Lead Architect, Annuity Platforms & Transformation

Guardian Life; Bethlehem (Northampton County); On-site; USD 127,000 - 208,000; Full time

Job summary

Guardian Life seeks a Principal Engineer – Annuity Platforms & Transformation to lead technology direction across the annuity ecosystem. You will drive solution design, architecture, and modernization for end-to-end platforms, collaborating with product, enterprise architects, and partners to deliver scalable, secure, and high-impact outcomes.

This role combines hands-on engineering leadership with strategic governance, enabling Guardian's 2030 technology strategy and growth objectives while

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering or related field.
• 10+ years of hands-on software engineering experience, including experience as a senior/lead engineer in enterprise platforms.
• Experience working on policy administration systems, preferably within Annuities and exposure to ALIP platforms.
• Strong experience in API-driven and event-driven architecture patterns, including orchestration and integration across distributed systems.
• Hands-on experience in building web-based applications with programming languages (Java, SpringBoot, .NET, Node JS), microservices architecture, event-driven architecture, cloud-native development on AWS.
• Experience developing and maintaining front-end applications using React, TypeScript and/or Next.js.
• Experience designing and implementing integrations utilizing OpenAPI/Swagger specifications and industry standards such as ACORD, IRI Digital First, ACORD NGDS, and DTCC Insurance & Retirement Services frameworks.
• Strong experience with version control and CI/CD automation tools, including Git, Jenkins, GitHub Actions
• Experience implementing API security and access control using OAuth 2.0, JWT, and token-based authentication
• Working experience with Splunk (logging), AppDynamics, JSON/XML, Caching, Performance Analysis & Profiling
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to navigate ambiguity and drive practical, implementable solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to lead engineering teams, influence technical decisions, and collaborate effectively with architects, product, and business stakeholders.
• Experience working in large-scale transformation programs or platform migrations is highly preferred
• Proven track record of developing and supporting large scale business critical systems.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills; solid understanding of coding aesthetics, able to review code, and provide suggestions
• Must be comfortable in a fast pace, changing environment where the majority of your teammates are remote and/or in different time zones.
• Jump in and hit the ground running with a positive attitude. Not easily deterred by ambiguity.

Responsibilities

• Enable end-to-end technology vision across the annuity ecosystem.
• Partner with enterprise and domain architects to establish future-state platform architecture and multi-year roadmaps.
• Define technology guardrails to ensure consistency across annuity platforms.
• Lead architecture and solution reviews, design governance, and critical technical decision-making.
• Serve as trusted technical advisor across annuity technology initiatives.
• Translate strategic business objectives into scalable, secure, and maintainable technology solutions.
• Ensure alignment between enterprise architecture direction and delivery execution.
• Identify opportunities to simplify applications, reduce redundancy, and improve platform interoperability.
• Build scalable technology capabilities with third party distribution channels and partnerships.
• Collaborate with business and product teams to improve advisor onboarding, product access, servicing, and transaction capabilities.
• Define reusable API, event, and integration frameworks for connectivity across Guardian and external ecosystems.
• Ensure third-party solutions are fully integrated with core annuity platforms and enterprise capabilities.
• Support Guardian's 2030 distribution strategy by creating scalable technology foundations.
• Drive platform strategies that enhance advisor, partner, and customer experiences while improving speed-to-market and operational effectiveness.
• Enable modernization of annuity technology and platforms.

Skills

Leadership

EA & architecture

API-driven

Event-driven

Cloud AWS

Java/Spring/Node

Frontend React/TS

OpenAPI/Swagger

CI/CD

Git/GitHub Actions

OAuth/JWT

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in CS/Engineering

Tools

AWS

Splunk

AppDynamics

Kafka

S3

Job description

Guardian Life seeks a Principal Engineer – Annuity Platforms & Transformation to lead technology direction across the annuity ecosystem. You will drive solution design, architecture, and modernization for end-to-end platforms, collaborating with product, enterprise architects, and partners to deliver scalable, secure, and high-impact outcomes.

This role combines hands-on engineering leadership with strategic governance, enabling Guardian's 2030 technology strategy and growth objectives while