Chief Architect (Santa Clara)

About Opplane Inc.

Opplane Inc. is a pioneering Fintech AI company dedicated to building the future of data-driven banking. Our platform delivers next-generation, self-driving finance products that enhance customer experience, reduce costs, and fortify the security of the financial ecosystem. We partner with major global financial institutions to pilot and deploy cutting-edge solutions in transaction processing, real-time analytics, and AI-powered compliance.

Job Summary

Opplane Inc. is seeking a visionary Chief Architect to lead the strategic technical direction of our Fintech AI platform. This is a high-impact, research and development-oriented leadership role responsible for setting the architectural vision for our core products. The ideal candidate will architect and oversee the implementation of scalable, secure, and intelligent systems that process petabyte-scale data, leverage advanced Machine Learning and Large Language Models (LLMs), and deliver real-time, actionable insights for the financial sector. This role is critical for driving innovation that enhances national economic security and the resilience of critical financial infrastructure.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and own the end-to-end system architecture, technical strategy, and roadmap for Opplane’s Fintech and Telco product wings.
• Lead the design and development of next-generation, real-time transaction processing systems for the banking domain to automate data enrichment and generate comprehensive customer 360 insights.
• Architect and implement end-to-end MLOps pipelines, integrating frameworks like TensorFlow and PyTorch for model training, and employing Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) for data augmentation and synthetic data generation.
• Design, fine-tune, and deploy advanced Large Language Models (LLMs) for financial domain-specific Natural Language Processing (NLP) to power automated insight generation and conversational AI.
• Develop and oversee scalable, cloud-native (AWS/GCP) deployments using Kubernetes and Docker to manage petabyte-scale datasets, ensuring high availability, fault tolerance, and performance.
• Spearhead the development of AI/ML frameworks for automated PII (Personally Identifiable Information) scanning, data cataloging, and lineage tracking to ensure regulatory compliance and data governance.
• Drive high-profile Proof-of-Concept (POC) and Minimum Viable Product (MVP) projects with strategic partners and major financial clients (e.g., Visa, Citi) to demonstrate technological feasibility and business value.
• Lead and mentor a team of engineers and SREs (Site Reliability Engineers), fostering a culture of innovation, rigorous engineering practices, and operational excellence.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with product management, executive leadership, and external partners to align technical goals with overarching business and security objectives.

Minimum Qualifications (Required Skills & Education)

A Master of Science degree in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, or a directly related field is required.

• A minimum of 8 years of progressive experience in software architecture, with at least 5 years focused on designing and building large-scale data and AI platforms.
• Demonstrated expertise (via publications, patents, or proven project experience) in several of the following areas: MLOps, Large Language Models (LLMs), Generative AI, Deep Learning, and Real-time Data Processing.
• Profound, hands-on experience with modern AI/ML technologies such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, Hugging Face Transformers, and OpenAI GPT models.
• Deep technical proficiency in cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, or Azure), containerization (Docker), and orchestration (Kubernetes) at a production scale.
• Expertise in big data technologies and frameworks, including Apache Spark, Hadoop, Kafka, and distributed computing principles.
• A proven publication record in peer-reviewed journals or conferences in fields related to Machine Learning, AI, or Cloud Computing is highly preferred, demonstrating a contribution of knowledge to the field.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical concepts to diverse audiences.
• Competitive annual salary commensurate with experience.
• Performance-based annual bonus.
• Employment stock options.
• Comprehensive family health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Flexible paid time off and holiday policy.
• A dynamic work environment at the forefront of Fintech and AI innovation.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Opplane Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Please Note: Opplane Inc. does not sponsor Labor Certifications (PERM) for this position. While we may support other forms of work authorization, this specific role is not eligible for PERM sponsorship due to its highly specialized and advanced nature, which requires a candidate with a proven, unique record of innovation and contribution in the field of AI and financial technology. Candidates must demonstrate eligibility to work in the United States without the need for PERM-based visa sponsorship.