API Architect

by | May 25, 2022 | |

API Architect – Inside IR35

The API Architect role is based within a leading global Bank is a global brand undertaking a major IT transformation and is able to provide global opportunities, at scale to the right individuals. The API Architect role is based within Channels Transformation value stream of Wealth and Personal Banking (WPB). Digital technologies are increasingly being adopted as the first point of contact for over forty million bank customers. 
 
The API Architect is both a technology and people leadership position. The role involves understanding the business aspirations and supporting the delivery of a global, service portfolio. The digital propositions that comprise the service portfolio are expected to support both the immediate requirements and accelerate future solution delivery.
 
The API Architect will act as a consultant to the business on service direction, evolve best standards and practise in API design and contribute to the development of the API Platform. This is a great opportunity to work on a large API transformation programme. This role will have a reporting line to the WPB Lead API Architect.
 
 
Your responsibilities will include:
 

  • Documenting API standards and guidelines based on REST
  • Supporting agile delivery teams and promoting the re-use of existing services
  • Defining solutions and developing proof-of-concept code on an API Platform
  • Designing strategies around service implementation to meet non-functional requirements
  • Representing Wealth and Personal Banking (WPB) API Architecture at cross-organisational meetings 
  • Aligning API design approaches across multiple stakeholders 
  • Solving integration problems with legacy systems
  • Define API Data standards and patterns to promote consistent data representation across our APIs and drive better API reuse
  • Define common JSON object libraries for use by engineering teams within API development
  • Working with WPB Data architecture Team to ensure patterns/ standards are aligned with strategy & the banks data models where existing;
  • Perform API design reviews ensuring both API and Data standards are followed by teams designing APIs 
  • Contribute to the development of tooling to automate the API Governance checks and API MI Reporting (e.g API reuse)
  • Define architecture principles, patterns to enable the APIs on cloud deployment strategy (Cloud to Cloud communication, Cloud to on Premise and on Premise to Cloud API integration patterns)
  • Develop API training covering all aspect of APIs (including API design, security, logging and monitoring) for engineering teams
  • Assist the Solution Architects as part of Solution Designs by providing clear direction and input in alignment with the WPB API Strategy and Roadmap.
  • Define Architecture Impact Assessments and Solution Architecture Designs for common API platform capabilities such as API discoverability, API governance in alignment with WPB Technology strategy and ensure architecture governance processes are followed
  • Assisting the WPB Lead API Architect as appropriate

 The ideal candidate for this role will have:
 

  • Relevant knowledge of REST, API, Microservices 
  • Experience working in an Enterprise scale environment
  • Past working experience in an API Architecture/Solution Architect role 
  • Appreciation of Solution Design/Architecture and the role of APIs in this
  • An awareness of the Industry standards Information Frameworks.
  • Experience of Data Modelling (UML/ER) in a banking domain is desirable
  • Experience in Information/Data modelling tools and technologies is desirable
  • Experience working in Agile methodologies – Scrum, Kanban is desirable but not essential
  • Past working experience on API Management (e.g. Mulesoft, Kong) is desirable
  • Experience of PaaS/IaaS – Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud Platform (GCP) or Azure is desirable but not essential
  • A track record of constantly looking for ways to do things better and an excellent understanding of the mechanism necessary to successfully implement change
  • Excellent written and spoken communication skills; an ability to communicate with impact, ensuring complex information is articulated in a meaningful way to wide and varied audiences 
  • Worked collaboratively with other colleagues, supporting them when possible
  • Planned projects and activities systematically in line with business priorities, using a variety of analysis and problem-solving techniques
  • A comprehensive understanding of risk management and proven experience of ensuring own/others’ compliance with relevant regulatory processes

 
The base location for this role is UK.