Integration Services Lead

The Integration Services Lead is responsible for overseeing and managing the integration of services across both enterprise and consumer platforms. This role encompasses leadership of six squads to ensure cohesive delivery, successful integration, and alignment with business goals. The Integration Services Lead manages a team comprising Integration Tech Leads, Integration Design Specialists, Network Integration Developers, RPA Tech Lead, DevOps Tech Lead, and OEM vendors, ensuring that all integration efforts are coordinated effectively.

Key Roles and Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Coordination

• Lead Integration Strategy: Define and manage the integration strategy for enterprise and consumer solutions, ensuring all components are integrated effectively to meet business needs.
• Coordinate Across Squads: Oversee the delivery of six squads ensuring alignment with organizational objectives and promoting cross-functional collaboration.
• Stakeholder Management: Serve as the primary point of contact for key stakeholders, including business owners, squad leads, and OEM vendors, ensuring they are well-informed on integration progress and issues.

Team Leadership and Development

• Lead Integration Team: Directly lead and mentor a team that includes:
• Integration Tech Lead: Responsible for driving technical integration across squads.
• Integration Design Specialists: Oversee the architecture and ensure alignment with design principles and guidelines.
• Network Integration Developers: Develop and execute integration code to connect various systems and services.
• RPA Tech Lead: Oversee automation initiatives across the integration layers to reduce manual intervention and streamline workflows.
• DevOps Tech Lead: Ensure that integration processes are aligned with DevOps principles, facilitating smooth CI/CD pipelines.
• OEM Vendors: Manage engagements with external vendors, ensuring they deliver as per the contract and meet integration standards.

Technical Oversight

• End-to-End Integration: Ensure end-to-end system integration across multiple platforms (enterprise and consumer), including CRM, billing systems, digital front-ends, and third-party applications.
• Technical Architecture: Work closely with the Integration Design Specialists to establish integration standards, design reusable components, and ensure consistency in integration practices across different squads.
• API and Middleware Management: Oversee the development, implementation, and management of APIs, middleware solutions, and network protocols that facilitate integration among systems.

Delivery Management

• Sprint Planning and Delivery Oversight: Collaborate with Scrum Masters and Squad Leads to plan and manage delivery timelines for integration-related features and capabilities, ensuring they align with the overall product roadmap.
• Risk Management: Identify risks related to integration projects, create mitigation plans, and manage escalation processes for any challenges during integration.
• Performance Monitoring: Track and monitor the progress of all integration projects, using KPIs to evaluate performance and ensure that deadlines and quality standards are met.

Vendor Management

• OEM Coordination: Engage and manage relationships with OEM vendors to facilitate integration activities, including contract negotiations, managing SLAs, and monitoring vendor performance.
• Quality Assurance: Work with vendors to ensure all integration solutions comply with security standards, quality requirements, and industry best practices.

Integration Testing and Quality Assurance

• Test Strategy Development: Define the integration testing strategy to ensure that all integrated components work seamlessly together.
• Coordinate Testing Efforts: Work with QA Leads and Network Integration Dev to plan and execute integration tests across systems, ensuring that all APIs, data flows, and interactions are functioning correctly.
• Defect Management: Oversee defect resolution during testing phases, especially during UAT and post-deployment hypercare.

DevOps Integration and Automation

• DevOps Practices: Lead the integration team to follow DevOps principles, ensuring that integration services are delivered through automated CI/CD pipelines.
• Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Work with the DevOps Tech Lead to establish infrastructure deployment using IaC principles to ensure consistency and repeatability in environment setup.

Hypercare and Post-Deployment Management

• Hypercare Support: Ensure there is a comprehensive support plan for the hypercare period post-deployment, which typically lasts for 3 weeks. Work closely with OEM vendors during this period to address any issues quickly.
• Handover to AMS: After the hypercare period, ensure a smooth handover to the AMS team. This includes organizing knowledge transfer sessions, preparing handover documentation, and ensuring that all operational processes are clearly documented.
• Incident Management: Set up the process for the AMS team to manage incidents, providing necessary escalation paths and support documentation for any integration-related defects that may arise post-hypercare.

Continuous Improvement

• Drive Innovation: Explore opportunities for improving integration processes, introducing new tools or technologies to optimize the efficiency of integration development and management.
• Feedback Loop: Establish feedback mechanisms with the Product Owners, Scrum Masters, and stakeholders to incorporate learnings from previous projects into future integration deliveries.

Compliance and Security

• Compliance Alignment: Ensure all integration activities comply with telecommunications regulations and data privacy laws.
• Security by Design: Work with Integration Design Specialists to implement security best practices into all integration components, ensuring that data flows between systems are protected against potential vulnerabilities.

Key Relationships

Internal:

• Product Owners: Work closely to understand business needs and translate them into technical integration requirements.
• Scrum Masters and Squad Leads: Coordinate delivery timelines, scope changes, and dependencies across squads.
• AMS Team: Manage post-deployment handovers, ensuring the AMS team is fully prepared to take over support responsibilities.

External:

• OEM Vendors: Engage with vendors to manage integration activities and resolve issues, ensuring timely delivery and adherence to quality standards.

Requirements

Min tertiary education in Computer Science / Engineering or equivalent

At least 8-10 years of relevant experience

Technical Expertise: Strong background in integration platforms, middleware, API management, and telecom systems.

Leadership: Ability to lead multiple cross-functional teams and manage external vendors effectively.

Agile and DevOps: Deep understanding of agile delivery, DevOps practices, and how to integrate them effectively within a telecommunications environment.

Problem Solving and Decision Making: Ability to navigate complex integration challenges, with a strong focus on problem resolution and risk mitigation.