API Governance Lead

Job Details

• Job # 3025437
• Position: API Governance Lead
• Location:
  
  4 days/week on-site in Minneapolis, MN, Dallas, TX, or Columbus, OH
• Duration: 3-6 month Contract to FTE Hire (originally opened as FTE)
• Type: W2 contract, paid hourly; upon FTE salary + bonus potential. No C2C, 1099, or third-party submissions will be accepted. Only direct W-2 candidates will be considered.
• Industry: Banking
• Pay Rate Range: W2 $ 70-80/hr

Position open due to continuous growth and company expansion! Define API Governance for the enterprise!

As the API Standards & Compliance Lead
, you will define, implement, and enforce enterprise-wide API governance frameworks that ensure consistency, security, and scalability across all APIs. This strategic role focuses on establishing API design standards, lifecycle governance, and compliance policies aligned with industry best practices and regulatory requirements.

You will partner closely with Enterprise Architecture, Security, Platform Engineering, and Developer Experience teams to advance an API-first strategy and enable seamless integration across the enterprise.

You will shape our API strategy by balancing innovation with risk management—creating clear standards, operating models, and guardrails for API design, onboarding, publishing, versioning, and retirement. This role emphasizes API policy, architecture, enablement, and oversight rather than hands‑on software development.

• Experience establishing API policies and standards for the enterprise.
• 7+ years in IT, including strong API development/governance experience.
• 3+ years in API governance or platform leadership roles (enterprise scale).
• Familiarity with OpenAPI/Swagger, REST fundamentals, Graph
  
  QL design considerations, and API lifecycle management.
• Hands‑on experience with security standards and regulatory frameworks.
• Experience with Apigee X on Google Cloud Platform (or similar API management platforms like Kong, Mule Soft, AWS API Gateway, Azure APIM) from a governance/architecture perspective.
• Demonstrated ability to write clear API policies, standards, and procedures; facilitate governance forums; drive alignment across stakeholders.
• Strong communication, stakeholder management, and change management skills.

• Google Cloud Platform certifications (e.g., Professional Cloud Architect);
  Apigee certifications a plus.
• Experience with Ping Identity integration and enterprise IAM.
• Familiarity with Google Cloud Platform services (Cloud Armor, IAM, VPC networking) and platform security controls.
• Background in Dev Sec Ops , CI/CD automation, and policy‑as‑code for API compliance.
• Experience improving API portals, catalogs, and developer experience, including analytics‑driven enhancements.

• Strategic thinking and policy design
• Enterprise architecture alignment
• Risk and compliance mindset
• Stakeholder facilitation and influence
• Data‑driven continuous improvement
• Clear, concise technical writing and storytelling

Apex Systems is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate or allow discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, genetic information, registered domestic partner status, marital status, disability, status as a crime victim, protected veteran status, political affiliation, union membership, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Apex will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable law.

Apex offers a range of supplemental benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and other insurance plans that offer an optional layer of financial protection. We offer an ESPP (employee stock purchase program) and a 401K program which allows you to contribute typically within 30 days of starting, with a company match after 12 months of tenure. Apex also offers a HSA (Health Savings Account on the HDHP plan), a Support Linc Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with up to 8 free counseling sessions, a corporate discount savings program and other discounts.

In terms of professional development, Apex hosts an on‑demand training program, provides access to certification prep and a library of technical and leadership courses/books/seminars once you have 6+ months of tenure, and certification discounts and other perks to associations that include CompTIA and IIBA.