Building Bridges Between Legacy and Cloud: The Future of API Architecture
In the fast-paced world of software engineering, where cloud-native technologies and API-driven ecosystems are transforming businesses, few professionals have carved as distinguished a path as Santosh Panendra Bandaru, Senior Software Engineer with over a decade of experience. Specialising in API architecture, cloud solutions, and DevOps, Santosh has played a pivotal role in advancing digital transformation within major financial institutions.
Santosh recalls that his career path was shaped by curiosity and vision. “My journey into software engineering was driven by a fascination with how technology can transform business operations and customer experiences,” he says. His interest in APIs grew from seeing how they “serve as the cornerstone of modern digital ecosystems, enabling disparate systems to communicate efficiently.” Cloud technologies, meanwhile, appealed to him because of their scalability and resilience.
Over the years, Santosh has designed complex API architectures that balance technical rigor with business objectives. “I’m a strong believer in the API-first methodology,” he explains. “Defining clear contracts before implementation, embedding security from the start, and building reusable patterns are the foundations of my approach.” For him, technical excellence is inseparable from business value, which is why he emphasises collaboration with stakeholders throughout the design process.
One of the defining moments in his career came during a high-stakes migration project at JPMorgan Chase. The task: moving mission-critical microservices to AWS without disrupting operations. The challenge intensified when undocumented dependencies in legacy systems surfaced. Santosh responded with a structured discovery process and a phased migration plan. “We had to map service interactions, create logical migration groups, and build confidence step by step,” he says. Implementing CI/CD with Spinnaker and automating certificate renewals were other hurdles he tackled, all while keeping his team aligned through daily standups and real-time collaboration channels. The project closed successfully—without a single service disruption.
Security has always been at the heart of Santosh’s philosophy. “In financial services, security isn’t optional—it’s foundational,” he stresses. From OAuth 2.0 flows to robust threat protection and real-time monitoring, his architectures are built to withstand evolving risks while enabling trusted partnerships with external vendors like Mastercard and PayPal.
Equally central to his work is DevOps. For Santosh, DevOps is more than automation; it is culture. “It’s about breaking down silos between development and operations,” he explains. By implementing CI/CD pipelines, Infrastructure as Code, and automated testing, he ensures speed without compromising reliability.
Looking ahead, Santosh envisions himself moving into a Principal Engineer role, where he can influence architectural strategy while mentoring future engineers. “Ultimately, I want to be at the forefront of solving complex integration challenges that enable digital transformation,” he says.
For Santosh, the future of software engineering lies in bridging legacy systems with cloud-native innovation. His career so far proves that with technical depth, strategic thinking, and collaboration, such bridges can not only be built—but scaled securely and sustainably.