Vidya Akhileswaran
Chennai
Summary
Dynamic Principal Engineer with extensive experience at Natwest Group, specializing in cloud-native architectures and AI-driven solutions. Proven ability to enhance operational efficiency and accelerate delivery timelines. Skilled in AWS and solution design, with a strong focus on mentoring teams and driving architectural governance. Adept at translating complex requirements into scalable technical solutions.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Principal Engineer(Mortgage Operations)
Natwest Group
08.2017 - Current
- Transformed architectural artifacts from document-based formats to machine-readable integrated assets, streamlining development workflows.
- The document-based approach leads to rework when designs are misunderstood, delays in architecture approval processes, and difficulty maintaining traceability from design through build to operations. This impacts delivery teams waiting for approvals, architects spending time on repetitive governance activities, and programme managers facing unpredictable lead times. The consequences include slower time-to-market, increased rework costs, and inconsistent application of architectural patterns. The urgency stems from the volume of initiatives requiring architecture review and the competitive pressure to accelerate delivery.
- Technologies Used: LLM,RAG,Python,AWS, Spring Boot, Kafka, Mongo DB
- Define and drive end-to-end solution architecture for enterprise applications, ensuring scalability, security, and high availability
- Lead the design and implementation of cloud-native architectures using Microservices and API-first principles
- Architect and govern enterprise integration patterns, including REST APIs, event-driven systems, and distributed data flows
- Provide technical leadership and mentorship to development teams, ensuring adherence to best practices and coding standards
- Collaborate with business stakeholders to translate requirements into scalable technical solutions
- Establish and enforce architecture governance frameworks, design standards, and reusable patterns across programs
- Drive adoption of AI/ML and LLM-based solutions to improve automation, decision-making, and operational efficiency
- Design and implement secure authentication and authorization mechanisms (OAuth2, JWT)
- Ensure non-functional requirements (NFRs) such as performance, scalability, reliability, and security are met
- Conduct architecture reviews and design approvals, reducing risks and ensuring alignment with enterprise standards
- Enabled traceability across requirements, design, and implementation through structured documentation and tooling, improving alignment and reducing risks.
- Evaluate and recommend emerging technologies (AI, LLMs, cloud services) to drive innovation and competitive advantage
- ENDOR Transformation : This is an initiative to support the One Bank transformation by equipping colleagues with latest tools and technologies needed to better assist customers through various assisted journeys. As a part of this journey, currently working on the Mortgage calculators to provide an efficient and hassle-free mechanism for calculating customer's mortgage needs, at the same time develop a user-friendly illustration screen that presents calculations in a clear and comprehensible format.
- Technologies Used: AWS ,Spring Boot and Microservices,Mongo DB
- Performing the role of a Principal Engineer , where the responsibilities include the following :
- Define the overall approach and architecture for the mortgage calculator, considering user experience and technical feasibility.
- Lead the design and implementation of API Management solutions to expose RESTful APIs for internal and external consumers. Managed API versions, security policies, and monitoring for high availability.
- Architected and deployed highly scalable, globally distributed database solutions
- Design a user-friendly interface that presents calculations clearly and interactively.
- Create a high-level architecture diagram depicting the components of the mortgage calculator, including data input, processing logic, and output display.
- Prepare and finalize the high-level design document, ensuring it provides a clear and detailed blueprint for development
- Identified technical and infrastructural changes that minimized impact on nonfunctional aspects such as performance, security, availability, and resilience.
- Identify the standard security patterns used in the bank and apply the patterns to the solution
Senior Technical Analyst
Oracle Financial Services
09.2016 - 08.2017
- Supported Limits and Collateral module in Flex cube product, enhancing client satisfaction
- Identified and analyzed root causes of issues, delivering timely intermediary or permanent fixes
- Managed incident resolution through the MY Oracle Support portal, ensuring timely responses to client issues.
- Conducted calls and web sessions with clients to address and resolve issues effectively
- Oracle Financial Services Software Limited has two main streams of business. The products division (formerly called BPD - Banking products Division) and Prime Sourcing. The company's offerings cover retail, corporate and investment banking, funds, cash management, trade, treasury, payments, lending, private wealth management, asset management and business analytics.
Senior Software Developer
Polaris Financial Technologies
09.2013 - 08.2016
- Tuning the SQL queries as per the requirement
- Worked on data extraction, Transformation and loading data from various sources like Oracle, SQL Server and Flat files using Informatica PowerCenter 9.1.
- Prepared mappings to load data into stages such as landing, staging, and target tables.
- Used various transformations like Source Qualifier, Expression, Aggregator, Joiner, Filter, Lookup, Update Strategy Designing and optimizing the Mapping.
- Developed Workflows using task developer, workflow designer in Workflow manager and monitored the results using workflow monitor.
- Utilized IC Environment Manager tool to transfer scripts across higher environments, ensuring code synchronization.
- Client : Fidelity Investments -SIPD. Strategic Investments Product Data maintains the customer relevant accounts and information from the website fid.com. Messaging system which is part of SIPD is responsible for maintaining all the interactive communication between the customer and the representatives of fidelity. Messaging system manages the interactive chats and also responsible for providing on the fly pop up windows to the customer based on the inputs they supply.The complete data that is used or maintained for the Customer profile would be available here which in turn is routed across various systems.
Software Developer
Cognizant Technology Solutions
07.2010 - 08.2016
- Crafted complex SQL queries using joins, inline views, correlated subqueries, and hierarchical queries to enhance data retrieval capabilities.
- Creation of PL SQL procedures and functions to validate data stored in the DB tables
- Developed database objects to support data flow modifications and ensure seamless integration.
- Using SQL Loader utility to load the data from the Server to the DB tables
- Utilized file comparison tools like GUIFFY to identify discrepancies and generate detailed reports.
- Client : Philips (jul'10 till Jan'12). Philips - Global Transaction Systems, this Project was initiated to provide a global transparency across various systems within the Philips domain. The systems which serve as the data sources are fed to a database system which formats and transports the data to the downstream systems. These data are handled by the Business Intelligence Objects and are converted to suitable reports which can be accessed globally.
Software Developer
Cognizant Technology Solutions
01.2012 - 12.2013
- Gathered requirements during Waterfall life cycle model, ensuring alignment with project objectives.
- Developing Oracle Packages, Procedures and functions to handle the data as per the HIPAA requirements including creation of DB objects.
- Tested web service calls using SOAP UI tool, validating functionality and reliability of integrations.
- Tuning the DB procedures to reduce the downtime for Web Service calls
- Managed incidents using Remedy tool, facilitating timely resolutions and minimizing service disruptions.
- Wrote complex SQL queries using joins and transformations to meet specific data needs.
- Client : Healthnet - Transaction Repository (jan'12 till Dec'13). Transaction Repository (TR) is Health Net's internal Oracle database, optimized for real time query, combining data from many different sources for presentation to the customers, in the standard format from the core systems. TR provides real time data pertaining to Billing, Provider, Claims in a standard format from the core systems. These real time data is utilized by several downstream applications to record and provide information to HNWEB which is a major Customer for TR.
Software Developer
Mphasis, an EDS Company
01.2007 - 07.2010
- Project Member for the team of 10 people.
- Requirement gathering from the Business People and transform those into System Specific Requirements.
- Involved in the complete SDLC phase of the project and Production Support and Maintenance activities.
- Involved in the training session from the Business users.
- Involved in training Project Members on the System Requirements based on the information gathered from Business.
- Creating DB objects and writing complex queries to suit the Business needs.
- Writing Unix shell scripting to handle the files that are to be loaded into the database after transforming as per the needs
- Involved in Production Support activities.
- Client : Sprint- Compensation To Pay. C2P is an incentive compensation system which drives the performance and profitability of the sales force of the Sprint Organization to increase the company's revenue and market share. As incentives for meeting Sprint's business objectives, sales and sales support staff receive monthly, quarterly and annual incentive compensation for various kinds of revenue generated and products sold.
Education
Master degree for Professionals - Artificial Intelligence and Data Science
SRM University
06-2026
Bachelor's Degree - Computer Science and Engineering
Anna University
Skills
- Cloud basics(AWS)
- Spring boot
- Microservices
- Mongo DB
- Oracle PL SQL
- Python
- LLM/Machine learning/Deep Learning
- Solution Design and Architecture
- Architectural Framework
- Databases & Tools
- Cloud Technologies
Github Projects
Github
Professional Summary
Experienced, motivated solution architect and IT Engineer with seventeen years of experience in Software Industry and five years of experience in Solution designing seeking a challenging career opportunity where IT initiatives through strategic planning, proactive project management, decisive leadership and dynamic client relations., With 19 years of experience in software development methodologies, I bring a comprehensive understanding of complex business requirements and solution design. My expertise includes: Solution Architecture: Over 8 years of experience in designing solutions for intricate business needs, which requires extensive understanding of bank's architectural patterns and framework. Technical Skills: Proficient in Oracle PL/SQL, Unix shell scripting, hands-on experience in Spring Boot and Microservices, Python, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence Development Methodologies: Extensive experience with Agile lifecycle models. Soft Skills: Problem Solving, Communication, Collaboration, Critical Thinking. Currently pursuing Masters degree for Professionals in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science from SRM University.
Websites
Timeline
Principal Engineer(Mortgage Operations)
Natwest Group
08.2017 - Current
Senior Technical Analyst
Oracle Financial Services
09.2016 - 08.2017
Senior Software Developer
Polaris Financial Technologies
09.2013 - 08.2016
Software Developer
Cognizant Technology Solutions
01.2012 - 12.2013
Software Developer
Cognizant Technology Solutions
07.2010 - 08.2016
Software Developer
Mphasis, an EDS Company
01.2007 - 07.2010
Master degree for Professionals - Artificial Intelligence and Data Science
SRM University
Bachelor's Degree - Computer Science and Engineering
Anna University