Principal Lead, API & AI Enterprise Integration Services

First Abu Dhabi Bank FAB; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 350,000 - 700,000; Full time

Job summary

First Abu Dhabi Bank FAB seeks an accomplished engineering leader to shape the API-first, domain-driven platform strategy across value streams. Break legacy systems into modular services powering scalable, secure digital transformation.

You will lead cross-functional teams, promote API reuse, and govern architecture while aligning with business outcomes. Embrace CI/CD, DevSecOps, and emerging technologies such as GenAI to deliver modern platform capabilities.

Qualifications

• 15+ years overall experience, banking 10+ years.
• Implement API-first approach, prioritizing APIs at SDLC start.
• Ensure domain services reflect real-world business capabilities and priorities.
• Promote CI/CD, DevSecOps, and test automation.
• Champion platform modernization and domain-driven design.

Responsibilities

• Lead engineering teams in building robust domain services.
• Promote API reuse and developer enablement across value streams.
• Define and evolve the enterprise API, AI, and domain services strategy.
• Collaborate with product owners, architects, and leads across value streams.
• Identify common capabilities and build shared services to support multiple domains.
• Ensure platform services are extensible, discoverable, and well-documented.
• Adopt emerging technologies such as GenAI and agentic tooling.
• Provide leadership to delivery teams fostering accountability and continuous improvement.
• Maintain delivery roadmaps, capacity plans, and resource forecasts.
• Ensure compliance with IT governance, risk, and regulatory requirements.
• Collaborate with enterprise architecture, security, infrastructure, and operations.
• Track and report KPIs including audit and risk metrics.
• Promote culture of innovation, agility, and continuous learning.

Skills

API-first

Domain-driven design

CI/CD

DevSecOps

Test automation

Leadership

GenAI awareness

Tools

GenAI

Job description

JOB SUMMARY & INTRODUCTION

Define and lead the strategic vision for API AI and domain services engineering across the value streams Break the bank into reusable API services by decomposing legacy systems into modular discoverable and consumable capabilities Provide engineering leadership to build scalable secure and scalable platforms that power digital transformation Drive cross-value stream collaboration to ensure platform services are aligned with business outcomes and domain-specific needs Foster innovation and operational excellence through modern engineering practices and emerging technologies

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead engineering teams in building robust domain services
• Promote API reuse and developer enablement across value streams
• Define and evolve the enterprise API AI and domain services strategy
• Collaborate with product owners architects and engineering leads across value streams
• Identify common capabilities and build shared services to support multiple domains
• Ensure platform services are extensible discoverable and well-documented
• Adopt emerging technologies e g GenAI Agentic
• Provide leadership to delivery teams fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement
• Maintain delivery roadmaps capacity plans and resource forecasts
• Ensure compliance with IT governance risk and regulatory requirements
• Collaborate with enterprise architecture security infrastructure and operations teams
• Track and report KPIs including audit and risk metrics
• Promote a culture of innovation agility and continuous learning

REQUIREMENTS

QUALIFICATIONS Exp Overall 15 Years Banking 10 Years Implement API-first - prioritizes APIs at the beginning of the SDLC process positioning APIs as the building blocks Ensure domain services reflect real-world business capabilities and priorities Ensure architectural integrity scalability and performance of platform components Promote engineering best practices including CI CD DevSecOps and test automation Translate enterprise goals into platform engineering strategies Champion platform modernization and domain-driven design Build and mentor high-performing engineering teams Exp Overall: 15+ Years, Banking 10+ Years.Implement API-first - prioritizes APIs at the beginning of the SDLC process, positioning APIs as the building blocks.Ensure domain services reflect real-world business capabilities and priorities.Ensure architectural integrity, scalability, and performance of platform components.Promote engineering best practices, including CI/CD, DevSecOps, and test automation.Translate enterprise goals into platform engineering strategies.Champion platform modernization and domain-driven design.Build and mentor high-performing engineering teams.