Lead Solution Architect

Lead Solution Architect – Enterprise Branch Modernization

Client: Leading North American Bank

Location: Toronto, remote

Type: Contract / Long-Term

About the Opportunity

Swoon is partnering with a premier financial institution to find a Lead Solution Architect to drive a massive, multi-year Branch Modernization program. This initiative is replacing 20-year-old legacy branch applications with state-of-the-art, cloud-based solutions. You will partner directly with the Head of Branch Architecture, taking on a critical leadership role to guide a team of 7-8 architects while navigating complex enterprise governance.

This is not a role for a niche specialist. We need a seasoned, hands-on generalist and integration expert who can tie together APIs, real-time/batch processing, and databases while ensuring alignment across Security, Fraud, Legal, and Compliance teams. If you excel at respectfully pushing back on tactical "quick fixes" to champion long-term, strategic AWS cloud architectures, this is the environment for you.

What You Will Do

• Drive Modernization: Lead end-to-end Solution Architecture for branch transformation, moving away from legacy infrastructure to modern, scalable solutions.
• Architecture Governance: Shepherd projects through strict enterprise triage and gating processes, defending your architectural designs to C-level executives, domain heads, and Architecture Review Boards (ARBs).
• Cross-Functional Leadership: Build consensus and secure buy-in from implementation teams, Security, Fraud, Legal, and business units, often influencing without direct authority.
• Technical Design & Artifacts: Create high-quality architectural diagrams, solution documents, and decision records using tools like iServer, Visio, LeanIX, or Lucidchart.
• Mentorship: Act as the right-hand to the Head of Architecture, sharing the workload, mentoring junior architects, and establishing consistent standards across the program.

What You Bring

• Domain Expertise: 10+ years of overall technology experience with 5+ years of applied Solution Architecture specifically within the Banking or Financial Services industry.
• Broad Integration Skills: Deep experience as a generalist/integration architect connecting complex enterprise systems (APIs, microservices, databases, legacy migrations).
• Cloud Proficiency: Strong hands-on architectural experience with AWS (primary), alongside a working knowledge of Azure (Active Directory, M365, etc.).
• Governance Mastery: Proven track record of presenting to and securing approvals from enterprise Architecture Review Boards (ARBs).
• Stakeholder Management: Exceptional ability to navigate organizational politics, push back on pushy implementation teams, and align business intent with regulatory obligations.
• Note: While familiarity with AI is welcome, this is not an AI-deployment or pure Data Architect role.