Solution Architect

Family Bank, initially registered as a Building Society in Kenya in 1984, began operations in 1985. It transitioned into a fully-fledged bank in May 2007 to broaden its product and service offerings to customers.

This role involves working closely with project managers, business analysts, QA teams, and integration engineers to translate business and functional requirements into well-defined architectural designs. The Solution Architect ensures that all solutions are fit for purpose and aligned with the Bank’s technology roadmap, contributing to the overall strategic direction of technology within the organization.

1. Design and document comprehensive solution architectures for ICT projects and technology changes.
2. Create High-Level Design (HLD), Low-Level Design (LLD) documents, architecture decision records, data flow diagrams, and integration specifications.
3. Evaluate and recommend optimal solution options based on business needs, cost, and risk factors.
4. Ensure all solution designs are reviewed and approved by the Solution Architecture Lead.
5. Maintain and update architecture artifacts throughout the project lifecycle.
6. Ensure solutions comply with the Bank’s Enterprise Architecture framework and standards.
7. Identify and report deviations from EA standards to the Solution Architecture Lead.
8. Contribute to the maintenance and evolution of the architecture repository.
9. Apply established reference architectures and design patterns in solution design.
10. Engage with Business Analysts to translate business requirements into technical architectures.
11. Collaborate with System Integrators, developers, and QA teams for accurate implementation of designs.
12. Participate in project meetings, technical design reviews, and architecture workshops.
13. Provide technical guidance to development and integration teams during the build phase.
14. Prepare and present solution architecture designs to relevant stakeholders and governance forums.
15. Incorporate security controls, data protection, and compliance into all solution designs.
16. Coordinate with the Information Security team for architecture security reviews.
17. Ensure solutions comply with CBK technology regulations and the Bank’s ICT policies.
18. Assess architectural impact of proposed technology changes for Change Approval Board submissions.
19. Contribute to the continuous improvement of architecture standards and methodologies.
20. Stay updated on emerging technologies, architecture patterns, and industry trends in banking.
21. Participate in team knowledge-sharing and professional development activities.

1. Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Software Engineering, or a related field.
2. TOGAF Foundation certification (advantageous).
3. Cloud architecture certification (AWS, Azure, or GCP – Associate or Professional level) (advantageous).
4. ITIL Foundation certification (advantageous).
5. Minimum 3–5 years of experience in solution architecture, systems design, or software development.
6. Demonstrated experience in designing technology solutions for banking or financial services environments.
7. Experience in integration design and API architecture.
8. Exposure to cloud architecture and hybrid deployments.
9. Experience in producing architecture documentation (HLDs, LLDs, architecture diagrams).