Architecture Director
London, LND, GB, EC2M 2AT
SMBC: A trusted partner for the long term
Here at SMBC Group, we want to help you find the next step in your career so read on to discover if this opportunity is the one for you. We like to recognise potential in our people, so we welcome your application even when your experience doesn’t perfectly align with the job description. Whilst we’ll always strive to be better, we’re proud of our inclusive culture, and encourage our applicants and colleagues to be their authentic, unique selves.
Who we are
United by a sense of purpose towards our customers – to be a trusted partner for the long-term – and our universal banking platform in EMEA, SMBC Group has an international growth agenda and award-winning products, meaning we provide exciting opportunities to work on a diverse range of projects and initiatives. We deliver a full suite of corporate finance products and solutions to our customers as well as investment banking and advisory services, and a range of innovative solutions in global capital markets. Read on to find out how you could enhance your skills and gain valuable experience, by joining us to support our clients transition to a sustainable future.
Role Summary
We are seeking an experienced Principal Integration Architect to play a key role in defining and implementing the banks Enterprise Integration Architecture Strategy. This is a key prerequisite for delivering SMBC’s Global Horizon programme, the bank’s first large scale global technology implementation. Horizon intends to move SMBC’s regionalised HR systems to one global platform. Reporting to the EMEA Head of Enterprise Architecture, the Principal Integration Architect role will be responsible for designing, governing, and evolving the bank’s integration architecture across core systems, digital platforms, and third-party services. This role ensures seamless, secure, and scalable data and service integration across a complex global technology landscape, supporting both legacy modernization and cloud transformation initiatives.
The anticipated salary range for this role is £108,000 - £162,000, with the final offer determined based on the candidate’s skills, experience, role scope, location, and relevant market factors. In addition to base salary, the role may be eligible for a discretionary incentive award and a competitive benefits package, including core benefits such as pension provision.
Position Description
The Principal Integration Architect will work closely with enterprise architects, domain architects, engineering teams, and senior stakeholders to enable data and process integration across complex, globally distributed systems, supporting strategic transformation initiatives such as Global Horizon programme. The successful candidate will drive the implementation of the integration strategy, establish architectural standards, and ensure alignment with business goals, regulatory requirements, and global principles. This role requires close collaboration with stakeholders, external partners, and global teams to deliver scalable, secure, and future-ready technology platforms. The role will be responsible for defining and maintaining the enterprise integration architecture strategy aligned with business and technology objectives.
Responsibilities include:
Provide technical leadership and accountability for the delivery and adoption of the Integration strategy within the SMBC Global Horizon programme, supporting the rollout of a single global SAP SuccessFactors instance and all associated downstream integrations.
Lead the adoption of modern integration patterns (e.g., event-driven architecture, API-first design).
Establish standards, frameworks, and best practices for integration and interoperability.
Collaborate with engineering teams to ensure architecture is implemented correctly and consistently.
Oversee API lifecycle management, including design, governance, security, and performance.
Ensure compliance with regulatory, security, and data privacy requirements.
Ensure AI‑related integrations comply with model risk management, data privacy, and regulatory expectations.
Support cloud migration initiatives, including hybrid and multi-cloud integration strategies.
Identify and mitigate integration risks, including technical debt, performance bottlenecks, and system dependencies.
Provide technical leadership and mentoring to development and architecture teams.
Chair integration architecture governance forums and design authorities.
Knowledge & Experience:
Proven experience as an Lead Integration Architect or Senior Solution Architect, or similar role within financial services.
Strong knowledge of integration technologies such as: API gateways (e.g. Kong, APIm etc), Messaging systems (e.g., Kafka, MQ), ESB/iPaaS platforms. SAP knowledge will be plus.
Experience with APIs, event-driven architectures, and microservices.
Familiarity with cloud platforms (Azure, AWS or GCP) and hybrid integration patterns.
Strong understanding of security protocols (OAuth2, OpenID Connect, TLS, etc.).
Experience integrating legacy banking systems with modern digital platforms.
Experience integrating data platforms used for analytics or machine learning.
Familiarity with real‑time vs batch data patterns and their impact on analytical and AI use cases.
Awareness of AI model lifecycle considerations from an architecture perspective.
Understanding of EU regulatory frameworks, including GDPR, DORA, and operational resilience standards
Strong understanding of DevOps practices, CI/CD, and infrastructure as code
Strong grasp of non‑functional requirements in regulated environments.
Skills:
Analytical and strategic thinking, with the ability to translate complex business needs into scalable technical solutions
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present to and influence executive-level stakeholders
Ability to manage large workloads, prioritize effectively, and operate under pressure
Results-oriented with a focus on delivery, compliance, and innovation
Ability to operate effectively in a global, multicultural environment
Competencies
What we offer
For all the expertise and experience you bring to help us make a difference, it’s only sustainable if we support you to build your career and be your best self so we offer competitive company benefits, centred around promoting positive well-bring and work-life balance. We also believe in fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment, where all team members perspectives and contributions are valued. Initiatives in place which promote a diverse and inclusive culture and healthy work life balance include hybrid working, Sport & Social Clubs and Diversity and Inclusion networks.
As an employee of SMBC you have access to a host of both useful and exciting benefit offerings. See below some of the benefits on offer to you:
- Hybrid and flexible working
- Competitive paid leave days
- Benefits to support your physical wellbeing, including private medical insurance and life and invalidity insurance
- Various policies to support your mental wellbeing, including a robust behavioural health network with counselling and coaching services
- Access a wide range of learning and development opportunities and career progression opportunities
- Ambitious remuneration package
So, if you like a challenge and want to continuously grow and develop in a role where you will be supported along the way by a dynamic and diverse team, apply today!!
We recognise our role as a bank to support social change and welcome all applications, including those from groups often under-represented in financial services. We value the uniqueness of professional and personal, backgrounds and perspectives as they play a vital role in continuing the sustainable growth of our organisation. We’ll ensure reasonable adjustments to our recruitment process are offered due to a disability or long-term condition whenever requested.
We are committed to transparent and equitable pay practices. Compensation is determined using objective criteria, including skills, experience, and role responsibilities, and applied consistently throughout our recruitment processes. We do not request candidates' pay history and are committed to preventing unjustified pay disparities.