Senior Principal AI Architect

We are seeking an experienced Senior Principal AI Architect to provide architecture leadership across multiple portfolios and strategic initiatives. This role will be responsible for defining and driving enterprise architecture decisions, partnering with client stakeholders, advancing engineering excellence, and leading large-scale modernization programs.The role should also possess a strong AI architecture focus, with proven expertise in particularly around enterprise adoption of GenAI and agentic AI on platforms such as Alibaba Cloud/Qwen and comparable hyperscaler AI ecosystems.ResponsibilitiesOwn end-to-end architecture across Digital Banking, Payments and Corporate Banking platforms.Lead solution design, architecture reviews, technical governance and pre-sales solutioning.Drive modernization initiatives including application refactoring, framework upgrades and platform transformation.Shape AI-enabled modernization and identify practical GenAI/agentic AI use cases across banking platforms, with appropriate architecture, security, data and governance controls.Define and enforce engineering standards, coding practices and API design standards.Provide technical leadership across onsite and offshore teams.Review sizing, estimates, technical risks and delivery feasibility during ROM/SOW stages.Engage directly with client architects, engineering managers and senior technology stakeholders.Ability to connect AI opportunities to banking business outcomes and translate them into secure, scalable enterprise architectures, especially where Alibaba Cloud/Qwen or similar AI platforms are relevantAbility to discuss real-world banking architecture challenges, resiliency patterns, scalability and modernization approaches.Mentor architects, technical leads and senior developersSkills RequirementBachelors degree in Engineering / Information Technology/Computer Science or related field12-15 years of experience in Architecture with expertise in Banking domain with AI architectureDomain Exposure: Payments/Transaction Banking/Corporate Banking/Digital Banking/API Banking/Core Banking PlatformsStrong expertise in Java (Java 8/11/17+) and enterprise application development.Deep knowledge of Spring Framework, Spring Boot, Spring Cloud, and microservices architecture.Understanding of performance tuning, scalability, resiliency, and high-availability architecturesExposure in GenAI and agentic AI architecture, including RAG, model integration/orchestration and AI-enabled engineering or modernizationStrong knowledge of security architecture, authentication, authorization, and API security best practices.Experience in Agile, Scrum, and SAFe environmentsExcellent communication, stakeholder management, and leadership skills.Improved engineering standards, platform reliability, and operational efficiency.Effective stakeholder engagement and alignment between Business and Technology objectives.Mandatory Technical SkillsCore Java (Java 17+ preferred)Spring BootMicroservices ArchitectureREST APIs and API GovernanceEvent-Driven ArchitectureKafka and/or RabbitMQDistributed Systems DesignDesign PatternsHigh Concurrency and Transaction Processing SystemsPostgreSQL / OracleCI/CD, Jenkins, SonarQubeContainer and Cloud-Native ArchitectureTest Driven Development (TDD)Contract Testing (Pact / WireMock)AI-ready architecture: API-first integration of AI models/services, enterprise data integration, security, observability and responsible AI controlsPreferred SkillsKubernetes and Container OrchestrationGRPCApache CamelServerless ArchitecturePerformance EngineeringApplication Modernization and JDK Upgrade ProgramsReactJS and Full-Stack Architecture Exposure