(Contractor) Solutions Architect / Security Lead

Sparq

22h • Remote

About The Position

Sparq is seeking a Solutions Architect / Security Lead for a contract role. This position requires the individual to define and govern the overall technical architecture for a complex, multi-workflow enterprise financial platform. The role involves leading security architecture and compliance hardening, coordinating penetration testing, and establishing shared data schemas, API contracts, and integration specifications. The ideal candidate will design and oversee Azure-native cloud infrastructure, drive SAP integration architecture, and engage with enterprise architecture, compliance, and security stakeholders. The role also includes participating in key design and review milestones across delivery pods, providing architectural guidance, and removing cross-team blockers.

Requirements

• Deep expertise in solutions or enterprise architecture on Azure-native cloud platforms, including Key Vault, Entra 2FA, App Service, AKS, networking, and IAM.
• Proven experience leading security architecture and compliance hardening in regulated financial services environments.
• Strong understanding of security-by-design principles, least-privilege access models, and audit trail design.
• Ability to establish and enforce cross-team architecture governance, including shared data schemas, API contracts, and integration specifications.
• Experience coordinating penetration testing and audit readiness in BaFin and GDPR-regulated contexts.
• Consultative approach to engaging directly with enterprise architecture, compliance, and security stakeholders at large, complex organizations.
• Familiarity with SAP integration architecture and ERP data exchange patterns at enterprise scale.
• Ability to maintain architecture continuity and technical authority across parallel delivery teams through convergence.
• Strong problem-solving skills to navigate complex cross-pod technical dependencies and integration challenges.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills with the ability to influence at all levels.
• Excited to explore, adopt, and evangelize AI tools and methodologies.
• Experience in AI or a proven track record of rapidly learning and mentoring others on emerging tech.

Responsibilities

• Define and govern the overall technical architecture for a complex, multi-workflow enterprise financial platform, serving as the central authority on cross-team technical contracts, shared data schemas, and integration point specifications.
• Lead security architecture and compliance hardening across the platform, applying security-by-design principles, least-privilege access models, and audit trail design in a regulated financial services environment.
• Coordinate penetration testing, planning, and execution in partnership with the Senior Pen Tester, ensuring readiness against BaFin and GDPR regulatory standards.
• Establish and enforce shared data schemas, API contracts, and integration specifications across parallel delivery pods, maintaining architecture governance continuity as teams converge.
• Design and oversee Azure-native cloud infrastructure, including Key Vault, Entra 2FA, App Service, AKS, networking, and IAM configurations.
• Drive SAP integration architecture and ERP data exchange patterns at enterprise scale, ensuring seamless connectivity across platform components.
• Engage directly with enterprise architecture, compliance, and security stakeholders to align technical decisions with organizational standards and regulatory obligations.
• Participate in key design and review milestones across all delivery pods, providing architectural guidance and removing cross-team blockers in real time.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed