Freelance API Integration Architect (ZZP)

ABN AMRO is working hard to maximize the usage of APIs. APIs are used to simplify the IT landscape and offer the business opportunities to anticipate faster and develop better products.The Enterprise Integration Technology department is the place within ABN AMRO where everything related to APIs comes together. Within our department, we have teams working on multiple areas of the API landscape. We are building and maintaining innovative API platforms, we help the business to design and create the best possible APIs, and support the developers in and outside of the bank with our developer portals. In short, we give internal and external development teams the best integration experience possible! Our API Competence Centre is the central place where we set up the standards and guidelines to make sure everything runs smoothly. But that’s not all, within this team, we also deliver consultancy and architectural support to the business that is starting with APIs or runs into challenges. This team is at the start of innovations and faces the challenges that come with discovering new grounds. We are now looking for a new champion in our Competence Centre. Someone who is up for the challenge and wants to help our business and developers to reach the next level in APIs. 

In short:

The API integration Architect is a function within IT that is found in the Enterprise & Information Technology department. The API Architect, together with his fellow experts, forms a centre of expertise, which are responsible for making the ABN AMRO organization future proof.  The API integration Architect works with Delivery Blocks and management to ensure that new orchanged applications and infrastructure related to his field of expertise are architecturally implemented correctly.

Guiding the Blocks towards making the right technical and organizational choices. This is a complex environment were the Architects needs to align with the blocks, internal departments and cohere to the rules and regulations that are set upon by the bank and external regulators. The API integration Architect develops critical knowledge and skill areas and monitors future developments to continually update his knowledge areas. The Architect does not work only for IT domains and Grids, the scope covers all I&T departments and Business lines.

Has an outside-in view to translating developments from the market into bank-specific issues. 

Your daily work Organization and Grid/Block support:

You are responsible for facilitating architectural meetings with your Delivery Blocks, creating domain models, Architectural documents, approving presented API solutions and promoting standards.Advises employees on the possibilities and new developments in the field of technologies and methodologies.Creates together with other architecture departments the right eco-system around the IT Delivery Blocks so that they can perform optimally. 

Knowledge development and innovation:

Be on the front-end of the API discussion within the ABN AMRO organization. To advise and guide you need to have knowledge of new and existing technologies within the API landscape.Follows developments and trends, Gathers knowledge about this and report this to the rest of the Competence Centre. 

Communication and education:

Sets up and maintains a knowledge management environment and makes it available to the organization.Is proactive in stimulating knowledge transfer within the bank concerning his/her field of expertise.Knows how to assess which knowledge is lacking in the target groups. Gives presentations, workshops, and training coursesfor employees inside and outside the bank on the technologies and methodologies to be applied. 

Professionalization:

Makes proposals for the professionalization of the organization around the application of new and currenttechnologies and methodologies. Presents himself as the expert of the API Competence Centre focus area within the Blocks/Grids and coaches IT delivery Block members in further development of their competencies within API Competence Centre  focus area. 

Stakeholder Management:

Is responsible for stakeholder management, determines who the stakeholders are, establishes theirattitude towards the technologies and methodologies to be applied.Convinces the stakeholders and ensures that they can propagate the applied technologies and methodologies in the organization. Initiates andmaintains communities (Triangles) within the field with sufficient coverage from within the organization.organization.Is responsible for frequent contact with existing and potential new participants and is a full discussion partner for this. Responsible for regular coordination with vendorstaff on the standards to be used and their application within the bank. 

Quality Assurance:

Quality Assurance on standards and guidelines. Is mandated and responsible for the propagation andcontrol of policies regarding the standards to be applied. Holds with the other Centers of ExpertiseIntakes, so that for a Grid all (IT) facets are covered. 

Complete ordered and prioritized backlog:

Weighs the interests of the variousstakeholders and translates these into a high-quality backlog with the right priority, aimed at value maximization.This limits the entrance of new work and allows the Blocks to work during the sprints.

Requirements:

• Experience in Architecture

• Consultancy skills and persuasiveness

• Knowledge of REST architecture and HTTP RFCs

• Knowledge of Domain-Driven Design, information modelling, business analysis, banking taxonomies,

• Resource Modelling in Financial services company

• In-Depth knowledge of API artifacts and service interface specifications (WSDL, YAML, XML, UML etc)

• Experience in formulating API guidelines, standards, and best practices

• Knowledge of API Design Principles and Patterns

• Hands-on tooling experience: Bitbucket, Sparx Enterprise Architect, Swagger, Postman.

• Expertise in Open API specification standards.

• Knowledge of security patterns for APIs e.g. OAuth 2.0, JWT, etc

• Knowledge of API Gateway and other Integration concepts e.g. Apigee, ESB

• Experience in writing and reviewing API specifications

• Working and collaborating across multiple teams

We would like to receive a CV that clearly shows that you meet the strict requirements. Make this clear in your CV or motivation letter. Describe in short your experience with each requirement.