Senior Solutions Architect at NCBA Group

Job Purpose Statement

• The senior Solution Architect is responsible for evaluating business requirements by leveraging software, data, and infrastructure. The role acts as a bridge and is responsible for mapping these requirements into technology solutions.
• The role focuses on applying the different elements of business, information, and technology in solving problems while maximizing the return on technology investment. The architect identifies reviews, and proposes the various building blocks that will actively lead the technical vision to success.
• He/She reviews deviations from specifications and ensures that relevant technical strategies, policies, standards, and practices are applied correctly.
• The architect participates in the stewardship of Service Oriented Architecture (SOA),
• Microservices Architecture (MSA), and Application Programming Interface (APIs) artifacts and definitions.

Key Accountabilities (Duties and Responsibilities)

Architecture Roadmap 40% 

• Document current state architecture, and define future state architecture for all services
• Develop and document milestones necessary to eliminate technology gaps and address known issues to achieve the target architecture/state for all critical services.
• Ensure a quality system design that provides solid performance, an effective user interface, costeffectiveness, and flexibility to accommodate future change.

IT Portfolio and Asset Management 30% 

• Maintain a holistic view of NCBA information and technology assets; incorporating IT service, application, software, license, and infrastructure inventory
• Legacy management across the technology landscape & development of plans to manage obsolescence.
• Analyze current technologies in use and recommend a roadmap for continuous improvement.

Digital Transformation 20% 

• Drive adoption of technology-driven initiatives such as cloud, Microservices adoption, DevOps, API Banking, and Integration modernization.
• Coordinate, review, and approve projects to comply with architectural standards, policies, and guidelines.
• Participate in change management process and CAB
• Partner with business and technology subject experts to translate business requirements into technological solutions.

Architecture Governance 10% 

• Document and formalize Architecture strategy, principles, and framework.

Ideal Job Specifications

• Degree in Science/computer science/Engineering/Business related degree from a reputable institution. A master’s degree in Information Technology or an MBA will be an added advantage.
• Training and certification in IT Service Management, e.g., ITIL, COBIT, ISO
• IT Architecture Training and Certification, e.g., TOGAF
• Infrastructure and Cloud related certification and training
• Business Continuity training
• 8+ years experience in IT applications, infrastructure or security operations, and management
• 4+ years professional experience in IT solution architecture, deployment of APIs, cloud, Docker, and Kubernetes experience is desirable
• Solid grasp of design patterns and principles, particularly Object-Oriented Design (OOD), Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA), Microservice Architecture (MSA), and Event-Driven Architecture (EDA).
• Experience in systems; Core Banking Systems and integrations to Mobile money transfer, USSD / SMS, Omni Channel, Internet Banking, BPM, ERP, CRM, and other systems in a financial services ecosystem are a MUST.
• Possesses a strong customer service attitude and excellent communication skills and exhibits a passion for learning and continuous improvement