Principal Solution Architect, Application and Integration

Job Posting Organization:
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is a pioneering international organization established to support the development of market economies and promote private and entrepreneurial initiatives in countries across Europe, Asia, and beyond. Founded in 1991, the EBRD has grown to become a significant player in the global financial landscape, with a mission to foster the transition to open market economies and promote sustainable development. The organization operates in over 30 countries, employing thousands of professionals dedicated to making a positive impact in the regions they serve. The EBRD is committed to inclusiveness, innovation, trust, and responsibility, which are reflected in its workplace culture and values. The bank's diverse workforce is a testament to its commitment to fostering an inclusive environment that values different perspectives and experiences.

Job Overview:
As a Principal Solution Architect, you will play a crucial role in shaping the future of enterprise platforms and services within the EBRD. This strategic, hands-on position requires you to collaborate closely with both business and technology teams to address complex challenges and develop scalable solutions that deliver tangible value. Your responsibilities will encompass the design and implementation of cloud-native applications, microservices, and modern integration platforms, all aimed at supporting the organization's long-term goals. You will provide technical leadership throughout major transformation initiatives, guiding projects from initial concept to successful delivery. This role offers a unique opportunity to blend strategic thinking with practical influence, enabling you to enhance system interoperability and create robust technology foundations that foster growth and innovation. If you have a passion for modern architecture, cloud technologies, and solving intricate problems at scale, this position will allow you to make a significant impact.

Duties and Responsibilities:
In this role, you will lead the architecture and delivery of complex enterprise solutions, taking ownership of technical design from concept through to production deployment. Your duties will include designing and evolving microservices-based architectures, applying Domain Driven Design (DDD) principles to model business domains, and defining service boundaries. You will also be responsible for creating robust integration solutions that utilize both synchronous and asynchronous communication patterns. Additionally, you will shape API-first architectures leveraging REST APIs, GraphQL, API gateways, and event streaming technologies. Defining data ownership, persistence, and integration strategies across distributed systems will be a key aspect of your role. You will partner closely with Product Owners, Business Analysts, and engineering teams to translate business requirements into practical architectural solutions. Guiding development teams through implementation while ensuring alignment with architectural principles and quality standards will also be part of your responsibilities. Furthermore, you will drive the adoption of cloud-native architecture patterns across applications and integrations, and evaluate emerging technologies and engineering practices, including AI-assisted software development capabilities.

Required Qualifications:
To be considered for this position, you must have proven experience as a Technical Architect, successfully delivering multiple projects from architecture design to production implementation. Extensive experience in architecting large-scale microservices-based solutions within complex enterprise environments is essential. You should possess strong expertise in Domain Driven Design (DDD), including knowledge of bounded contexts, aggregates, and service decomposition. An expert-level understanding of enterprise integration architecture, including both synchronous and asynchronous integration patterns, is required. Hands-on experience with modern integration technologies such as REST APIs, GraphQL, API gateways, and event streaming solutions is also necessary. Strong data modeling skills, along with a significant software engineering background, including hands-on development experience in Java, .NET, or comparable backend technologies, are crucial. Familiarity with the full software delivery lifecycle, from design through implementation and production support, is expected. A strong understanding of modern cloud platforms, particularly Azure, is preferred, although experience with AWS or GCP will also be considered. Knowledge of cloud-native architecture patterns, including containers and orchestration platforms, is important. Effective communication skills across diverse audiences, from technical teams to business stakeholders, are essential, as well as strong stakeholder management abilities.

Educational Background:
Candidates should possess a relevant degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field. Advanced degrees or certifications in architecture or cloud technologies will be considered an asset. Continuous professional development and staying updated with the latest industry trends and technologies are highly encouraged.

Experience:
The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in technical architecture, particularly in delivering complex enterprise solutions. A minimum of 5-7 years of experience in a similar role is typically expected, with a proven track record of successful project delivery in large-scale environments. Experience in financial services or other regulated industries is a plus, as it demonstrates familiarity with the unique challenges and requirements of such sectors.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory, as it is the primary language of communication within the organization. Knowledge of additional languages, particularly those relevant to the EBRD's operational regions, would be considered advantageous but is not a strict requirement.

Additional Notes:
This position is a fixed-term contract with a duration of 3 years. The role is full-time, and the EBRD offers a hybrid working model, encouraging collaboration in person at least three days a week. The organization is committed to diversity and inclusion, welcoming applications from qualified candidates regardless of their background. The EBRD provides a comprehensive suite of competitive benefits, prioritizing employee wellbeing and fostering a positive work environment.