Head of Enterprise API Platform

Guardian Life Insurance • New York, NY

5d • $178,690 - $293,560

About The Position

Guardian is transforming how it delivers digital and data-driven experiences. The Head of Enterprise API Platform leads strategy and execution for the enterprise API ecosystem, enabling secure, scalable, and reusable services that support customer, product, and AI capabilities across the organization. The role modernizes the API landscape, establishes engineering standards, and leads teams delivering enterprise integration solutions.

The position is responsible for designing and delivering scalable, reliable API platforms; setting standards for security, performance, and lifecycle management; and modernizing legacy integrations into reusable, governed APIs. It drives API adoption and reuse, strengthens developer experience through tooling, automation, and self-service, and reduces duplication and inefficiency across enterprise integrations. The role partners across architecture, cybersecurity, and platform teams, builds high-performing engineering teams, and influences technology direction through cross-functional partnerships.

Success is measured by platform reliability, performance, and developer experience; increased API adoption and reuse; fewer redundant integrations and services; compliance with security and engineering standards; improved delivery speed and predictability; and fewer API-related incidents. Salary range: $178,690 to $293,560. The role may also be eligible for annual, sales, or other incentive compensation.

Requirements

• Experience leading API, platform, or integration engineering in large-scale environments.
• Strong expertise in API design, microservices, and modern integration patterns.
• Proven ability to establish standards and drive adoption across teams.
• Experience modernizing legacy systems into scalable services.
• Strong understanding of security, including authentication, authorization, and zero-trust.
• Experience leading and developing engineering teams.
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive enterprise outcomes.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience in software engineering, API development, or platform engineering.
• 5+ years of experience leading engineering teams and delivering at enterprise scale.
• Proven experience designing and implementing API strategies and integration architectures.
• Experience modernizing legacy systems into scalable, service-based architectures.
• Strong understanding of API security, governance, and lifecycle management.
• Experience operating in complex, cross-functional environments with multiple stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to influence senior leaders and drive enterprise-wide initiatives.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without employment-based visa sponsorship now or in the future.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with cloud-native architectures such as AWS or Azure.
• Familiarity with event-driven architectures and distributed systems.
• Exposure to data and AI integration patterns.
• Experience implementing developer platforms or API marketplaces.
• Background in financial services or regulated industries.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and delivery of scalable, reliable API platforms across the enterprise.
• Establish and enforce API standards for security, performance, and lifecycle management.
• Modernize legacy integrations into reusable, well-governed APIs.
• Drive adoption and reuse of APIs across product and engineering teams.
• Partner with architecture, cybersecurity, and platform teams to align on integration patterns.
• Improve developer experience through tooling, automation, and self-service capabilities.
• Build and lead high-performing engineering teams across platform and delivery.
• Reduce duplication and improve efficiency across enterprise integrations.
• Influence technology direction through cross-functional partnerships.

Benefits

• Guardian describes its benefits and resources as contemporary, supportive, flexible, and inclusive; benefits apply to eligible full-time employees.
• The role may be eligible for annual, sales, or other incentive compensation.
• Professional skill-building and leadership development opportunities.
• Philanthropic opportunities.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director