Senior Solution Architect, Abu Dhabi

Project descriptionA senior architect responsible for end-to-end architecture of all IBM Technology projects — spanning vendor-based, in-house, business-led, and data/AI initiatives. The role owns architecture design, secures approval at the Architecture Review Board (ARB), and leads Technology Risk Assessments (TRA), constructively challenging Group Security Office (GSO) and central Enterprise Architecture to defend pragmatic and value-driven solutions. Acts as the trusted bridge between business stakeholders, vendors, central control functions, and engineering teams.ResponsibilitiesArchitecture LeadershipDefine and own end-to-end target architectures for IBM projects (vendor, in-house, hybrid, data/AI)Translate business intent into clear, executable architecture decisions and roadmapsARB & GovernancePrepare and present architecture artefacts at ARB; secure formal approvalMaintain alignment with central Enterprise Architecture (EA) standards and IBM target stateTRA & Risk ManagementLead Technology Risk Assessments (TRA) end-to-end for SaaS, cloud, and on-prem solutionsConstructively challenge GSO and central control functions; defend pragmatic risk positions with evidenceVendor Evaluation & In-House DesignRun vendor RFPs, technical due diligence, fit-gap analyses, and PoCsDefine in-house solution designs when vendor options do not fit; balance build-vs-buy decisionsStakeholder EngagementEngage senior business and technology stakeholders (CIO, business heads, product owners, vendors)Translate technical complexity into clear, business-friendly narrativesCross-Domain CoverageCover business-led, technical, and data/AI initiatives across Global Markets, GCF, Asset Management, and CustodyStay current on industry trends: cloud, AI/GenAI, data platforms, capital markets technologyExpected DeliverablesTarget architecture documents and Solution Design Documents (SDDs)ARB submission packs and approved architecture decisionsCompleted TRA dossiers and GSO / control function alignment evidenceVendor evaluation reports, fit-gap analyses, build-vs-buy recommendationsArchitecture Decision Records (ADRs) and roadmap artefactsStakeholder briefings and business-facing architecture summariesSkillsMust haveEducationBachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field.Functional & Domain:10+ years as solution / enterprise architect in CIB, Capital Markets, or Investment BankingStrong understanding of trade lifecycle, post-trade, custody, asset management, and corporate financeExperience with major vendor platforms (Murex, SimCorp, Calypso, BlackRock Aladdin, Acadia, Traiana, or equivalent)Familiarity with regulatory and outsourcing frameworks (GSO, GORM, ADGM, MiFID, EMIR)Technical Skills:Solid grasp of modern architecture patterns: microservices, event-driven, API-led, hexagonal, DDDCloud architecture: AWS (primary) and Azure — landing zones, security, IaC (Terraform), cost-aware designIntegration patterns: APIs (REST/gRPC), messaging (Kafka, IBM MQ, Service Bus), ETL / streamingData & AI awareness: data platforms, data mesh, ML/GenAI use cases, data governance basicsSoftware engineering literacy: CI/CD, DevSecOps, SOLID, Twelve-Factor — knows the craft even if not coding dailySoft Skills:Executive presence: comfortable presenting to CIO, business heads, ARB, and senior vendorsInfluence without authority: drives decisions across teams, business, vendors, and control functionsConstructive challenger: capable of pushing back on GSO / EA with evidence — never combative, always solution-orientedActive listener and translator: turns business needs into architecture, and architecture into business valueStrong written and verbal communication in English; clear, concise, and structuredPragmatic decision-maker: balances ideal architecture with delivery realities and time / cost constraintsSelf-starter: takes ownership end-to-end, comfortable with ambiguity and senior stakeholder pressureCollaborative team player: knows when to lead, when to listen, when to escalateNice to haveTOGAF / industry certifications welcomed but not a substitute for demonstrated architecture leadership in CIB.LanguagesEnglish: C1 AdvancedSeniorityLeadLocationAbu Dhabi, United Arab EmiratesVacancy Request Req. VR-123783