Solution Architect

Role Summary

We are seeking a highly skilled Solution Architect (Python) to lead the architecture, design, and delivery of next-generation digital banking solutions built on Thought Machine Vault. This role combines deep hands-on expertise in Python engineering with end-to-end solution architecture responsibilities, ensuring scalability, compliance, and high-quality delivery across complex financial product implementations.

You will work closely with client stakeholders, Product Owners, Business Analysts, and Technical Leads to shape product logic, steer architectural decisions, and govern the overall technical integrity of smart contract solutions within large digital banking transformations.

Key Responsibilities

Architecture & Solution Design

• Define and own the end-to-end architecture for Smart Contract solutions on Vault, including product lifecycle design, posting instructions, hooks, and version upgrade strategy
• Translate business requirements into scalable, maintainable financial product architectures
• Ensure designs comply with banking standards, accounting rules (double-entry), and Vault's architectural constraints
• Govern API interactions, data models, schedules, workflows, and integration points across the digital banking ecosystem
• Drive and facilitate architecture reviews, technical decision records, and risk assessments

Technical Leadership & Governance

• Provide architectural oversight for multiple Smart Contract development teams; ensure consistency in design, code quality, and best practices.
• Mentor Technical Leads and Developers on Vault smart contract patterns, testing frameworks, and release governance.
• Define coding standards, testing strategies (unit/integration/E2E), and CI/CD structure for Smart Contract deliveries.
• Oversee defect triage, production issue investigation, and root-cause analysis for posting failures, schedule conflicts, and financial calculation discrepancies.

Client Engagement & Stakeholder Management

• Act as the technical authority in all Smart Contract discussions with clients and senior stakeholders.
• Conduct solution workshops to clarify product logic, workflows, schedule design, fees, interest, and accounting postings.
• Explain architectural trade-offs and guide clients toward scalable, compliant, and future-ready product designs.
• Collaborate closely with Product Owners, BAs, and Delivery Managers to align expectations and delivery priorities.

Solution Delivery

• Partner with DevOps, QA, Infrastructure, and Security teams to ensure seamless deployment and release governance.
• Oversee smart contract versioning, migration plans, schedule evolution, and feature upgrade paths.
• Ensure observability, monitoring, and debugging practices are in place for all environments.
• Own delivery roadmaps, architecture backlog, sprint planning input, and risk mitigation strategies.

Innovation & Practice Development

• Continuously refine best practices for Smart Contract engineering and architecture.
• Evaluate emerging Vault features, tooling, and industry trends to drive modernization.
• Contribute to GFT's global Smart Contract knowledge base and upskilling initiatives.

Required Skills & Experience

• 12+ years of backend engineering or solution design experience, with strong Python fundamentals.
• Deep knowledge of Vault architecture: posting instructions, hooks, ledgers, workflows, versioning, and schedules.
• Proven experience designing complex financial products (e.g., lending, savings, CASA, cards, fees, interest products).
• Strong understanding of microservices architecture, CQRS, event-driven systems, and API integrations.
• Solid experience in CI/CD, Git branching strategies, automated testing, and DevOps practices.
• Excellent client-facing communication: able to simplify complex technical concepts for business stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience leading multi-team delivery in agile environments.

Nice-to-Have

• Background in core banking, retail banking, or financial institutions.
• Understanding of accounting principles: double-entry bookkeeping, reconciliation, financial events.
• Experience with Vault UI, Vault workflow orchestration, or TM certifications.
• Familiarity with cloud-native architectures (AWS/Azure/GCP), Docker, Kubernetes, and monitoring tools.

(Note: Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we are unable to respond to every candidate individually. If you have not received a response from GFT regarding your application within 10 workdays, please consider that we have decided to proceed with other candidates. We truly appreciate your interest in GFT and thank you for your understanding)