Enterprise Architect – Digital Banking (KSA)

Enterprise Architect – Digital Banking (KSA)

Location: Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Onsite – 5 Days per Week)

Contract Duration: 6 Months (Potential Extension)

Start Date: Immediate

Interview Process: 1–2 Interviews

Overview

We are seeking an experienced Enterprise Architect – Digital Banking to lead the end-to-end technology architecture for the establishment of a digital or foreign bank branch in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

The ideal candidate has successfully built or played a lead architecture role in launching a digital bank or foreign bank in KSA, driving the technology journey from initial planning and target architecture through implementation, regulatory readiness, go-live, and operational handover. This includes experience supporting the bank's Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) No Objection Certificate (NOC) process and ensuring compliance with regulatory technology requirements.

This role requires strong enterprise architecture expertise across applications, integration, data, infrastructure, cloud, and cybersecurity, with deep knowledge of the Saudi banking ecosystem.

Key Responsibilities

Enterprise Architecture Leadership

• Lead the end-to-end definition of the target enterprise, technology, and infrastructure architecture for a digital or foreign bank branch in KSA.
• Define architecture principles, standards, and governance across applications, integrations, data, infrastructure, cloud, and security.
• Develop the target-state architecture aligned with business strategy, product roadmap, and regulatory requirements.

Digital Bank Setup

• Lead technology planning from initial bank setup through implementation, testing, production deployment, and go-live.
• Develop the technology implementation roadmap, including milestones, dependencies, Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), and MVP delivery planning.
• Ensure architecture decisions support scalability, resilience, security, and future business growth.
• Oversee architecture governance throughout the delivery lifecycle.

Regulatory & Banking Ecosystem

• Ensure technology architecture complies with Saudi banking regulations and supports regulatory approval activities.
• Support the preparation of technology artefacts required during the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) licensing and No Objection Certificate (NOC) process.
• Lead the design and implementation of required banking ecosystem integrations, including:
• SJN (Saudi National Network)
• SARIE
• Tanfeeth Gateway
• SWIFT
• Other regulatory and payment infrastructure required for banking operations in KSA.

Vendor & Solution Governance

• Prepare non-functional requirements (NFRs) and technology SLAs for RFPs.
• Lead technical evaluations of vendor proposals and architecture assessments.
• Review vendor solution designs and ensure alignment with enterprise architecture standards.
• Identify architecture risks, design gaps, and technical dependencies, driving their resolution.

Stakeholder Management

• Partner with executive leadership, business stakeholders, regulators, technology teams, and external vendors throughout the bank setup journey.
• Provide architecture leadership across all technology domains and ensure alignment between business, technology, and regulatory objectives.
• Support operational readiness, production cutover, and post-go-live stabilization activities.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related discipline.
• 12+ years of experience in Enterprise Architecture, Solution Architecture, or Technology Leadership within banking or financial services.
• Proven experience building a digital bank or foreign bank in Saudi Arabia, leading technology from strategy and architecture through implementation and production go-live.
• Demonstrated experience supporting the technology workstreams required for Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) licensing and No Objection Certificate (NOC) approval.
• Strong expertise in enterprise architecture covering applications, integration, data, infrastructure, cloud, and cybersecurity.
• Experience with core banking platforms, digital banking solutions, payment systems, and enterprise integration.
• Hands-on knowledge of the Saudi banking ecosystem, including SJN, SARIE, Tanfeeth Gateway, SWIFT, and other local banking integrations.
• Experience leading architecture governance, vendor selection, RFP evaluations, and enterprise technology roadmaps.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and executive presentation skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience serving as the Lead Enterprise Architect or Chief Architect for a digital banking or greenfield bank implementation.
• TOGAF or equivalent Enterprise Architecture certification.
• Cloud certifications (AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud).
• Experience working with multinational banks establishing operations within Saudi Arabia.