Location: Brussels, Belgium (Hybrid: 2-3 days remote per week)
Type: Freelance Contract
Levels Available: Medior (approx. 3 years exp.) | Senior (approx. 10 years exp.) | Junior (approx. 1 year exp.)
Language Requirements: Fluent in English (3/4 minimum) AND working proficiency in either French or Dutch (3/4 minimum).
Passionate about tech, digital, and innovation? Join the 1,800 employees at Smile, the European leader in open-source integration, spread across 20 agencies in 9 countries. Collaborative spirit and knowledge sharing are at the heart of our DNA. Our experts push the boundaries of open source every day to build a smarter, more efficient, and more responsible digital world. Here, we don't just follow trends, we create them! Join Smile in Brussels and take part in projects that truly matter!
Peer-to-Peer Management: Our proximity management by peers fosters open dialogue and the implementation of a tailored career path.
Continuous Learning: Because the digital sector is in constant motion, Smile is committed to making you an expert in your field. Benefit from a comprehensive training offer: access to our e-learning platform, financing of certifications, and robust knowledge-sharing tools.
Vibrant Community: Your year will be animated by group and agency events: annual convention, participation in trade fairs, summer party, and plenty of formal & informal afterworks.
On behalf of our fast-growing division, we are looking for API/SOA Architects at different seniority levels (Junior, Medior, and Senior) to join our consultant pool in Brussels.
In this role, you will design, implement, and govern robust API and Service-Oriented Architectures (SOA) for high-impact client projects. You will act as the bridge between business requirements and technical execution, ensuring scalable, secure, and modern integration landscapes.
Depending on your level of seniority (Junior/Medior/Senior), your daily responsibilities will include:
Architectural Design: Designing and implementing highly scalable, secure, and performant API and SOA architectures using REST, SOAP, and Microservices principles.
API Development & Governance: Developing APIs (primarily Java-based) and setting up API governance, lifecycle management, and security standards (OAuth2, JWT, Swagger).
Platform Integration: Configuring and leveraging API Management and Integration platforms (e.g., Axway, Apigee, WSO2, Red Hat Fuse).
Cloud & Modern Infrastructure: Deploying and managing integration components within public cloud environments (Azure, AWS, or GCP).
CI/CD & Quality Assurance: Setting up automated deployment pipelines and testing integration flows using tools like SOAPUI, Postman, and ReadyAPI.
Collaboration: Working within Agile/Scrum teams, documenting architectures in Jira/Confluence, and aligning with diverse business and technical stakeholders.
Experience: Junior: ~1 year of experience in API development/design.
Core Technical Skills:
Strong background in Java and API/SOA development.
Deep understanding of API & Web Service standards: OAuth2, Swagger, JWT, SOAP, WSDL, REST, Microservices.
Hands-on experience with API/ESB Platforms: Axway, Apigee, WSO2, or Red Hat Fuse.
Familiarity with public cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP).
Strong skills in XML and JSON modeling.
Experience with testing tools (SOAPUI, Postman, ReadyAPI) and CI/CD pipelines.
Methodology: Comfortable working in Agile/Scrum environments; proficient with Jira and Confluence.
Languages: Excellent communication skills in English (written & spoken) accompanied by intermediate/advanced professional proficiency in either French or Dutch.
First Contact: A quick phone call to discuss your freelance aspirations, rate, availability, and what we can offer you.
Meeting: An opportunity to get to know each other virtually or in person, exploring your professional background and alignment with Smile’s values.
Business Interview: A deep-dive technical discussion with one of our senior integration experts to assess your skills and map out your goals.
