Senior Solution Architect

Starling; United Arab Emirates; Hybrid; AED 200,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

A global fintech company seeks a Solution Architect in the UAE to engage with clients, employing strong technical and communication skills. This role involves leading client relationships, overseeing implementation projects, and acting as a technical advisor to ensure successful integration of solutions. Ideal candidates should have experience in banking, digital transformations, and cloud applications, along with the ability to travel for client engagements.

Qualifications

• Experience in retail or business banking, core banking, or payments.
• Experience in large-scale digital transformation projects.
• Understanding of cloud infrastructure and applications.

Responsibilities

• Act as technical point of contact for clients.
• Lead technical proposals and relationship building with stakeholders.
• Guide clients through integration and best practices.

Skills

Client-facing skills

Technical communication

Collaboration

Job description

At Engine by Starling, we are on a mission to find and work with leading banks all around the world who have the ambition to build rapid growth businesses, on our technology. Engine is Starling's software-as-a-service (SaaS) business, the technology that was built to power Starling Bank, and two years ago we split out as a separate business. Starling has seen exceptional growth and success, and a large part of that is down to the fact that we have built our own modern technology from the ground up. This SaaS technology platform is now available to banks and financial institutions all around the world, enabling them to benefit from the innovative digital features, and efficient back-office processes that has helped achieve Starling's success. We draw upon our experience as knowledgeable bankers, and best in class technologists to become the chosen option for these banks, and preferred partners for leading consultancies. As a company, everyone is expected to roll up their sleeves to help deliver great outcomes for our clients. We are an engineering led company and we’re looking for someone who will be excited by the potential for Engine’s technology to transform banking in different markets around the world.

Hybrid Working

We have a hybrid approach to working here at Engine - our preference is that you're located within a commutable distance of one of our offices so that we're able to interact and collaborate in person. Some travel (including international) will be necessary, depending on the client and nature of the engagement.

About the role

As a Solution Architect (SA) you will be a key senior technical point of contact for current and prospective clients, using your understanding of the Engine technology and architecture to explain the Engine product, uncover client requirements and support the design of client solutions. You will be involved in both the sales and delivery phases of a project as well as ongoing client success, collaborating with teams across Engine in Technology, Delivery, Product, Client Success and Business Development.

Supporting these activities on client sites means the role will require travel around the Middle East, and occasional further travel.

What you'll get to do

This role blends deep technical expertise with strong communication and collaboration skills. You'll become an Engine expert, understanding its architecture, technology, and functionality, allowing you to effectively communicate its capabilities and value to both technical and non-technical audiences at a senior level.

• You’ll lead on technical proposals during Engine Discovery phases with prospective clients, building relationships with a variety of senior stakeholders within clients and SI partners, from C-level to Heads of function.
• You will be involved in supporting advanced sales opportunities and Engine implementation programmes.
• You will lead deep‑diving discoveries with prospective clients and shape the required programme of work with the help of our Product and Engineering teams.
• Your contributions will also extend to shaping Engine's product roadmap and supporting sales efforts through technical demos and client workshops.
• You’ll help clients maximise Engine’s current and future capabilities to solve their requirements and meticulously document scope and roadmap decisions to guide subsequent delivery waves, bringing in expertise from our Product Owners and engineering teams where required.
• As a programme moves into an implementation phase you'll act as a trusted advisor to clients guiding them on integration, best practices, and platform workflows.
• You’ll work with our SI partners and lead other Engine architects to triage and own client technical questions end‑to‑end, either answering directly or signposting to appropriate Engine Product Owners and Engineering Leads.

Must Have Experience

• Experience relating to retail or business banking, core banking, card processing or payments.
• Experience of delivery and implementation of core banking or large‑scale digital transformation programmes, application migration and solution integration.
• Experience of end‑to‑end software engineering / solution architecture across the software delivery lifecycle.
• Experience of cloud infrastructure and large‑scale cloud applications.
• Experience in a consultancy or other client‑facing environment.

Nice to Have

• Commercial acumen with experience of building business cases.
• Experience in a SaaS organisation in a Client Solutions or Client Engineering role.
• Knowledge of financial regulations around the world.

About You

• You have strong client‑facing skills and the ability to engage a variety of technical and non‑technical stakeholders up to C‑level.
• You’re able to operate in both a sales context and delivery context, proposing solutions while also understanding any challenges with actually delivering their features and integrations.
• You are collaborative and self‑motivated.
• You have a focus on delivery and getting things done for a client.
• You’re comfortable working in a varied role, collaboratively in a team, with a flat structure.
• You’re comfortable traveling to our London office (initial upskilling will require a period of time working with our Engineers & Product team in London).
• You’re comfortable travelling internationally.

Interview process

Interviewing is a two way process and we want you to have the time and opportunity to get to know us, as much as we are getting to know you! Our interviews are conversational and we want to get the best from you, so come with questions and be curious. In general you can expect the below, following a ~25 minute chat with one of our Talent Team:

1. First interview (30/45/60 mins) – Phone. This stage will be made up of either 1 45 minute interview or 2 30 minute interviews with existing Engine team members.
2. Second Architecture interview, including small presentation/system design (90 mins)
3. Final interview (30 mins)

When you provide us with this information, you are doing so at your own consent, with full knowledge that we will process this personal data in accordance with our Privacy Notice. By submitting your application, you agree that Engine by Starling and Starling Bank will collect your personal data for recruiting and related purposes. Our Privacy Notice explains what personal information we will process, where we will process your personal information, its purposes for processing your personal information, and the rights you can exercise over our use of your personal information.