Principal Banking Technology & Solution Architect (Canada Only)

Principal Banking Technology & Solution Architect — Credit Unions (Contract)
Location:
Canada — Remote, with occasional client travel
Engagement:
Independent Contractor / Consulting
Seniority:
Principal / Senior Technology Advisory
Industry:
Canadian Credit Unions, Banking Technology and Financial Services
About AequilibriumAequilibrium is a Canadian digital transformation and technology consulting company helping financial institutions modernize their technology platforms, improve member experiences, and deliver complex transformation programs. We combine business and technology strategy, solution architecture, experience design, software engineering, quality assurance, and AI-enabled innovation.
We are seeking an experienced, client‑facing Principal Banking Technology & Solution Architect to advise Canadian credit unions on critical platform decisions, architecture modernization and complex technology migrations.
The OpportunityYou will work directly with credit union CTOs, CIOs and transformation leaders as a trusted technical advisor.
Our clients are navigating significant changes across digital banking, core banking integrations, enterprise data and analytics, payments, CRM and cloud platforms. Several are migrating away from Central 1 Forge while simultaneously modernizing other components of their technology landscape.
Your role is to help these institutions make informed technology decisions, manage architectural complexity and reduce delivery risk. This is a hands‑on advisory role requiring strong architecture judgment, banking domain knowledge, vendor evaluation experience and the ability to translate technical complexity into practical executive recommendations.
Key ResponsibilitiesTechnology Strategy and Platform SelectionLead structured evaluations of enterprise technology platforms, including data analytics, digital banking, CRM, payments and integration solutionsDefine business and technical evaluation criteria, requirements, architecture principles and vendor scorecardsAssess products such as Microsoft Fabric, Snowflake, Fiserv and Finastra analytics solutions, as well as relevant digital banking platformsFacilitate vendor demonstrations, technical due diligence, reference checks and proof‑of‑concept evaluationsAssess functional fit, interoperability, security, scalability, operational complexity, licensing and total cost of ownershipPrepare decision papers, target architectures and recommendations for CTOs and executive steering committeesEnterprise and Solution ArchitectureAssess current‑state enterprise architectures and design pragmatic future‑state architecturesEvaluate integration dependencies across core banking, digital banking, CRM, payments, data warehouses, fraud systems and third‑party servicesDefine integration patterns, API strategies, data flows, architectural boundaries and transition roadmapsReview vendor solution designs, identify architectural gaps and challenge unsupported technical assumptionsProvide architecture oversight across multiple vendors and implementation partnersDigital Banking and Forge Migration AdvisoryAdvise credit unions transitioning from Central 1 Forge to modern digital banking platformsEvaluate replacement capabilities, functional parity, integration requirements and migration dependenciesAssess the implications of different platform versions, vendor configurations and customization approachesSupport migration planning, technical readiness assessments and architectural risk managementWork with delivery and QA leaders to define technical acceptance criteria and evidence‑based go‑live readinessData and Analytics ModernizationLead assessments of legacy banking analytics and reporting environmentsEvaluate modern data warehouses, lakehouses, data integration platforms and banking‑specific analytics productsDefine data migration approaches, data quality controls, governance, security and reporting continuity requirementsAssess data integration with banking core systems, digital channels and enterprise applicationsDevelop architecture recommendations that support future AI, advanced analytics and member personalizationExecutive Advisory and Delivery AssuranceBuild trusted relationships with CTOs, CIOs, business sponsors and technology leadership teamsCommunicate complex architecture and technology decisions in clear business languageWork alongside project managers, delivery directors, business analysts, designers and QA leadsProvide independent technical oversight without duplicating the responsibilities of existing implementation partnersIdentify emerging risks early and recommend practical mitigation optionsProduce concise architecture assessments, executive presentations, technical recommendations and implementation roadmaps
Required Qualifications12+ years of experience in enterprise technology, solution architecture, technical consulting or banking technology deliverySignificant experience in banking, credit unions or regulated financial servicesDemonstrated experience leading technology platform evaluations and vendor selectionsStrong understanding of digital banking architectures, core banking integrations, APIs, data integration and cloud platformsExperience with enterprise data platforms, including Microsoft Azure, Microsoft Fabric, Snowflake or comparable technologiesAbility to evaluate architecture trade‑offs across security, scalability, maintainability, cost and implementation riskExperience working with multiple technology vendors and complex transformation programsStrong executive communication, stakeholder facilitation and technical documentation skillsAbility to operate independently as a senior advisor across multiple client engagementsBased in Canada and available to work with Canadian credit union clients
Highly Desirable ExperienceDirect experience with Central 1 Forge or Canadian credit union digital banking migrationsFamiliarity with VeriPark, Intellect Design, Backbase, ebankIT, Plumery or comparable digital banking platformsKnowledge of Fiserv DNA, RFS360 or other credit union core banking systemsExperience with Temenos analytics, Microsoft Fabric, Snowflake, Fiserv analytics or Finastra platformsExperience with Microsoft Dynamics 365, Salesforce, Power BI and enterprise data governanceFamiliarity with Canadian financial services regulatory, security and privacy requirementsExperience with migration readiness, technical assurance, QA strategy and release governancePrevious experience as a CTO, Chief Architect, Principal Architect or senior technology consultant in a financial institution or consulting organization
What Success Looks LikeLead at least one structured technology platform assessment and produce an executive‑ready recommendationEstablish a current‑state and target‑state architecture for a credit union modernization initiativeIdentify material integration, vendor dependency and migration risks for active client programsProvide practical architecture guidance that improves decision quality and reduces avoidable delivery riskBuild trusted working relationships with multiple credit union technology leaders
Success will be measured by the quality of decisions supported, risks reduced, client confidence and tangible progress toward modernization outcomes—not by the volume of documentation produced.
Engagement ModelThis is a flexible, part‑time or full‑time consulting engagement depending on client demand. The successful candidate may support multiple Canadian credit union engagements concurrently, combining remote advisory work with occasional stakeholder workshops or on‑site sessions.
Applicants should provide their relevant banking architecture experience, availability, preferred hourly consulting rate and examples of comparable technology selection or modernization engagements.
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