Integration & API Architect

Level: Senior/Principal

Department: Enterprise Architecture

Reports To: Director, Enterprise Architecture

Role Purpose

Define enterprise integration and API standards, create reusable integration patterns and templates, and establish the frameworks that enable consistent, scalable system connectivity across the organization. This role focuses on creating enterprise-wide patterns and standards rather than designing individual integrations.

What Makes This Role Unique

• Pattern creator, not implementer: You'll design the integration blueprints that others use, not build individual integrations
• Enterprise-wide impact: Your patterns will shape how the entire organization connects systems
• Strategic influence: Drive integration strategy and modernization across the technology portfolio
• Collaborative model: Work closely with App Dev, Data Platform, Infrastructure, and InfoSec teams as partners

Key Responsibilities

Enterprise Standards & Patterns (45%)

• Develop enterprise API design standards (REST, GraphQL, gRPC style guides, naming conventions, versioning strategy)
• Create integration pattern library (synchronous/async, event-driven, batch, hybrid) as reusable templates
• Define API lifecycle management framework (design, publish, version, deprecate, retire)
• Establish service mesh and microservices communication standards
• Document integration reference architectures with selection criteria and decision trees
• Create API gateway patterns and standards for enterprise use
• Define event-driven architecture blueprints and event schema standards

Frameworks & Templates (30%)

• Build integration templates for common use cases (system-to-system, app-to-API, event streaming)
• Define API contract templates (OpenAPI, AsyncAPI specifications)
• Create integration testing framework and standards
• Establish integration error handling and retry patterns
• Document integration NFRs (latency, throughput, availability by pattern type)

Roadmap & Strategy (15%)

• Develop enterprise integration modernization roadmap
• Rationalize integration platforms (consolidation opportunities)
• Define event streaming platform strategy
• Assess integration technology trends and recommendations

Enablement & Governance (10%)

• Train solution architects on integration patterns and templates
• Review solution architectures for integration pattern compliance
• Maintain integration pattern catalog and documentation
• Participate in architecture governance

Required Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field

Experience:

• 10 years in enterprise architecture, integration architecture, or API development
• 5 years creating enterprise standards, patterns, and frameworks
• Proven track record designing integration solutions across multiple platforms and technologies
• Experience with API management platforms and event streaming platforms
• Experience establishing API governance and lifecycle management processes

Certifications (Preferred):

• TOGAF certification
• Cloud architecture certification (AWS/Azure/GCP)
• API management platform certification (Apigee, MuleSoft, Kong, or similar)

Required Technical Skills

Skill Category

Required Skills

Proficiency Level

API Standards

API design principles, REST, GraphQL, gRPC

Expert

API Standards

API governance and lifecycle management

Expert

API Standards

OpenAPI/AsyncAPI specification

Expert

Integration Patterns

Enterprise integration patterns (sync/async, event-driven, batch)

Expert

Integration Patterns

Event-driven architecture

Expert

Integration Patterns

Service mesh patterns

Advanced

Platform Knowledge

API management platforms (Apigee, MuleSoft, Kong, AWS API Gateway)

Advanced

Platform Knowledge

Event streaming platforms (Kafka, Pulsar, AWS Kinesis, Azure Event Hubs)

Advanced

Platform Knowledge

Integration platforms (MuleSoft, Dell Boomi, Informatica)

Intermediate

Standards Development

Enterprise standards creation

Expert

Pattern Creation

Template and framework development

Expert

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in healthcare, financial services, or highly regulated industries
• Experience with microservices architectures at enterprise scale
• Track record of successful integration platform modernization initiatives
• Experience facilitating architecture reviews and governance processes

Success Metrics (First 12 Months)

• Publish 10-15 integration patterns in pattern catalog
• Achieve 70% API standard adoption rate across new projects
• Deliver 4 pattern training sessions to solution architects
• Establish API lifecycle management process with 80% compliance
• Contribute to 50 architecture reviews with integration pattern guidance

What You'll Deliver

• Enterprise API design standards and style guide
• Integration pattern catalog with templates
• Event-driven architecture framework
• API lifecycle management process
• Integration NFR standards
• Integration reference architectures

Working Relationships

Key Partnerships:

• Solution architects (enable with patterns)
• Data Platform Enablement team (integration with data flows)
• Infrastructure team (API gateway infrastructure)
• InfoSec team (API security patterns)

Governance Participation:

• Architecture Review Board (bi-weekly)
• Pattern Review Sessions (bi-weekly)
• Cross-Domain Architecture Sync (monthly)

Company Culture & Values

Our Enterprise Architecture team operates on principles of collaboration, excellence, and innovation:

• Pattern-first mindset: We create reusable blueprints that enable consistency and quality
• Partnership model: We work alongside operational teams (App Dev, Data Platform, Infrastructure, InfoSec) as strategic partners
• Continuous improvement: Patterns evolve based on feedback from implementation
• Enablement focus: Success means solution architects effectively apply our patterns
• Executive backing: Strong leadership support for architecture governance and standards