Open Finance API Architect for Digital Banking

Halian | Managed Services, Recruitment Agency & Contract Staffing; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 360,000 - 600,000; Full time

Job summary

Halian Group is recruiting an experienced Solution Architect for Open Finance and Digital Banking in Abu Dhabi. You will design and deliver a regulated API ecosystem, oversee architecture across retail, SME, and corporate banking, and lead AI-driven architectural innovations.

You will collaborate with product, risk, and executive teams to translate business strategy into scalable technical roadmaps while ensuring regulatory and security compliance across the platform.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in solution architecture in digital banking, Open Banking/Open Finance, and regulated API platforms.
• Strong knowledge of UAE Open Finance framework (CBUAE, FAPI 2.0, mTLS, SCA).
• Experience designing enterprise-scale API platforms and delivering API-driven ecosystems.
• Hands-on with API gateways (Kong or similar) and cloud platforms (AWS).
• Deep understanding of security, identity and compliance frameworks (OAuth2, OIDC, FAPI; SOC2, BCBS 239, PDPL).
• Experience in Tier-1 banking or regulated environments.
• Strong stakeholder management across exec and engineering levels.
• Experience leveraging AI in architecture/SDLC processes.

Responsibilities

• Own and evolve the end-to-end solution architecture for the Woven platform and Open Finance API ecosystem.
• Design scalable API architecture covering regulated Open Finance APIs and direct-to-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 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, including automation of design and documentation.

Skills

Digital banking

Open Banking

Open Finance

Regulated API

API gateways

Kong API Gateway

AWS

Microservices

Event-driven

OAuth2/OIDC

FAPI

SOC2

BCBS 239

PDPL

Stakeholder management

AI in architecture

Tools

Kong API Gateway

AWS

Job description

Halian Group is recruiting an experienced Solution Architect for Open Finance and Digital Banking in Abu Dhabi. You will design and deliver a regulated API ecosystem, oversee architecture across retail, SME, and corporate banking, and lead AI-driven architectural innovations.

You will collaborate with product, risk, and executive teams to translate business strategy into scalable technical roadmaps while ensuring regulatory and security compliance across the platform.