API Architect

Work Mode: Buffalo, New York (Hybrid – 3 days on-site / 2 days remote)

Experience: 10–15+ years

Department: Enterprise Technology Division

We are seeking an accomplished API Architect to join our Technology Division in Buffalo, New York. In this hybrid role, you will lead the design, governance, and strategic evolution of enterprise-grade API ecosystems serving our banking and financial services platforms. You will play a pivotal role in enabling digital transformation by building secure, scalable, and standards-compliant API architectures that support mission-critical banking operations.

This is a high-impact role requiring exceptional communication skills, deep operational knowledge, and the ability to conceptualize and drive architectural solutions across business processes and technology ecosystems.

The API Architect is expected to demonstrate deep, hands-on engineering proficiency across the full API lifecycle. Key engineering capabilities include:

• Design, build, and maintain enterprise-scale REST, Graph
  
  QL, XML and event-driven (Async
  
  API) APIs.
• Define and enforce API contracts, schemas, and versioning strategies across product teams.
• Champion API-first development practices and developer experience (DX) across the organization.
• Lead proof-of-concept (PoC) implementations for new API patterns and emerging integration paradigms.

• Architect integration patterns using enterprise message brokers (Kafka, Rabbit
  
  MQ), and API gateways (Kong, AWS API Gateway, Mule Soft etc).
• Design and govern event-driven and microservices architectures within a banking context.
• Architect cloud-native API solutions on AWS.
• Champion CI/CD pipelines for API deployment (Git Hub Actions, Jenkins, Nexus, Maven, Sonar).
• Ensure API observability through distributed tracing, structured logging, and APM tooling (Splunk, App Dynamics, Prometheus).

Required Technical Skills

• 10+ years of progressive software engineering experience, with at least 3+ years in a dedicated API architecture role.
• Expert-level knowledge of RESTful API principles, OpenAPI / Swagger 3.x specification, and JSON:
  
  API standards.
• Strong proficiency in programming languages & framework:
  Java, Springboot, Kotlin, Python, Node.js, Linux
• Proven experience with API gateway configuration, rate limiting, throttling, caching, and traffic management policies.
• Hands-on experience with SOA, microservices, and domain-driven design (DDD) architecture patterns.
• Experience with OAuth 2.0, SAML, JWT for API authentication and authorization.

• Experience designing APIs for core banking platforms (Temenos, Finacle, FIS, Jack Henry, or similar).
• Familiarity with open banking frameworks – FDX, Open Banking UK, PSD2, and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) 1033 regulations.
• Exposure to payment network APIs:
  Visa, Mastercard, ACH, SWIFT, Fedwire, and real-time payments (RTP/Fed Now).
• Knowledge of financial data standards: ISO 20022, XBRL, FpML, and FINRA reporting requirements.
• Experience integrating with credit bureau APIs (Experian, Equifax, Trans Union) and KYC/AML service providers.
• API Lifecycle Management:
  Mule Soft, Kong, AWS API Gateway.
• Testing: JUnit, Postman, Insomnia, JMeter
• Databases:
  Relational (Oracle, Postgre
  
  SQL), No
  
  SQL (Mongo
  
  DB, Redis, Cassandra), and data streaming (Kafka Streams).

The API Architect will play a critical role in maintaining the integrity, security, and compliance posture of all API assets across the enterprise.

• Establish and operate an API Center of Excellence (CoE) — defining governance policies, review processes, and API lifecycle management procedures.
• Participate in Architecture Review Boards (ARBs) to evaluate new API proposals and ensure compliance with enterprise standards.
• Define API maturity model assessments and drive consistent API quality scores across business units.
• Manage the enterprise API catalog and developer portal — ensuring accurate, up-to-date documentation and self-service onboarding.
• Enforce versioning policies, deprecation timelines, and…