Job Overview
We are seeking a seasoned data architecture leader to spearhead the enterprise-wide core banking transformation program. This is a high-impact, strategic role responsible for the end-to-end design, delivery, governance, and operational enablement of the data architecture as we transition from a legacy core banking system to a modern, microservices-based banking platform.
The ideal candidate will drive architectural excellence, ensure data integrity across the migration lifecycle, and enable seamless business operations through robust data frameworks.
Key Responsibilities
- Data Architecture Leadership: Own the full lifecycle of data architecture—from planning and design to implementation oversight—ensuring alignment with business objectives and technical standards.
- Legacy-to-Modern Migration: Define and execute comprehensive migration strategies, including roadmap development, rule specification, cutover planning, and execution oversight for full data migration, incremental synchronization, and historical data archiving.
- Data Integration & Interoperability: Architect enterprise-grade data integration frameworks across the core banking ecosystem, enabling seamless interaction between core systems, peripheral applications, middleware, and data warehouses.
- Real-Time Data Synchronization: Leverage Change Data Capture (CDC) technologies to enable near-real-time data replication and consistency during and after the transition phase.
- Data Governance & Quality: Establish end-to-end data integrity mechanisms across collection, transmission, storage, migration, processing, and application. Lead the development of master data management (MDM) systems for critical domains—customer, account, product, and organizational data.
- Data Ownership & Stewardship: Define and operationalize a clear data ownership model, assigning responsibilities for data domains, stewards, and user roles, and embed accountability into enterprise data asset management.
- Standardization & Metadata Management: Build and maintain a unified enterprise data dictionary, enforcing data standards to eliminate silos and ensure consistency across all systems and reporting layers.
- Compliance & Security: Ensure all data architecture and migration activities adhere to financial data security, privacy regulations, and industry-specific risk control requirements.
- Education: Bachelor’s degree or above in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Financial Technology, or a related technical discipline.
- Experience: Minimum 8 years in data architecture, with at least 3 years of end-to-end architectural responsibility in large-scale core banking system transformations.
- Database Expertise: Deep proficiency in relational and distributed banking databases (e.g., Oracle, PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB); hands-on experience with DB2 is a strong advantage. Proven track record in physical database design, performance tuning, transaction management, high-availability architectures, and disaster recovery planning. Extensive experience in database migration and cross-database compatibility is essential.
- Data Governance & MDM: Demonstrated expertise in master data management, data ownership models, enterprise data dictionary construction, and data quality/governance frameworks within financial institutions.
- Business & Regulatory Acumen: Solid understanding of core banking business processes and regulatory data requirements in the financial services industry.
- Certifications (Preferred): Professional certifications such as TOGAF, CDMP, or equivalent in data architecture, governance, or enterprise architecture.
- Soft Skills: Strong team player with proven ability to lead, influence, and mentor cross-functional teams. Proactive problem-solver with a customer-centric mindset and technical resilience.
- Language: Fluent in written and spoken English; proficiency in Cantonese is a significant plus.
