Tech architect Team lead (KSA Banking)

Overview

Location

Overview

Technology Strategy & Architecture Leadership

• Lead the end-to-end definition of the target technology and infrastructure architecture for the KSA foreign bank branch setup.
• Establish architecture principles, standards, and governance frameworks across applications, integrations, data, infrastructure, and security domains.
• Define the target-state technology landscape that supports current and future business growth requirements.
• Ensure alignment between technology architecture, business objectives, product roadmap, and regulatory expectations.

Architecture Planning & Governance

• Develop the implementation roadmap for MVP 1, including technology sequencing, dependencies, milestones, and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) considerations.
• Govern architecture decisions throughout the program lifecycle and ensure consistency across all technology workstreams.
• Identify architecture risks, gaps, and dependencies and drive remediation plans.
• Review and approve solution architectures proposed by vendors and implementation partners.

Vendor & Rfp Management

• Prepare technical requirements, non-functional requirements (NFRs), and technology service level agreements (SLAs) for RFP processes.
• Support the evaluation and technical review of vendor proposals and RFP responses.
• Assess vendor solution designs and ensure compliance with architecture standards, scalability, security, and regulatory requirements.
• Drive resolution of architecture-related issues and design gaps identified during vendor assessments.

Banking Technology & Integration Enablement

• Support the identification, design, and implementation of key banking connectivity and payment ecosystem integrations, including:

• Saudi Arabian Riyal Interbank Express (SARIE)

• Tanfeeth Gateway
• SWIFT Connectivity
• Other regulatory and payment infrastructure required for banking operations in KSA
• Ensure integration architecture supports operational resilience, security, scalability, and compliance requirements.

Stakeholder & Regulatory Engagement

• Collaborate with business, operations, compliance, risk, and technology stakeholders to ensure successful technology delivery.
• Provide architecture guidance and technical leadership to internal and external teams.
• Support regulatory technology discussions and ensure architecture designs align with Saudi banking regulations and industry standards.

Additional Responsibilities

• Provide technology advisory and technical support required for the successful setup and operational readiness of the bank.
• Support technology decision-making, solution assessments, and implementation planning activities throughout the engagement.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related discipline.
• 10+ years of experience in enterprise architecture, solution architecture, or technology leadership roles within banking or financial services.
• Proven experience leading large-scale banking technology transformation, digital banking, or greenfield bank setup programs.
• Strong understanding of banking applications, integration architectures, infrastructure platforms, cloud technologies, security frameworks, and data architectures.
• Experience with banking payment ecosystems and financial messaging platforms such as SWIFT and domestic payment networks.
• Knowledge of KSA banking regulations, payment infrastructure, and technology compliance requirements is highly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience in vendor selection, RFP evaluation, architecture governance, and technology roadmap development.
• Excellent stakeholder management, leadership, communication, and presentation skills.

Preferred Experience

• Prior experience supporting foreign bank branch setup or banking license programs within KSA.
• Familiarity with Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) technology and security requirements.
• Experience working with core banking, payment systems, digital banking platforms, and enterprise integration solutions.
• Architecture certifications such as TOGAF, Zachman, AWS, Azure, or equivalent are advantageous.