Distinguished Engineer - CTO (BFSI)

About the role

We are seeking an exceptional individual with deep BFSI experience, ideally as a former CTO, CIO, or Chief Architect at a top-tier global bank, or as a senior banker with hands-on technology ownership. The ideal candidate will serve as the definitive BFSI domain authority for the BU, co-develop and articulate compelling, differentiated BFSI Points of View (PoVs), lead client advisory engagements, and represent the company as a thought leader.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the definitive BFSI domain authority for the BU, the go-to voice on banking, capital markets, insurance, payments, and wealth management.
• Co-develop and articulate compelling, differentiated BFSI Points of View (PoVs) on themes such as core banking modernization, AI-driven underwriting, real-time payments infrastructure, open banking, ESG risk frameworks, and embedded finance.
• Lead client advisory engagements at the CTO, CIO, CDO, and Chief Risk Officer level, helping clients navigate technology strategy, architecture decisions, and transformation roadmaps.
• Act as the intellectual sparring partner to the Hustler (Sales) shaping pursuit strategy, deal positioning, and executive narratives that resonate with sophisticated financial institution buyers.
• Drive the BFSI solution strategy, working with practice leads to ensure our offerings address the real problems on the desk of a COO at a global investment bank or a CDO at a top-10 insurer.
• Represent the company as a keynote speaker, panel moderator, and thought leader at leading BFSI forums, Sibos, Money20/20, FT Banking Summit, and academic institutions.
• Build an external advisory board of BFSI executives and academics to continuously stress-test our strategy.
• Mentor and elevate the domain knowledge of client-facing teams globally.
• Identify white spaces in the market and translate them into pipeline opportunities with the Hustler.

Qualifications

• 20+ years of deep BFSI experience, ideally as a former CTO, CIO, or Chief Architect at a top-tier global bank (e.g., JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs, HSBC, Citi, Deutsche Bank) OR as a senior banker with hands-on technology ownership.
• Knowledge of BFSI technology architectures, core banking platforms (Temenos, Finastra, FIS), payments rails (ISO 20022, SWIFT, FedNow), risk & compliance systems, and data/AI platforms.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex technical concepts into business value narratives consumable by a CFO or a Board Risk Committee.
• First-hand experience managing large-scale technology transformation programs inside a global financial institution.
• Deep understanding of the regulatory landscape — Basel IV, DORA, MiFID II, GDPR, SR 11-7, BCBS 239 — and their technology implications.
• Published author, recognized speaker, or industry body contributor (SWIFT, IIF, World Economic Forum Financial Services) preferred.
• MBA, or equivalent advanced qualification in Finance, Computer Science, or Engineering preferred.