Principal Architect – Digital Banking & Credit Union Transformation

Accountabilities:

• • Own architecture and technical leadership for complex digital banking transformations, including migrations between legacy platforms and modern digital banking ecosystems.
  • Assess current-state technology environments and define target-state and transition architectures spanning digital banking, core banking, integration, cloud, data, identity, security, and third-party systems.
  • Lead architecture across digital banking, API, integration, Microsoft Azure, CRM, and related technology ecosystems.
  • Establish API, microservices, and integration strategies connecting digital banking platforms with core banking, payments, CRM, identity, fraud, analytics, and other financial-services systems.
  • Lead architecture governance and Design Authority activities across client, partner, and delivery teams.
  • Translate complex architectural decisions into clear business implications and recommendations for CIOs, CTOs, and other senior stakeholders.
  • Guide multidisciplinary engineering and delivery teams throughout architecture, implementation, testing, migration, and go-live.
  • Champion configuration over unnecessary customization, upgradeable platforms, security-by-design principles, and API-first integration approaches.
  • Mentor solution architects, technical leads, and engineers while strengthening architecture and engineering capabilities.
  • Develop reusable reference architectures, migration playbooks, integration patterns, and technical accelerators that can support future transformation programs.
  • Contribute to strategic pursuits, client workshops, technical presentations, thought leadership, industry events, and technology partner relationships.
  • Help identify emerging opportunities as Canadian credit unions modernize legacy environments, consolidate through mergers, and adopt shared technology models.
  • Build trusted relationships across the Canadian credit union, digital banking, fintech, and technology ecosystem.
  • Support the growth of future transformation engagements by establishing strong client relationships and demonstrating measurable technical value.

  Requirements:

  • 12+ years of experience in enterprise architecture, solution architecture, or senior technology leadership.
  • Significant professional experience within Canadian credit unions, banking, financial services, or closely related environments.
  • Proven experience leading at least one major digital banking modernization, platform migration, or comparable enterprise transformation from strategy through implementation.
  • Strong understanding of digital banking architecture, core banking integration, payments, identity, security, and member-facing digital channels.
  • Deep expertise in APIs, microservices, event-driven architecture, and enterprise integration.
  • Strong Microsoft Azure architecture experience.
  • Ability to operate comfortably at both executive-strategy and detailed technical levels, communicating effectively with CIOs, CTOs, architects, and engineering teams.
  • Demonstrated experience leading architecture governance and multidisciplinary technology or delivery teams.
  • Excellent communication, stakeholder management, influencing, and relationship-building skills.
  • Hands-on experience with platforms such as VeriPark, VeriChannel, VeriLink, Central 1 Forge, Backbase, ebankIT, Temenos, Intellect Design, Finastra, or comparable digital banking platforms is highly valuable.
  • Experience migrating from Forge or another legacy digital banking platform to a modern digital banking solution is an asset.
  • Experience with Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Power Platform architecture is a plus.
  • Existing relationships within the Canadian credit union, digital banking, fintech, or financial-services ecosystem are highly valuable.
  • Industry thought leadership, conference speaking, publishing, or participation in banking technology communities is an advantage.
  • Experience delivering accessible digital solutions and ensuring AODA/WCAG AA compliance is an asset.
  • Strong strategic thinking, commercial awareness, mentoring ability, and comfort operating in complex and ambiguous transformation environments.

  Benefits:

  • Competitive contract compensation: CAD $80–$110 per hour, depending on experience, digital banking expertise, and demonstrated leadership capabilities.
  • Premium expertise recognition: Exceptional candidates with deep experience in VeriPark, Forge, and the Canadian credit union ecosystem may receive compensation reflecting the strategic value of their expertise.
  • Senior-level impact: Opportunity to shape major digital banking transformation initiatives and influence technology strategy at the executive level.
  • Practice-building opportunity: Ability to develop reusable architecture assets, migration frameworks, accelerators, and industry perspectives.
  • Client and industry exposure: Work directly with senior financial-services leaders and technology partners across the Canadian credit union ecosystem.
  • Technical leadership: Opportunity to influence architecture standards, modernization strategies, integration approaches, and engineering practices.
  • Professional growth: Exposure to major digital banking platforms, cloud technologies, enterprise transformation programs, and emerging financial-services technology.
  • Mentorship and influence: Opportunity to develop architects, technical leads, and engineering teams while contributing to broader organizational capabilities.
  • Contract-to-hire pathway: The position is structured as a contract-to-hire opportunity, offering potential for a longer-term relationship based on mutual fit and business needs.