Hello, I’m Nawaz Zai

• Enterprise & Cloud Architecture – AWS, Microservices, GraphQL, API Gateway
• Technology Modernization – Legacy to Cloud Migration, Platform Scalability
• Security & Compliance – GDPR, PCI, PII, Risk Assessment, SOAR Integration
• Leadership & Mentoring – Cross-Functional Collaboration, Team Empowerment
• Digital Strategy & Execution – Technical Roadmaps, Product Alignment
• Continuous Delivery Excellence – CI/CD, DevSecOps, Cloud Automation

CEO & Principal Enterprise Architect | zaiTECH | Dublin, Ireland | 2012 – Present

Founder and CEO of zaiTECH, providing enterprise architecture, software engineering, and cloud consulting services to global clients.

• Led digital modernization and cloud transformation projects for enterprise clients in the financial and cybersecurity domains.
• Delivered end-to-end solutions spanning strategy, architecture, and implementation.
• Partnered with business and technology leaders to shape technical roadmaps, enforce governance, and ensure compliance with enterprise standards.
• Mentored and coached engineering teams to drive innovation, quality, and delivery excellence.

Full Stack Consulting Lead | Global Financial Services Client, Dublin, Ireland |  February 2025 – Present

• Leading enterprise-wide modernization for investment and financial platforms, driving transformation across web and mobile ecosystems.
• Architecting scalable, cloud-native solutions using Angular, NodeJS, Spring Boot, and Federated GraphQL.
• Partnering with product and architecture leadership to define strategic roadmaps and technical standards.
• Enabling cloud-first adoption, CI/CD automation, and API governance to improve delivery velocity and resiliency.
• Embedding security, compliance, and observability into platform architecture.

Lead Solution Architect & Technical Consultant – Cyber Risk & Compliance Platforms | Global Payments Client, Dublin, Ireland | June 2022 – December 2024

• Designed and led development of a secure, cloud-native cyber risk and policy management platform serving acquirers and financial institutions worldwide.
• Built microservices-based architectures using Spring Boot, Apache NiFi, and MariaDB, integrated with internal and external APIs for real-time risk insights.
• Delivered Angular dashboards and policy management modules supporting actuaries, acquirers, and merchants for transaction monitoring and compliance workflows.
• Ensured GDPR, PCI, and PII compliance through embedded security and data governance models.
• Authored Technical Architecture Documents (TADs), Technology Risk Assessments (TRA), and Software Business Cases (SBC) to ensure audit readiness and compliance.
• Led modernization and delivery acceleration via CI/CD automation, Kubernetes orchestration, and domain-driven design.

Principal Software Engineer & Architecture Consultant | Global Financial Services Client (Dublin, Ireland) | Mar 2015 – Jun 2022

Contributed to large-scale modernization initiatives, voice platform migration, and enterprise architecture improvements.

• Migrated legacy systems to AWS and restructured applications into microservices.
• Defined scalable, secure architecture patterns and mentored teams on best practices.
• Implemented automated testing and CI/CD, improving quality and delivery speed.
• Active contributor to the Architecture & Innovation Group, driving modernization and process excellence.

Principal Software Architect & Engineering Lead | Rockall Technologies (Acquired by Broadridge Financial Solutions) | Permanent Role

Played a pivotal role in the architecture and delivery of enterprise banking and collateral management systems for major global financial institutions including HSBC, Barclays, Bank of Ireland, Wells Fargo, and Federal Home Loan Banks.

• Led end-to-end enterprise architecture for the STOC (Systemic Tracking of Collateral) platform.

• Modernized legacy Struts applications to Spring-based microservices, improving scalability and maintainability.

• Spearheaded database design and performance tuning across Oracle and MySQL systems.

• Contributed to Technical Architecture Group (TAG), defining design and coding standards enterprise-wide.

• Directed R&D initiatives for presales and proof-of-concept development, accelerating client acquisition.

• Mentored engineers, conducted code reviews, and led on-site client deployments for seamless delivery.

Senior Java Software Engineer – Clinical Applications | Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland | August 2006 – June 2008

• Developed patient admission and electronic medical record (EMR) systems using J2EE and WebLogic.
• Integrated hospital applications through XML-based service layers, ensuring data consistency across departments.
• Created automated testing frameworks using JUnit for functional validation.

🎓 MSc. Computer Science — Griffith College Dublin, Ireland
🎓 MSc. Statistics — University of the Punjab, Pakistan

🏆 Certifications:

• TOGAF 9 Certified (Level 1 & 2)
• AWS Certified Solution Architect & Developer
• OCM Java EE 6 Enterprise Architect
• ScrumMaster Certified
• Sun Certified Web Component Developer (SCWCD)
• Sun Certified Java Programmer (SCJP)

As a strong believer in technology as a catalyst for societal and professional growth, I am deeply engaged in community building, mentorship, and advocacy.

• Co-Founder, IPIP ( Irish Paksitani ICT Professional) — Since 2019
  Leading the motion to build bridges between industry, academia, and professional communities, empowering technologists, entrepreneurs, and innovators across diverse sectors.
  • Established IPIP as a hub for collaboration, mentorship, and thought leadership.
  • Organized innovation forums, career development events, and knowledge-sharing initiatives that connect professionals worldwide.
  • Advocating for inclusive professional networks, helping emerging leaders gain visibility and growth opportunities in global technology ecosystems.
• Mentor & Technical Evangelist
  Guiding software engineers and architects in cloud, microservices, and secure design principles.
  Supporting individuals and teams in building scalable, compliant, and future-oriented systems.
• Community Contributor & Speaker
  Active in architecture and API governance meetups, promoting secure software engineering and enterprise modernization best practices.
  Championing ethical technology use, data protection awareness, and continuous innovation cultures.

“Architecture is not just about systems — it’s about building bridges: between people, technology, and purpose.”

My mission is to drive digital transformation through trust, collaboration, and technical excellence, empowering both organizations and communities to thrive in the evolving digital landscape.