliance frameworks

OAuth2/OIDC/FAPI

Tools

Kong API gateway

OpenMeter

AWS

Job description

Halian Group is seeking an experienced Solution Architect for Open Finance and Digital Banking to design and deliver a regulated ecosystem and API-led integrations for partners and fintechs in the UAE. You will own end-to-end architecture, drive scalable API platforms, and govern security and compliance across cross-functional teams.

Leverage extensive experience in Open Finance, UAE regulations, and enterprise-scale API design to guide strategic technical decisions and innovate with AI-driven