Senior Java Engineering Architect

Senior Java Engineering Architect – Banking, Payments & AI-Driven Engineering

LocationLondon / (4 days/week from office; 1 day/week from home)

Contract OR FTE

Role Summary

We are seeking a highly experienced Java Engineering Architect to lead the architecture, design, and delivery of next-generation Banking and Payment platforms. The ideal candidate will have deep expertise in payment engines, banking operations, messaging architecture, integration patterns, cloud-native engineering, and AI-driven software delivery. This role requires a strong technology leader who can define enterprise architecture, drive engineering excellence, lead large backend engineering teams, and leverage AI-powered development practices to accelerate software delivery and innovation.

Key Responsibilities

Payments & Banking Domain

Design and architect high-volume, mission-critical payment processing platforms.

Provide deep expertise in:

• Payment engines
• Payment orchestration
• Real-time payments
• SWIFTISO 20022
• Settlement and clearing systems
• Banking operational workflows
• Reconciliation systems

Regulatory and compliance-driven architecture

Collaborate with business and operations teams to modernize banking platforms.

Messaging & Integration Architecture

Architect enterprise messaging hubs and event-driven ecosystems.

Define integration strategies leveraging:

• Kafka / NATS
• Event Streaming Platforms
• Microservices Event-Driven Architecture

AI-Led Engineering & SDLC Transformation

Champion AI-powered software engineering practices across the SDLC.

Drive adoption of Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, CursorLLM-powered engineering tools

• Claude Code
• GitHub Copilot
• CursorLLM-powered engineering tools

Define AI-first engineering frameworks enabling accelerated delivery while maintaining engineering quality.

Cloud Native & Platform Engineering

Design and govern cloud-native application platforms using Kubernetes, Docker

• Kubernetes
• Docker

Ensure platforms support high availability, resilience, scalability, and operational excellence.

Required Skills & Experience

Core Architecture

15+ years of software engineering experience.

8+ years in Solution Architecture, Enterprise Architecture, or Principal Engineering roles.

Proven experience delivering enterprise-scale Banking and Payment solutions.

Java & Backend Engineering

• Java, Spring Boot, Spring Cloud, MicroservicesMessaging & IntegrationDeep expertise in Messaging Hub architecture.
• Strong experience with: Kafka, NATS, Event Streaming Platforms
• Expert understanding of: Integration patterns, Enterprise Integration Architecture, Messaging patterns, API architecture, Event-driven architecture

Databases

• Oracle, PostgreSQL
• Data modelling
• performance tuning
• HA/DR architecture
• transaction-heavy systems

Preferred Qualifications

• Banking or Financial Services industry background.
• Experience with large-scale modernization and transformation programs.
• TOGAF, Kubernetes, Cloud, or Architecture certifications.
• Experience building AI-enabled engineering organizations.
• Exposure to GenAI and Enterprise LLM integration patterns.