Adam Fitzwater
Platform Architect · Columbus, Ohio
adam.fitzwater1@gmail.com · github.com/adamfitzwater · linkedin.com/in/adam-fitzwater-21653025
Summary
Platform Architect with 12+ years of experience designing and delivering cloud-native enterprise systems in the life insurance and financial services industry. I currently lead the architecture of Lincoln Financial Group's next-generation Life Insurance and Annuity platform on AWS — a distributed, event-driven ecosystem of 30+ serverless microservices powering the company's retail product pipeline. My career spans the full arc from hands-on financial modeling and actuarial calculation engine development to leading cross-functional engineering teams and defining enterprise-scale system architecture.
Experience
Lincoln Financial Group
Aug 2016 – Present · 4 roles
Platform Architect — NextGen Retail
Columbus, OH (Remote)
- Architect and build the serverless application layer for Lincoln Financial's next-generation Life Insurance and Annuity retail platform on AWS, leveraging Lambda, SQS, API Gateway, DynamoDB, S3, Step Functions, SNS, IAM, and CloudFormation.
- Design and decompose complex multi-system integrations into 30+ independently deployable microservices, optimizing for scalability, cost-efficiency, and operational resilience across the platform.
- Lead the technical implementation of the FAST platform (by Verisk), an industry-leading life and annuity policy administration system, as the foundation for all new products — including planning for future product conversions from legacy systems.
- Define CI/CD pipelines and infrastructure-as-code standards using GitLab CI/CD and AWS CloudFormation, enabling rapid, reliable, and repeatable deployments across environments.
- Drive architectural decisions across the entire NextGen Retail release train (10 pods), ensuring consistency in design patterns, integration standards, and technical direction across teams.
- Lead multiple cross-functional teams of up to 6 engineers, fostering a culture of code quality, architecture best practices, and continuous learning through hands-on mentorship.
- Translate architectural designs into production-ready Python applications using agile methodologies and DevOps practices, balancing speed of delivery with security and maintainability.
- Implement observability and monitoring using Amazon CloudWatch, enabling proactive system health tracking and rapid incident response across distributed services.
Sr. Software Engineer Technical Lead — NextGen Retail
Columbus, OH (Remote)
- Served as technical lead of an agile pod on Lincoln Financial's NextGen Retail initiative, owning architecture and development decisions — including service design, API contracts, and integration patterns across internal and external systems.
- Built on the foundational FAST platform connectivity established in the prior role, expanding the integration layer and leading the design of new serverless microservices connecting FAST to Lincoln's broader enterprise ecosystem.
- Drove adoption of serverless patterns and infrastructure as code across the pod, establishing architectural standards that the wider NextGen Retail release train would later adopt.
- Took on increasing leadership responsibility — making technical decisions for the pod, representing the team in cross-pod architecture discussions, and influencing platform-wide design direction.
- Collaborated with product owners, business analysts, and actuarial teams to align technical delivery with business requirements, regulatory constraints, and compliance standards.
- Mentored junior and mid-level engineers on AWS services, Python best practices, clean code principles, and microservices design patterns.
Software Engineer — NextGen Retail
Columbus, OH
- Joined the early phases of Lincoln Financial's NextGen Retail initiative, helping establish the foundational integration between the FAST platform (by Verisk) and Lincoln's existing life insurance administration systems.
- Built initial serverless connectivity layers using AWS Lambda and Python, enabling FAST to communicate with Lincoln's enterprise systems — work that became the backbone of the platform's integration architecture.
- Participated in architecture discussions and sprint planning, quickly demonstrating the technical depth that led to promotion to Technical Lead within 6 months.
Software Engineer / Financial Modeler
Columbus, OH
- Responsible for design, development, and maintenance of all financial calculations for Lincoln Financial's life insurance product portfolio using VPMS (DXC), a proprietary functional calculation engine.
- Built and maintained service layer interfaces that enabled upstream and downstream systems to interact with the calculation engine, ensuring accurate premium, reserve, and benefit computations.
- Designed and maintained automated testing frameworks (Python) to validate actuarial accuracy across all financial calculations, reducing manual testing effort and increasing confidence in product releases.
- Partnered closely with actuaries and business stakeholders to translate complex actuarial requirements into production-ready calculation logic.
IBM
Jun 2013 – Aug 2016 · 2 roles
Watson Software Engineer
Dublin, OH
- Designed, developed, and supported multiple applications used to train IBM Watson's cognitive products and services, focusing on engagement products such as conversational and Q&A systems.
- Built a prototype application using AngularJS, Node.js, and NoSQL to train and monitor Watson — architected as a mobile-first, RESTful, multi-tenant web application using service-oriented design.
- Collaborated within an internationally distributed agile squad to build web applications running in both traditional environments and IBM Bluemix (now IBM Cloud).
- Enhanced and maintained production Java-based applications used to train Watson Engagement Advisor.
- Maintained comprehensive test coverage using JUnit, Jasmine, and Mocha testing frameworks.
Software Development Consultant
Columbus, OH
- Consulted for a Fortune 500 insurance company on their life insurance policy management system, working as a permanent member of an agile development line.
- Developed and enhanced functionality for new and existing life insurance products on a desktop and batch flow application, frequently taking a lead development role.
- Reduced overall system risk by modifying existing system components and data feeds to downstream systems.
- Partnered with business representatives and actuaries to solidify requirements and validate actuarial calculations.
- Built applications using C#, VB.NET, and Microsoft SQL Server with object-oriented design principles.
IT Consultant
Fitzwater Furniture · Oakland, MD
- Led a business-wide digital transformation by automating all major business processes for a family-owned furniture company.
- Analyzed operations across the entire business, identified improvement opportunities, and presented strategic recommendations to management.
- Designed and deployed a client-server network architecture, including hardware/software procurement and installation.
- Implemented a Point of Sale system end-to-end, from initial configuration and inventory setup to employee training and go-live support.
Trust and Investments Intern
My Bank! First United Bank & Trust · Oakland, MD
- Assisted in re-aligning client accounts using the firm's Managed Asset Portfolio product.
- Processed litigation payments for securities fraud victims.
- Researched and recommended equities and municipal bonds based on specific investment strategies, contributing to updates to the firm's stock guidance list.
Consultant / Internship
The Simonyi Center — Pecs, Hungary · Pecs, Hungary
- Consulted non-profit organizations, small businesses, and startups in Pecs, Hungary and the surrounding Baranya region across two summer engagements.
- Analyzed 5 client businesses across various industries, delivering business plans, marketing strategies, and feasibility studies aimed at increasing profitability.
- Served as team leader, coordinating tasks and ensuring project timelines were met.
- Engaged directly with foreign clients through on-site translators, navigating cross-cultural business communication.
Skills
Cloud & AWS
AWS LambdaAmazon API GatewayAmazon DynamoDBAmazon SQSAmazon SNSAmazon S3AWS Step FunctionsAmazon CloudWatchAmazon IAMAWS CloudFormationAWS CDKServerless ArchitectureMicroservices Architecture
Programming Languages
PythonJavaScript / Node.jsJavaC#VB.NETVPMS (DXC)
Frontend
AngularJSHTML / CSSRESTful API DesignMobile-First Design
Frameworks & Platforms
AWS ServerlessFAST by Verisk (Life & Annuity Administration)IBM Watson / IBM CloudService-Oriented Architecture (SOA)
Data & Databases
Amazon DynamoDBMicrosoft SQL ServerNoSQL Databases
DevOps & Tooling
GitHub / GitHub ActionsGitLab / GitLab CI-CD PipelinesAWS CloudFormation (IaC)CI/CD Pipeline DesignAmazon CloudWatch (Observability)AWS CLI
Testing & Quality
Python Testing (pytest, unittest)AWS Service Mocking (moto)Code Coverage (coverage.py)Unit & Integration TestingAutomated Testing FrameworksJUnit / Jasmine / Mocha
Security & Compliance
AWS IAM (Least-Privilege Design)Data Encryption (at rest & in transit)Insurance Regulatory ComplianceSecure API DesignSOC 2 Awareness
Methodologies & Leadership
Agile / ScrumDevOps PracticesTechnical Team LeadershipArchitecture Review & DesignCross-Functional CollaborationTechnical Mentorship
Business & Domain Expertise
Life Insurance & Annuity SystemsFinancial Modeling & Actuarial CalculationsPlatform Modernization & Legacy MigrationInsurance Regulatory ComplianceBusiness Analysis & RequirementsConsulting & Client EngagementEnterprise Software Architecture
Education
BBA, Management Information Systems & Finance
Ohio University · Athens, OH
Delta Sigma Pi (professional business fraternity) · Foreign Exchange Trading Group
Certifications
Associate, Life Management Institute (ALMI)
LOMA
AWS Certified Solutions Architect — AssociateIn Progress
Amazon Web Services