Principal Payments Architect

Responsibilities

We are representing a confidential financial services consultancy seeking a Principal Payments Architect to lead transformational programmes for their clients. In this role, you will:

• Lead the architecture and modernisation of complex payment platforms across domestic, international, real-time, on-us and card payment ecosystems, delivering scalable, resilient and secure solutions
• Define payments technology strategies, target architectures and transformation roadmaps while working closely with business, engineering and delivery teams to guide implementation and investment decisions
• Apply modern architecture practices including microservices, event-driven design, cloud-native technologies and DevOps, leveraging approved AI-enabled workflows where appropriate to improve productivity, design quality and delivery outcomes while maintaining human oversight
• Build trusted relationships with senior client stakeholders, mentor technical teams and contribute to thought leadership and business development activities
• Ensure architectural decisions align with regulatory requirements, security, resilience, governance and responsible AI principles where AI-enabled capabilities form part of the solution landscape

What We're Looking For

Essential skills and experience:

• Proven experience designing or modernising payment platforms across Faster Payments, Bacs, CHAPS, SWIFT, SEPA, Open Banking, ISO 20022 and related payment ecosystems
• Deep expertise in enterprise and solution architecture, distributed systems, cloud technologies, modern engineering practices and recognised frameworks such as TOGAF and Domain-Driven Design
• Strong consulting, stakeholder management and leadership experience with the ability to influence senior technology and business decision-makers
• Experience delivering large-scale payments transformation programmes using agile delivery methodologies and modern engineering practices
• A curiosity for AI-enabled ways of working and an understanding of how approved AI tools, automation and responsible AI governance can improve architectural delivery while maintaining appropriate review, auditability and human judgement

Preferred qualifications:

• Senior consulting experience delivering large-scale payments transformation programmes
• Experience leading pre-sales engagements, proposals and commercial estimates
• Awareness of emerging technologies including digital wallets, tokenisation, embedded finance and AI (including Generative AI and Agentic AI), AI-driven fraud detection and intelligent automation within payment ecosystems
• Knowledge of financial crime, AML controls, payment fraud prevention and security architecture
• Exposure to international payment ecosystems and relevant architecture or cloud certifications such as TOGAF or AWS

How We Work With You

Our talent team at Get A Job.ai partners with leading organisations to connect exceptional professionals with transformational opportunities. When you apply through our platform:

• A dedicated recruiter will review your application and schedule an initial screening conversation
• We'll prepare and submit your profile to our client with full context about your expertise and career goals
• Throughout the interview process, we'll provide guidance, feedback and support
• Please apply exclusively through Get A Job.ai—do not contact the client directly

Pay

Compensation details will be discussed during the screening process with our recruitment team.

Equal Employment Opportunity: Get A Job.ai is committed to inclusive recruitment practices. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of background, identity or circumstance. If you require accommodations during the application or interview process, please inform your recruiter.