Lead Solutions Architect

absa; Randburg; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Absa is seeking a senior architect to drive the design and delivery of cross-domain technology solution blueprints, aligning with business strategy. You will build architectural capability in delivery teams, ensuring solutions are scalable, testable and compliant with the bank's principles.

You will lead embedded teams and present designs for approval across architectural forums. The role focuses on deep engineering expertise, domain-driven design, and modern software practices to enable

Qualifications

• Deep experience designing scalable, testable technology solutions.
• Ability to translate business needs into architecture blueprints.
• Experience leading embedded delivery teams.

Responsibilities

• Identify and deliver scalable, reusable technology solutions aligned to strategy.
• Lead design thinking to deliver solution blueprints and roadmaps.
• Collaborate with delivery teams to specify requirements and frame complex problems.
• Ensure architectures comply with bank principles and are implementable across teams.
• Present designs for approval at architectural forums.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Design thinking

Solution architecture

Microservices

Domain-driven design

Analytical thinking

Negotiation skills

Engineering background

Job description

Empowering Africa's tomorrow, together...one story at a time.

With over 100 years of rich history and strongly positioned as a local bank with regional and international expertise, a career with our family offers the opportunity to be part of this exciting growth journey, to reset our future and shape our destiny as a proudly African group.

Belonging at Absa

Absa is committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive. We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from suitably qualified individuals from diverse backgrounds. In support of our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) commitments and Employment Equity objectives, preference may be given to candidates from underrepresented designated groups, including persons with disabilities. We encourage applicants who may require reasonable accommodation during the recruitment process to let us know so that appropriate support can be provided.

Job Summary

Drive the design and delivery of complex fit for purpose, business strategy-aligned, high impact, cross domain technology solution blueprints & associated solutions & build architectural capability in Dev teams across an estate.

Job Description

Architecture

• Leverage a solid & deep understanding of the organization strategy to identify, design & deliver relevant, scalable, testable, re-usable technology solutions
• Work in collaboration with delivery teams to independently analyse customer requirements & varying business capabilities & leverage analysis to identify & accurately spec / frame 'the complex business problems we are aiming to solve' with each solution design or solution evolution
• Through the above processes, leverage emotional, social & business / commercial quotient to understand consumers and the broader range of stakeholders, their opinions & perspectives and reconcile these within the solution designs (negotiation skills and dealing with complex and divergent stakeholder opinions are a must)
• Leverage expertise in analytical & creative problem solving to synthesise a solution design (build a solution from its components) beyond the analysis of the problem
• Lead design thinking processes to successfully deliver solution blueprints & associated roadmaps
• Create end to end solution blueprints & ensure these can be implemented across all phases of the initiative life-cycle (ideation through to product launch & commercialization)
• Design & or contribute to the design & implementation of detailed feasibilities & business cases
• Leverage a strong engineering background to make the right choices in solution design - this knowledge includes but is not limited to: domain driven design, loosely coupled integration, microservices and other modern software design practices
• The above extends to identifying the best fit tools to be used for a particular solution, understanding those that would not be a good choice and leveraging researching skills to pivot towards something better
• Assume 'one stop' shop accountability for solution blueprint design & delivery decisions within an organization based on the above
• Work with project / program management teams to design solution roadmaps aligned to the strategic requirements of an organization and through which the solution can be implemented across all phases of the initiative life-cycle (ideation through to product launch and commercialization)
• Work embedded, as part of a delivery team, to ensure the successful design & implementation of solution blueprints
• Ensure that the detail of the solution (across all architecture domains) is accurate to the implementation of the initiative, true to the bank's architectural principles/preferences, implementable by the different teams involved in the solution
• Work as part of embedded delivery teams to conduct solution reviews, code reviews, testing and other disciplines associated with solution design & delivery
• Attend various Group & Business specific architectural design forums and present solution designs and detailed business cases for approval
• Leverage synthesis & creative problem skills to identify risk (impending danger & challenges) and work with a cross functional group of stakeholders across the value chain for support & direction
• Conduct solution reviews against defined customer metrics and ensure the ongoing achievement of business results through solution implementation
• Ensure a solid understanding of emerging & evolving architectural principles and hold one stop shop accountability for the evolution of solutions in alignment with these principles (where it makes sense to do so)
• Build architectural capability across delivery teams in a business to ensure ongoing evolution of skills in solution delivery
• Contribute to the architecture body of knowledge
• Contribute to the design & evolution of architectural principles and preferences

People

• Participate in peer reviews (code, solution, testing etc.) and transfer knowledge and capa