Solution Architect

The Solution Architect at glu Mutual is a hands‑on senior technologist responsible for designing, building, and evangelising scalable, production‑grade solutions in a fast‑moving startup environment.

This role focuses on transforming ambitious product ideas into working systems rather than only conceptual designs. The Solution Architect will be deeply involved in building codebases, designing integrations, shaping platforms, and collaborating closely with vendor engineers to deliver practical solutions.

The position blends solution architecture, technical leadership and startup execution, requiring comfort with ambiguity, rapid iteration, and direct accountability for production outcomes. The role is suited for a technologist who enjoys leading from the front, influencing through credibility, and championing technical innovation.

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Information Systems, Informatics, Computer Science or Engineering (or equivalent work experience)

Honours or Master’s Degree in Information Systems, Informatics, Computer Science or Engineering (preferred)

TOGAF Framework certification or equivalent

Experience

5–7 years of experience in an IT technical specialist role

5–7 years of experience in a Solutions Architect role within a medium to large organization (preferably banking or financial services)

Experience developing and managing IT architecture roadmaps

Proven experience with architecture and governance frameworks such as TOGAF or Zachman

Advanced experience designing and implementing complex computer systems

Experience in:

• Code refactoring
• Design patterns
• Highly scalable applications
• Application security

Experience with pair programming, continuous integration, test‑driven development (TDD), and incremental design

Project management experience is advantageous

Knowledge and Skills

Strong understanding of Agile software development practices

Ability to write and review architectural design documentation

Working knowledge of programming languages such as:

• Node.js
• Go
• Ruby on Rails
• Java
• PHP
• Perl
• .NET
• SQL
• HTML/CSS

Deep knowledge of infrastructure technologies including:

• RESTful APIs
• Single Sign‑On (SSO)
• LDAP
• LAMP stack
• Search technologies

Ability to design and implement secure, scalable, high‑performance systems

Strong documentation and communication skills

Understanding of emerging technologies related to the Fourth Industrial Revolution, including:

• Robotics
• Automation
• Digital platforms

Role Philosophy

This Role Is Ideal For Candidates Who Are:

Startup‑ready: Comfortable working in ambiguous, fast‑paced environments

Hands‑on: Actively involved in technical development and engineering work

Technologist‑driven: Passionate about innovation and modern technologies

This Role Is Not:

A passive architecture or governance‑only position

Suitable for candidates who prefer distance from delivery or implementation

Key Responsibilities

Translate product and client requirements into scalable technical designs

Define and evolve core architectural patterns and platform strategies

Make pragmatic technology decisions balancing speed, scalability, quality and cost

Ensure solutions are secure, resilient, observable and production‑ready

Hands‑On Technical Leadership

Contribute directly to codebases for complex or foundational components

Collaborate with vendor engineers to solve complex technical challenges

Review system designs, code, and integrations

Support teams throughout build, deployment and production stabilization

Startup Execution & Delivery

Take ownership of technical outcomes and delivery

Identify opportunities to simplify systems, reuse components and accelerate delivery

Technical Evangelism

Clearly communicate technical architecture and platform capabilities

Support client engagements that require deep technical expertise

Promote modern engineering practices across the organization

Implement lightweight governance frameworks that balance risk and innovation

Identify technical risks early and propose mitigation strategies

Ensure compliance with security and regulatory requirements

Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement

Work closely with product, engineering and commercial teams

Influence technology decisions through expertise and delivery success

Foster a culture of collaboration, experimentation and continuous improvement

Technical Knowledge & Capabilities

Strong software engineering foundation

Experience with modern development stacks, APIs and integration patterns

Ability to design secure, scalable and high‑performance systems

Familiarity with:

• DevOps practices
• Observability tools
• Production operations

Awareness of emerging technologies such as automation, AI‑enabled systems and digital platforms

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