Hybrid: Solutions Architect

Role Mission & Impact
The Solution Architect will act as the primary technical owner for an in-flight wealth business initiative, translating business strategy into scalable, secure, integration-forward solutions while guiding teams through execution.
Key objectives:
• Close the gap between business assessment and technology delivery
• De-risk vendor/platform decisions under tight timelines
• Design scalable architectures for high-growth wealth operations
• Lead end-to-end solution architecture from discovery through production handoff
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Operating Model
• Enterprise Architecture (EA): Sets standards, patterns, governance, and strategic direction
• Solution Architecture (this role):
o Deep discovery with business and delivery teams
o Integration and platform selection
o Estimates and roadmap definition
o Ownership of privacy, security, EA reviews, and vendor due diligence
o Continuous involvement through execution (variable allocation based on complexity)
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Core Responsibilities
• Partner with Enterprise Architecture to define target operating models, roadmaps, and standards
• Translate business needs into end-to-end solution architectures
• Serve as technical liaison between business stakeholders, delivery teams, vendors, and distribution partners
• Architect service-based, API- and event-driven solutions (microservices, decoupled front/back ends)
• Own cross-functional architecture across the Sales & Distribution tech stack
• Lead technology assessments, platform evaluations, and rationalization
• Identify gaps, risks, and overlaps; escalate and drive resolution
• Ensure solutions are reusable, scalable, performant, and secure
• Support delivery teams hands-on (design reviews, code reviews, POCs, unblocking issues)
• Participate in architecture governance forums (ARB, roundtables, guilds)
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Day-to-Day Activities
• Architecture artifacts (solution designs, decisions, strategies, roadmaps)
• Hands-on collaboration with development teams
• Project planning, design reviews, and technical decision-making
• Vendor and platform evaluations
• Test plan and production readiness reviews
• Industry research, trends, and proof-of-concepts
• Mentorship and contribution to the architecture community
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Top Skills (Per Hiring Manager)
1. Communication – clearly articulate solutions to delivery teams and stakeholders
2. Business-to-Technology Translation – convert requirements into executable architecture
3. Accountability & Ownership – identify risks, escalate issues, and drive outcomes
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Required Background & Experience
• Financial Services domain experience required, preferably:
o Wealth Management / Broker-Dealer
o Sales & Distribution, account opening/maintenance, books & records
o Flexibility for exceptional candidates
• Prior software development experience (hands-on, even if light)
• Close proximity to SDLC delivery
• 8+ years as a Solution Architect, Tech Lead, or similar
• 5+ years development experience designing and implementing complex solutions
• 2+ years in Sales & Distribution-related business domains
• Ability to assist teams hands-on:
o Read/write SQL
o Support POCs
o Unblock development teams
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Technology Focus
Integration-first mindset is critical
Core Stack (or strong equivalents):
• API & Integration: Kong (API Gateway), Informatica (ETL)
• Data & Streaming: Kafka, Vertica
• Platforms: Salesforce
• Frontend: React / Next.js
• Cloud: AWS (certification preferred, not required)
• SSO & Identity: Strong integration patterns required
• External Platforms (Plus): Fidelity / NFS exposure
Additional Valued Experience:
• Event-driven architectures
• REST, SOAP, JSON
• Data modeling, ETL, scheduling
• CI/CD, DevOps, Kubernetes
• Vendor/SaaS platform integrations
• Financial, insurance, or investment data
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Education & Compliance
• Bachelor’s degree required 
• Must be eligible for production data access (“NERCing”) when required
o Synthetic data preferred, but production access often necessary
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Objections & Mitigations
• No AWS certification: Not a blocker if cloud experience exists
• Depth skewed (Data vs DevOps): Acceptable to be deep in one with working knowledge of the other
• Wealth/Broker-Dealer experience: Generally required but flexible for exceptional talent