API Architect – Digital Platforms Engineer & Delivery

Who We Are

At Corebridge Financial, we believe action is everything. That’s why every day we partner with financial professionals and institutions to make it possible for more people to take action in their financial lives, for today and tomorrow.

We Align To a Set Of Values That Are The Core Pillars That Define Our Culture And Help Bring Our Brand Purpose To Life

We are stronger as one: We collaborate across the enterprise, scale what works and act decisively for our customers and partners.
We deliver on commitments: We are accountable, empower each other and go above and beyond for our stakeholders.
We learn, improve and innovate: We get better each day by challenging the status quo and equipping ourselves for the future.
We are inclusive: We embrace different perspectives, enabling our colleagues to make an impact and bring their whole selves to work.

Who You’ll Work With

The Information Technology organization is the technological foundation of our business and works in collaboration with our partners from across the company. The team drives technology and digital transformation, partners with business leaders to design and execute new strategies through IT and operations services and ensures the necessary IT risk management and security measures are in place and aligned with enterprise architecture standards and principles.

About The Role

An API Architect is a senior technical role responsible for defining the strategy, standards, and design of an organization's Application Programming Interfaces (APIs). This role ensures that APIs are secure, scalable, maintainable, and aligned with business goals and enterprise architecture standards.

Responsibilities

Technical Acumen

API Design & Architecture Expertise: The ability to design clean, consistent, and scalable APIs using various architectural styles (REST, GraphQL, gRPC) and adhering to microservices principles.
Security Acumen: Deep knowledge of best practices for securing APIs, including robust understanding and implementation of authentication/authorization protocols such as OAuth 2.0, OpenID Connect, and JWTs.
Cloud & Infrastructure Proficiency: Competency in leveraging cloud-native platforms, managing API gateways, and implementing Infrastructure as Code (IaC) for automation.
Performance Engineering: Skill in defining non-functional requirements (NFRs) and implementing strategies for optimization, caching, rate limiting, and overall system reliability and scalability.
Integration Expertise: The ability to design solutions that seamlessly integrate diverse software systems, applications, databases, and platforms.

Strategic Positioning

The capability to define a clear vision, establish enterprise-wide standards, and ensure governance throughout the API lifecycle.
Proficiency in managing the entire API process, from planning and design reviews through testing, deployment, versioning, and eventual deprecation.
Strong interpersonal skills to work effectively with product owners, developers, and stakeholders, providing technical leadership and mentorship while clearly articulating complex architectural decisions to non-technical audiences.
The ability to define strategies for telemetry, monitoring API health and usage, and ensuring comprehensive, high-quality documentation for internal and external developers.
Partnership: Effectively partners with business functions and the enterprise to leverage economies of scale meeting a complex set of needs and objectives with APIs.
Cultural Adaptability: Values and consider the perspectives of diverse parties in a global context. Is a role model and organizational leader.
Talent Cultivation: Is a talent magnet and has proven skills in nurturing and developing talent.
Critical Thinking: Able to identify, anticipate and prevent businesses problems and match an appropriate solution; Demonstrates intellectual curiosity identifying or anticipating issues within the client base and the ability to match an optimal API solution.
Decision Quality / Risk Mindset: Demonstrates good judgement and knows when to involve others; Uses data, logic, analysis, and experience to make evidence-based decisions.
Learning Agility: Demonstrates a progressive growth mindset through an ability and willingness to learn from experiences and new situations; Applies past experience to proactively identify opportunities.

Required Experience

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field or proven record of experience.
An understanding of the financial services industry. Expertise in Domain Driven Design.
7+ years of experience in API design, architecture, and development.
Strong expertise with REST, GraphQL, event-driven APIs, and microservices architectures.
Hands-on experience with designing secure API authentication/authorization frameworks.
Proven ability to integrate APIs across diverse applications, software systems, and data sources.
Experience with Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, CloudFormation).
Strong understanding of session management, token strategies, and secure communication protocols.
Strong JavaScript, Java knowledge.
Experience with MCP.
Experience with API gateways, developer portals, and service mesh technologies (e.g. Amazon API Gateway, Istio).
Proficiency in CI/CD pipelines, DevOps, and cloud-native deployment models.
Experience with monitoring and observability tools (AWS CloudWatch / CloudTrail, Splunk, Dynatrace, Prometheus, OpenTelemetry).
Strong communication, documentation, and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Preferred Qualifications

Previous experience working with financial services industry APIs and Domain Driven Design.
Knowledge of Amazon API Gateway and SmartBear Swagger Portal.
Knowledge of Spectral Rules for API Governance.
Expertise in OpenAPI Specifications, Arazzo.
Certification in Cloud (AWS/Azure/GCP), API management, or security (OAuth/OIDC/OWASP).
Experience with GraphQL federation, gRPC, and event streaming (Kafka/Kinesis).

Compensation

The anticipated salary range for this position is $122,000 to $145,000 at the commencement of employment for the Jersey City, NJ area. Not all candidates will be eligible for the upper end of the salary range. The actual compensation offered will ultimately be dependent on multiple factors, which may include the candidate’s geographic location, skills, experience and other qualifications.

In addition, the position is eligible for a discretionary bonus in accordance with the terms of the applicable incentive plan.

Corebridge also offers a range of competitive benefits as part of the total compensation package, as detailed below.

Work Location

This position is based in Corebridge Financial’s Houston, TX, or Jersey City, NJ office and is subject to our hybrid working policy, which gives colleagues the benefits of working both in an office and remotely.

Estimated Travel

May include up to 25%.

Why Corebridge?

At Corebridge Financial, we prioritize the health, well-being, and work-life balance of our employees. Our comprehensive benefits and wellness program is designed to support employees both personally and professionally, ensuring that they have the resources and flexibility needed to thrive.

Benefit Offerings Include

Health and Wellness: We offer a range of medical, dental and vision insurance plans, as well as mental health support and wellness initiatives to promote overall well-being.
Retirement Savings: We offer retirement benefits options, which vary by location. In the U.S., our competitive 401(k) Plan offers a generous dollar-for-dollar Company matching contribution of up to 6% of eligible pay and a Company contribution equal to 3% of eligible pay (subject to annual IRS limits and Plan terms). These Company contributions vest immediately.
Employee Assistance Program: Confidential counseling services and resources are available to all employees.
Matching charitable donations: Corebridge matches donations to tax-exempt organizations 1:1, up to $5,000.
Volunteer Time Off: Employees may use up to 16 volunteer hours annually to support activities that enhance and serve communities where employees live and work.
Paid Time Off: Eligible employees start off with at least 24 Paid Time Off (PTO) days so they can take time off for themselves and their families when they need it.

Eligibility for and participation in employer-sponsored benefit plans and Company programs will be subject to applicable law, governing Plan document(s) and Company policy.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer

Corebridge Financial, is committed to being an equal opportunity employer and we comply with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment laws. All applicants will be considered for employment based on job-related qualifications and without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, neurodivergence, age, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. The Company is also committed to compliance with all fair employment practices regarding citizenship and immigration status. At Corebridge Financial, we believe that diversity and inclusion are critical to building a creative workplace that leads to innovation, growth, and profitability. Through a wide variety of programs and initiatives, we invest in each employee, seeking to ensure that our colleagues are respected as individuals and valued for their unique perspectives.

Corebridge Financial is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to job applicants and employees, including any accommodations needed on the basis of physical or mental disabilities or sincerely held religious beliefs. If you believe you need a reasonable accommodation in order to search for a job opening or to complete any part of the application or hiring process, please send an email to [email protected]. Reasonable accommodations will be determined on a case-by-case basis, in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local law.

We will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable law.