Solutions Architect

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

1. Own the end-to-end solution architecture for Axian's OPCOs, including platforms, tools, core wallet and core banking deployments

2. Extend the architecture beyond core platforms to the full D&F technology stack: digital banking, payments, lending (LMS), cards, agent and merchant management, KYC/AML, fraud, data, and customer channels (mobile, USSD, web, API).

3. Translate business strategy and product roadmaps into scalable, secure, cost-optimized solution designs — both on-premise and cloud — that surrounding delivery teams can build against without ambiguity.

4. Set and enforce architecture standards, integration patterns, and non-functional requirements across OPCOs; protect the technology estate from fragmentation and ensure compliance with security, data privacy, and regulatory obligations across markets.

MAIN FUNCTIONS – RESPONSIBILITIES & ACTIVITIES

Solution & application architecture across D&F stack

• Design end-to-end solutions for new initiatives and changes spanning core wallet, core banking, payments, LMS, cards, agent/merchant management, KYC/AML, fraud, mobile apps, USSD, APIs, and data platforms.

• Produce target architectures, current-state assessments, and transition roadmaps for each OPCO and at D&F group level.

• Define integration patterns, API contracts, event flows, and data models; document with sequence, component, deployment, and data-flow diagrams.

• Evaluate and select technical frameworks, products, and vendors against business, technical, and commercial criteria.

• Ensure architectural consistency across OPCOs while accommodating local market and regulatory variations.

Core platform & ecosystem architecture

• Own the solution design for deployments, upgrades, and swaps — including data model, integration topology, and migration architecture.

• Architect the surrounding ecosystem: payment gateways, switches, card management, LMS, agent management, KYC/AML, regulatory reporting, CRM, and analytics.

• Partner with the Implementation Manager and OPCO teams during build, test, and cutover to resolve design issues and approve significant changes.

• Drive reuse: build a library of reference architectures, integration patterns, and reusable components that accelerate subsequent rollouts.

Cloud, infrastructure & non-functional design

• Design hybrid and cloud deployments (AWS / Azure / on-premise) for D&F workloads with appropriate landing zones, network segmentation, and identity controls.

• Define non-functional requirements (performance, scalability, HA/DR, observability, recoverability) and validate solutions against them.

• Guide containerization, CI/CD, and infrastructure-as-code practices in collaboration with DevOps teams.

• Support cost management, capacity planning, and FinOps for cloud and platform resources.

Security, data privacy & regulatory compliance

• Embed security-by-design principles: identity & access management, encryption (in transit and at rest), key management, secrets handling, and zero-trust patterns where appropriate.

• Ensure designs comply with country-level regulations across Africa (central bank requirements, data protection / data residency, AML/CFT, telecom and mobile money rules).

• Conduct architecture risk assessments, threat modeling, and design reviews with the Security function.

Governance, standards & architecture forums

• Maintain and evolve D&F architecture standards, principles, reference models, and design patterns.

• Contribute to Architecture Review Boards (ARB) and design authority forums; approve / reject designs against agreed criteria.

• Maintain a current view of the technology landscape (current state, target state, roadmap, dependencies).

Stakeholder engagement & advisory

• Partner with Product, Engineering, Security, Data, Risk, and Business teams to translate needs into technical solutions.

• Present architectures and recommendations to D&F leadership, OPCO CIOs, and vendor senior management with clarity and commercial awareness.

• Review vendor and partner solutions and ensure alignment with enterprise standards.

• Mentor engineers and tech leads; raise the architectural maturity of D&F and OPCO teams.

LEVEL OF EDUCATION:

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Information Technology, Telecommunications or equivalent. TOGAF, AWS Certified Solutions Architect (Associate/Professional), Azure Solutions Architect Expert, or equivalent certifications are a strong plus.

LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum 8 years in solution, application, or enterprise architecture roles, with at least 3 years in fintech, mobile money, digital banking, or telecom.
• Hands-on architectural experience with core wallet and/or core banking platforms —prior exposure to Telepin, Comviva, Ericsson Wallet Platform, Huawei CPS, Temenos, Finacle, or equivalents is valued.
• Proven track record designing solutions across multiple domains: payments, lending (LMS), cards, agent management, KYC/AML, fraud, mobile/USSD channels, APIs, and data platforms.
• Strong cloud architecture experience (AWS and/or Azure), including landing zones, identity, networking, and containerized workloads.