Enterprise Architect - Stablecoins Infrastructure & System Integration

Manager's 1 st preference is Hybrid/Buffalo, NY to be onsite from day 1 in a hybrid work model (someone who lives in the Buffalo area, or open to relocation out of pocket to Buffalo, NY to be onsite from day 1 for a hybrid work model); Manager's 2 nd preference is 100% Remote

Local Buffalo candidates will be given 1 st preference, & will be scheduled for screenings 1st

MUST possess EXCEPTIONAL communication skills (must be able to speak & articulate clearly)

MUST meet ALL of the required skills

W2 only - No visa sponsorship or transfer offered

Only looking for candidates in EST or CST open to hybrid work model in Buffalo, NY from day 1, or 100% remote

Prior experience in Banking and/or Financial domains required

Job #: 2078

Job Title: Enterprise Architect - Stablecoins Infrastructure & System Integration

Location: Managers 1 st preference is Hybrid/Buffalo, NY (3 days onsite/2 days remote), 2 nd preference is 100% Remote

Duration: 6+-month contract

Note: No visa sponsorship/transfer – legally authorized to work in the US without visa sponsorship/transfer now or in the future (actual visa card must be valid for the next 18+-months / No H1B or OPT)

NOTES FROM MANAGER / REQUIRED SKILLS & EXP.:

Please do not send resumes if they do not have familiarity with Stablecoin.

Skill Set 1: Stablecoin knowledge

Skill Set 2: Strategic Planning

Skill Set 3: Architecture Design

• Job Title: Enterprise Architect - Stablecoins Infrastructure & System Integration

• Location: Buffalo, NY Preferred / Remote

• Department: Consumer, Business, and Digital Banking Technology

• Reports To: Enterprise Chief Architect

• Company Profile

Founded in 1856, M&T Bank has grown from a local institution in Buffalo, New York, to one of the largest regional banks in the United States. With over $208 billion in assets, M&T Bank is recognized for its financial strength and resilience, having maintained profitability through economic challenges. The bank is committed to innovation and community-focused banking, aiming to deliver exceptional financial services while investing in technology and processes to better serve its customers. M&T Bank's ambition is to remain a trusted partner for individuals and businesses, driving growth and excellence in the financial sector.

Job Summary

We are seeking a visionary Enterprise Architect to lead the design, implementation, and integration of stablecoin infrastructure within our financial organization. This role requires deep expertise in blockchain technology, financial systems, and enterprise-scale architecture to ensure seamless integration of stablecoin solutions with existing platforms (e.g., core banking, payment gateways, compliance tools). You will collaborate with cross-functional teams including business stakeholders, technology teams, and external partners to design and deploy a robust, secure, scalable, and regulatory-compliant stablecoins ecosystem that supports the organization's strategic objectives.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Planning: Develop and refine the roadmap for stablecoin / cryptocurrency interoperability model, ensuring alignment with business goals and regulatory requirements.

Architecture Design: Develop end-to-end architecture blueprints for stablecoin issuance, transaction processing, and wallet management, prioritizing scalability, security, and interoperability.

Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with product, engineering, compliance, and operations teams to translate business requirements into technical specifications.

Technical Leadership: Oversee system design decisions, including blockchain protocols (e.g., Ethereum), cloud infrastructure (AWS/Azure), APIs, and databases.

System Integration: Design integration strategies for legacy financial systems (e.g., SWIFT, core banking platforms) and third-party services (KYC/AML providers, custodians).

Compliance & Risk Management: Embed regulatory requirements (e.g., GDPR, FATF Travel Rule) into system design and conduct risk assessments.

Implementation Guidance: Lead and guide implementation teams, ensuring projects are delivered on time and within scope.

Trusted Advisor: Build strong relationships with management, providing expert advice and insights to support decision-making.

Communication: Effectively communicating complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders, fostering understanding and collaboration.

Innovation: Evaluate emerging technologies (DeFi, CBDCs) to enhance platform capabilities and user experience.

Documentation: Create detailed technical documentation, including architecture diagrams, data flow models, and security protocols.

Expected Skills

Enterprise architecture frameworks (TOGAF, Zachman).

Blockchain platforms, smart contracts, and consensus mechanisms.

Cloud-native development (microservices, Kubernetes).

API design (REST) and integration tools (ETL).

Stakeholder communication (technical and non-technical audiences).

Leadership in Agile/DevOps environments.

Analytical problem-solving for complex systems.

Project Management: Proficiency in tools like Jira; familiarity with SDLC and CI/CD pipelines.

Strong Communication Skills: The ability to clearly articulate technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders, collaborate effectively across

Expected Knowledge

Blockchain: Token standards, decentralized governance, and cross-chain interoperability.

Stablecoins: Mechanisms (collateralization, algorithmic models) and use cases (payments, remittances).

Financial Systems: Payment networks (e.g., ACH), liquidity management, and settlement processes.

Regulatory Landscape: Global regulations (e.g., MiCA, NYDFS) and compliance tools (e.g., Chainalysis).

Security: Cryptography, HSMs, and penetration testing methodologies.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's/Master's in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field.

• Certifications: TOGAF, AWS/Azure Solutions Architect, Certified Blockchain Architect

• Experience: 8+ years in enterprise architecture, with 3+ years in blockchain/fintech.

• Proficient in system design, integration, and implementation across multiple technology domains.

• Proven track record in deploying scalable financial systems (e.g., payment gateways, digital wallets, stablecoin or cryptocurrency systems preferred)

• Hands-on experience with cloud platforms (Azure/AWS/GCP), containerization (Kubernetes), and DevOps practices.

• Excellent communication, collaboration, and critical thinking skills.

• Understanding of financial regulations, compliance, and security standards.

• Expected Deliverables

• Architecture Blueprints: Comprehensive designs for stablecoin infrastructure, including node orchestration and liquidity pools.

• Integration Roadmap: Strategy for legacy system modernization and API gateway implementation.

• Compliance Reports: Documentation aligning architecture with regulatory requirements.

• Proof-of-Concept Prototypes: Demonstrations of key features (e.g., mint/burn mechanisms).

• Technical Documentation: System diagrams, failure recovery plans, and API specs.

• Risk Mitigation Plan: Security audit findings and disaster recovery protocols.

• Performance Metrics: Benchmarks for throughput, latency, and system uptime.

• This role combines technical depth with strategic vision to build a stablecoin platform that bridges traditional finance and decentralized ecosystems. The ideal candidate will balance innovation with operational rigor to deliver a secure, compliant, and user-centric solution.

1. Infrastructure Design & Implementation

• Analyze the organization's requirements, use cases, and technical constraints for stablecoin operations.

• Design the overall stablecoin architecture, including blockchain networks, wallets, custody solutions, and integration touch points.

• Architect end-to-end stablecoin solutions, including issuance, redemption, wallet management, and transaction processing.

• Evaluate and select blockchain platforms, consensus mechanisms, and smart contract frameworks.

• Define technical requirements for scalability, security (e.g., cryptographic protocols), and interoperability with blockchain networks (e.g., Ethereum, Stellar).

• Develop detailed technical specifications and implementation plans for the stablecoin infrastructure.

• Oversee the deployment and configuration of the stablecoin platform, ensuring it meets performance, scalability, and security requirements.

• Establish governance processes and policies for the management and maintenance of the stablecoin infrastructure.

1. System Integration

• Identify and evaluate internal and external systems that need to integrate with the stablecoin infrastructure.

• Integrate stablecoin systems with legacy financial infrastructure (e.g., SWIFT, core banking APIs) and third-party services (e.g., liquidity providers, custodians).

• Ensure compatibility with regulatory reporting tools (e.g., transaction monitoring, AML/KYC systems).

• Design and implement secure, scalable, and efficient integration mechanisms, such as APIs, message queues, and data pipelines.

• Ensure seamless data exchange and synchronization between the stablecoin platform and other enterprise systems.

• Develop and maintain integration documentation, testing, and monitoring procedures.

1. Compliance & Risk Management

• Embed compliance with global regulations (e.g., FATF Travel Rule, MiCA) into system architecture.

• Conduct risk assessments for smart contract vulnerabilities, reserve management, and operational resilience.

• Provide technical support and guidance to the business and IT teams on the usage and maintenance of the stablecoins platform.

• Monitor the performance, security, and compliance of the stablecoins infrastructure, and implement necessary optimizations and enhancements.

• Stay up to date with industry trends, regulatory changes, and technological advancements in the stablecoins and blockchain space.

1. Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with product, legal, and compliance teams to translate business requirements into technical specifications.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to identify and address emerging requirements, risks, and opportunities.

• Advise DevOps and security teams on CI/CD pipelines, zero-trust architectures, and incident response protocols.

1. Innovation & Thought Leadership (Nice to Have)

• Research emerging trends in decentralized finance (DeFi), CBDCs, and cross-border payment innovations.

• Publish whitepapers and present at industry conferences to position the organization as a leader in stablecoin solutions.

• Please ask the candidate to provide responses for ALL of the questions below to confirm they have ALL of the required skills/experience, & send w/ the initial submittal (please reply ASAP as submittals to our client are time sensitive):

• LinkedIn profile link?

• Do you reside in or near the Buffalo, NY or area to be onsite from day 1 for a hybrid work model, or open to relocation at your own expense to be onsite in a hybrid work model from day 1, or seeing 100% remote?

• If hired, are you able to work on Globalquest's W2 without any issues?

• Yrs. of IT exp. overall?

• Yrs. of exp. as a Enterprise Architect in blockchain/fintech (Min. of 8+ years in enterprise architecture, with 3+ years in blockchain/fintech (required)?

• Yrs. of exp. w/ Stablecoin knowledge (required)?

• Yrs. of exp. working specifically for banks and/or financial institutions?

• Yrs. of exp. w/ Enterprise architecture frameworks (TOGAF, Zachman)?

• Yrs. of exp. w/ Blockchain platforms, smart contracts, and consensus mechanisms?

• Yrs. of exp. w/ Cloud-native development (microservices, Kubernetes)?

• Yrs. of exp. w/ API design (REST) and integration tools (ETL)?

• Yrs. of exp. w/ Stakeholder communication (technical and non-technical audiences)?

• Yrs. of Leadership exp. in Agile/DevOps environments?

• Yrs. of Analytical problem-solving for complex systems?

• Yrs. of exp. w/ Project Management: Proficiency in tools like Jira; familiarity with SDLC and CI/CD pipelines?

• Do you possess Strong Communication Skills: The ability to clearly articulate technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders, collaborate effectively across?

• Yrs. of exp. w/ Blockchain: Token standards, decentralized governance, and cross-chain interoperability?

• Yrs. of exp. w/ Stablecoins: Mechanisms (collateralization, algorithmic models) and use cases (payments, remittances)?

• Yrs. of exp. w/ Financial Systems: Payment networks (e.g., ACH), liquidity management, and settlement processes?

• Yrs. of exp. w/ Regulatory Landscape: Global regulations (e.g., MiCA, NYDFS) and compliance tools (e.g., Chainalysis)?

• Yrs. of exp. w/ Security: Cryptography, HSMs, and penetration testing methodologies?

• Do you possess a Bachelor's/Master's in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field (required)?

• Do you possess any Certifications: TOGAF, AWS/Azure Solutions Architect, Certified Blockchain Architect (required)?

• Are you proficient in system design, integration, and implementation across multiple technology domains (required)?

• Do you possess a proven track record in deploying scalable financial systems (e.g., payment gateways, digital wallets, stablecoin or cryptocurrency systems preferred) (required)?

• Yrs. of hands-on experience with cloud platforms (Azure/AWS/GCP), containerization (Kubernetes), and DevOps practices (required)?

• Yrs. of exp. w/ understanding of financial regulations, compliance, and security standards (required)?