API Architect

Job Title: API Architect

Work Location: Atlanta GA (Hybrid)

Type: Contract

Day to Day Job Duties:

• Design implement and deploy API solutions across cloud-native environments with a focus on AWS and distributed systems
• Lead the development and delivery of API and microservices-based solutions including hands-on coding and technical leadership
• Collaborate with business leaders product owners and cross-functional teams to translate business requirements into scalable API architectures
• Define and enforce API design standards guidelines and best practices across the organization
• Create architecture designs and technical deliverables aligned with enterprise strategy and infrastructure standards
• Manage and prioritize API and product feature backlogs in an Agile environment
• Develop and maintain public and private APIs supporting multiple lines of business
• Ensure high availability scalability and performance of API platforms and distributed systems
• Work closely with QA/testing teams to ensure software quality and resolve defects
• Provide application support including troubleshooting root cause analysis and on-call support
• Participate in client discussions to understand requirements and provide consulting to internal stakeholders
• Build strong relationships with business operations and technology teams to deliver innovative solutions
• Contribute to enterprise architecture strategy including evolving systems policies and governance frameworks

Basic Qualifications: (what are the skills required to this job with minimum years of experience on each)

• Minimum 8 years of experience in software engineering API development and distributed systems
• Minimum 5 years of experience in API design and development (RESTful APIs microservices architecture)
• Minimum 3 years of experience working with cloud platforms (preferably AWS: API Gateway Lambda ECS/EKS SQS/SNS etc.)
• Strong experience in designing and building scalable highly available distributed systems
• Hands-on experience with API management versioning security (OAuth2 JWT) and governance
• Experience with Agile SDLC backlog management and working with product owners
• Proficiency in at least one programming language (e.g. Java Python )
• Experience with cloud messaging and event-driven architectures
• Strong understanding of system integration patterns and ground-to-cloud connectivity
• Experience in debugging testing and production support of enterprise applications
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to collaborate across business and technical teams

Travel:

• This position may require occasional travel (10 30%) depending on project and stakeholder needs.

Degree:

• Bachelors degree in Computer Science Information Technology or equivalent work experience

Nice to Have: (But not a must)

• Experience in API platform strategy and enterprise-wide governance
• Exposure to multi-region and multi-cloud architectures
• Experience with DevOps CI/CD pipelines and Infrastructure as Code (Terraform/CloudFormation/CDK)
• Knowledge of GraphQL gRPC or event-driven API patterns
• Prior experience in financial services or regulated industries
• Experience mentoring teams or leading architecture initiatives