Senior Java Architect - Payments

Senior Java Architect - Payments

Location: London (Hybrid)

Contract: 6 Months Initial

Pay Rate: £550-£600 - Outside IR35

About the Role

We're supporting a global financial services organisation undergoing a significant banking transformation programme. As part of this journey, they are building next-generation banking capabilities and modernising core platforms that support cross-border payments, settlement, reconciliation, and banking operations.

We are seeking an experienced Java Engineering Architect to provide technical leadership across backend engineering, architecture, and delivery. This role will play a key part in shaping modern banking platforms built on cloud-native technologies, microservices, event-driven architecture, and AI-assisted engineering practices.

The successful candidate will work closely with senior architects and stakeholders while leading offshore engineering teams to deliver enterprise-scale banking solutions.

Key Responsibilities

Partner with the Lead Architect to design and deliver enterprise-grade banking and payments platforms

Lead offshore Java engineering teams and provide technical direction across backend workstreams

Contribute to architecture governance, design reviews, technical decision-making, roadmap planning, and risk management

Design scalable, secure, and resilient microservices-based architectures using Java and modern engineering practices

Architect payment solutions supporting real-time payments, cross-border transactions, settlement, reconciliation, and regulatory requirements

Design integration patterns across enterprise systems, third-party providers, and banking platforms

Drive iterative delivery, stakeholder engagement, demonstrations, and technical progress reporting

Collaborate with Business, Integration, Data, and DevOps Architects to define and refine solution designs

Champion engineering excellence, coding standards, performance, and platform reliability

Promote AI-assisted software delivery using tools such as GitHub Copilot, Claude Code, Cursor, or similar technologies

Required Experience

Strong experience as a Java Architect, Engineering Architect, or Lead Backend Architect

Extensive experience within Banking, Payments, Financial Services, or other highly regulat...