As Lead Enterprise API & Platform Engineer, you will lead the design and delivery of enterprise technology platforms with a focus on API-first architecture, AI-native enablement, and modernization. You will develop and execute the key technology components of the API Hub Services and ensure alignment with Guardian’s emerging API centric modernization strategy. You will work closely with other principals and senior strategic leaders to drive alignment with overall enterprise business and technology strategy and will guide engineering organizations to continually improve engineering practices and implementation outcomes.
You are
A results-oriented technical leader skilled at turning concepts into scalable solutions. Collaborates well across teams to ensure excellent delivery. Passionate about new technologies and improving developer experience. Self-driven, with strong technical leadership and a focus on process and quality.
You Will
· Lead API and Platform Strategy: Serve as the technical advisor for API standards, architecture patterns, orchestration, gateways, mediation, observability platforms, driving cohesive platform design and scalable integration.
· Modernize for AI Enablement: Design strategies, architecture patterns, and reusable templates to modernize APIs and platforms for AI-native capabilities, including agent-to-agent communication and intelligent system integration.
· Architect Scalable Platforms: Design and implement secure, cloud-native platforms using microservices, service mesh, and container orchestration, with emphasis on API & Agent Gateway, monitoring, and observability.
· Drive Lifecycle Governance: Innovate in API lifecycle management, including governance, versioning, deprecation, migration strategies, and platform observability.
· Collaborate on Enterprise Standards: Partner with enterprise architects and senior leaders to define standards, evaluate technologies, and publish strategic roadmaps that balance short-term execution with long-term vision.
· Mentor and Scale Engineering Excellence: Guide engineering teams in best practices for API design, platform engineering, and AI integration, fostering a culture of innovation, operational excellence, and continuous learning.
· Operationalize Tools and Platforms: Lead the identification, evaluation, and adoption of technical platforms and tools that support enterprise architecture, security, and scalable implementation.
· Influence Strategic Decisions: Partner with product managers and engineering leaders to make key architectural decisions, ensuring technical feasibility, scalability, and alignment with business goals.
· Track Emerging Trends: Monitor emerging technologies and assess their impact on the enterprise tech stack, contributing to strategic planning and innovation.
· Ensure Compliance and Best Practices: Enforce adherence to architectural standards, design patterns, data privacy regulations, and best practices across systems and platforms.
· Lead Technology Selection: Drive or support the evaluation and implementation of enterprise technologies that align with strategic and operational objectives.
You Have
· Bachelor’s or master’s degree in computer science, engineering, or a related field.
· 15+ years of experience in software development, architecture, and enterprise software delivery.
· Deep proficiency in cloud-native, service-oriented, and modernization architectures, including microservices, event-driven systems, and composable architecture (MASA).
· Full-stack engineering experience with backend and frontend technologies (e.g., Java, Python, .NET/C#, React, Node.js, Typescript) with experience in CI/CD, scripting, and integrations.
· Extensive experience building scalable API services using REST, GraphQL, gRPC, and async protocols, with deep expertise in Domain-Driven Design, Microservices Architecture, Enterprise Integration Patterns, and Event-Driven Architecture.
· Proven experience designing and implementing scalable platforms using service mesh (Istio, AWS Lattice etc.), container orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes), and API Gateway platforms (preferably AWS).
· Hands-on experience with integration frameworks and messaging systems such as Apache Camel and managed service Kafka.
· Proficiency using SQL and NoSQL Databases.
· Coordinate with DevOps team and have familiarity with DevOps practices and tools: Terraform, Jenkins, GitHub/GitLab CI/CD, and infrastructure-as-code.
· Deep understanding of secure programming practices, cloud security principles, and compliance frameworks.
· Experience with monitoring & observability platforms including Open Telemetry, Prometheus, Grafana, and OpenSearch.
· Advanced API security expertise including OAuth 2.1/2.0, JWT, rate limiting, RBAC/ABAC, mTLS, DDoS protection, Zero Trust, and OWASP API Security Top 10.
· Exceptional ability to mentor engineers, influence technical direction across teams, and thrive in complex, cross-functional environments.
· Skilled in communicating technical concepts to diverse audiences and driving strategic initiatives through business cases and impact acceleration.
· Experience participating in and responding to technology audits and risk assessments.
Experience with emerging protocols (MCP, A2A, ACP) is preferred but not required.
Location & Travel:- New York, New Jersey or Pennsylvania Hybrid 3 days onsite
Salary Range:
$118,980.00 - $195,465.00The salary range reflected above is a good faith estimate of base pay for the primary location of the position. The salary for this position ultimately will be determined based on the education, experience, knowledge, and abilities of the successful candidate. In addition to salary, this role may also be eligible for annual, sales, or other incentive compensation.
Our Promise
At Guardian, you’ll have the support and flexibility to achieve your professional and personal goals. Through skill-building, leadership development and philanthropic opportunities, we provide opportunities to build communities and grow your career, surrounded by diverse colleagues with high ethical standards.
Inspire Well-Being
As part of Guardian’s Purpose – to inspire well-being – we are committed to offering contemporary, supportive, flexible, and inclusive benefits and resources to our colleagues. Explore our company benefits at www.guardianlife.com/careers/corporate/benefits. Benefits apply to full-time eligible employees. Interns are not eligible for most Company benefits.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Guardian is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, creed, religion, sex, affectional or sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, marital status, disability, military or veteran status, or any other classification protected by applicable law.
Accommodations
Guardian is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. Guardian also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified job applicants (and employees) to accommodate the individual's known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, unless doing so would create an undue hardship. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact [email protected]. Please note: this resource is for accommodation requests only. For all other inquires related to your application and careers at Guardian, refer to the Guardian Careers site.
Visa Sponsorship
Guardian is not currently or in the foreseeable future sponsoring employment visas. In order to be a successful applicant. you must be legally authorized to work in the United States, without the need for employer sponsorship.
Current Guardian Colleagues: Please apply through the internal Jobs Hub in Workday.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's or master's degree in computer science, engineering, or a related field
- 15+ years of experience in software development, architecture, and enterprise software delivery
- Deep proficiency in cloud-native and service-oriented architectures
- Full-stack engineering experience with backend and frontend technologies
- Extensive experience building scalable API services
- Proven experience designing and implementing scalable platforms using service mesh
- Hands-on experience with integration frameworks and messaging systems
- Proficiency using SQL and NoSQL databases
- Strong command of DevOps practices and tools
- Deep understanding of secure programming practices and cloud security principles
- Experience with monitoring & observability platforms
- Advanced API security expertise
- Exceptional ability to mentor engineers and influence technical direction
Guardian Life Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Guardian Life and has not been reviewed or approved by Guardian Life.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Leave appears unusually expansive, including unlimited paid time off for most roles plus additional time for volunteering, bereavement, jury duty, and personal holidays. Paid parental leave is repeatedly positioned as a standout element of the overall package.
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Healthcare Strength — Healthcare coverage is described as broad, spanning medical, dental, vision, telemedicine, second opinions, and multiple supplemental insurance options. Mental-health support is also emphasized through dedicated services and platforms.
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Wellbeing & Lifestyle Benefits — Lifestyle-oriented benefits extend beyond core insurance, including fitness membership and equipment reimbursement and access to caregiving support resources. These offerings reinforce a whole-person approach that can increase perceived total rewards value.
Guardian Life Insights
What We Do
Who we are Guardian makes a difference in the lives of people when they need us most. With over 160 years of stability and fiscal integrity, we are a trusted resource to generations of families and business owners, inspiring well-being and helping build financial confidence. Today, we stand behind 29 million consumers, helping them prepare and plan for a bright future for themselves and their families. We help business owners care for their employees. And we help people recover and thrive in times of unexpected loss. As a modern mutual insurance company, we believe in driving value beyond dividends. We invest in our colleagues and are building a progressive, innovative and inclusive culture. We uplift individuals and communities through thoughtful social and environmental programs. What we stand for In 1860, a community of immigrants joined together to insure and protect their businesses and families. They were guided by powerful ideals that we’ve continued to stand behind and evolved throughout the years: we do the right thing, we believe people count, we courageously shape the future together, and we go above and beyond for the people we serve. Guardian employees embrace and live by these values every day. They remind us to put people at the heart of all we do so that we can help protect what matters most to you. Want to help bring these values to life? Join us for a rewarding career and the opportunity to shape the future. Disclosures: Financial information concerning Guardian as of December 31, 2022, on a statutory basis: Admitted assets = $76.0 billion; liabilities = $67.2 billion (including $55.0 billion of reserves); and surplus = $8.8 billion. Dividends are not guaranteed. They are declared annually by Guardian’s Board of Directors. Guardian® is a registered trademark of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America. © Copyright 2023 The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America 2023-156184 Exp. 5/25
