Solutions Architect - Cards Migration & Modernization

Overview

We are seeking a seasoned Solutions Architect with extensive expertise in the Cards & Payments domain to lead architectural and technical solution design for comprehensive card migration programs. This full-time contract role is based in Auckland, New Zealand, with a focus on migrating card portfolios and related ecosystems from legacy card management platforms to cutting-edge, API-driven environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and define end-to-end solution architecture for card portfolio migration and modernization from legacy systems to modern API-centric platforms.
• Conduct detailed analysis of existing legacy card management systems, including interfaces, integrations, data structures, and business workflows to establish the future state architecture.
• Create modern solutions leveraging microservices, RESTful APIs, event-driven designs, cloud infrastructure, containerization, and API gateway technologies.
• Architect integration models across the card transaction ecosystem, covering core banking systems, payment switches, digital user channels, fraud and risk systems, 3DS processing, card bureaus, payment schemes (Mastercard/Visa), tokenization services, wallets, and external partner platforms.
• Develop comprehensive migration strategies encompassing data extraction, transformation, mapping, loading, reconciliation, mock migration exercises, cutover procedures, rollback plans, and validation.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams including Data Architects, Migration Leads, Business Analysts, Engineering, Quality Assurance, Security, DevOps, and Infrastructure to ensure alignment on technical solutions.
• Set and enforce API and integration standards focusing on design consistency, security protocols, authorization/authentication mechanisms, error management, versioning, resiliency, and performance optimization.
• Define non-functional requirements such as scalability, availability, disaster recovery, security, observability, and operational resilience.
• Review and provide direction on technical designs; guide development and implementation teams throughout project phases.
• Identify and manage technical risks, dependencies, gaps, and constraints involved in migration from legacy platforms.
• Lead technical discussions and presentations with senior client stakeholders, including CIOs, CTOs, Enterprise Architects, and third-party suppliers.
• Support solution estimations, technical proposals, proof of concepts, architectural documentation, and client demonstrations.
• Offer architectural support during system integration testing (SIT), user acceptance testing (UAT), certification phases, cutover, go-live, and hypercare periods.
• Ensure compliance with banking regulations, card scheme rules, information security standards, and regulatory requirements.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• A minimum of 12 to 18+ years of IT experience with a strong focus on Cards & Payments.
• Proven expertise in card management system migrations or modernization initiatives.
• Hands-on experience transitioning from legacy card processing platforms to flexible, API-based systems.
• Comprehensive understanding of the card lifecycle including issuance, personalization, credit/debit/prepaid cards, authorization and transaction processing, account-card relationships, billing, card servicing, fee management, dispute handling, and digital card/wallet implementations.
• Deep knowledge of modern application architectures such as microservices, RESTful and event-driven APIs, cloud platforms, container technologies like Docker and Kubernetes, API gateways, CI/CD pipelines, and monitoring tools.
• Experience designing data migration strategies and integration architectures.
• Understanding enterprise security frameworks including OAuth2, OpenID Connect (OIDC), encryption, key management, PCI DSS compliance, API security, and secure cardholder data handling.
• Demonstrated experience engaging with large banking clients on complex modernization efforts.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with capability to liaise with senior-level technology and business leaders.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Familiarity with Card Management Systems.
• Knowledge of Mastercard and Visa ecosystems, mobile digital ecosystem services (MDES), tokenization.
• Experience with 3DS Authentication and Access Control Server (ACS).
• Exposure to fraud and risk management platforms, digital wallets, card bureau operations, payment switching, core banking integration, cloud migrations, data migration tools, ETL platforms, Kubernetes/OpenShift, Kafka messaging, and API management solutions.

Key Attributes

• A robust architect with deep domain expertise in Cards & Payments.
• Ability to analyze legacy platforms and transform them into future-ready architectures.
• Comfortable operating across both business/domain and technical layers.
• Experienced in leading extensive, multifaceted banking transformation initiatives.
• Strong decision-making capabilities, technical leadership, and client rapport building.
• Capacity to contribute across architecture, migration, integration, security, data, infrastructure, and engineering dimensions.

Additional Information

This position is offered as a contract role based onsite in Auckland. Candidates should be prepared to work collaboratively within a diverse, multidisciplinary team environment supporting large-scale enterprise banking transformation projects.