Sr. Solution Architect - Core Payments Processing

Sr. Solution Architect - Core Payments Processing

Location: Remote with travel required

Travel Requirements

• Light travel required; approximately 4–6 days/month to Pittsburgh location
• Architects will meet with bank teams in person every 2–3 weeks, typically for 2–3 days per visit
• Travel is billable and expensed per the bank's travel policy (preferred hotels, flights, etc.)

These roles require expertise in delivery payment process solutions

Job Summary

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Sr. Solution Architect to join our team, focusing on the core payments processing domain. This role is crucial in defining the architectural vision and leading the technical design for our client's payment platforms. The ideal candidate will be a technical leader who can bridge the gap between business requirements and technical solutions, ensuring our systems are secure, scalable, and resilient.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead Solution Design: Architect end-to-end technical solutions for new features and enhancements to our client's core payments processing systems, including transaction routing, authorization, clearing, and settlement.
• Translate Business Needs: Collaborate with product managers, business analysts, and stakeholders to understand business requirements and translate them into a clear, documented technical architecture and roadmap.
• Define Architectural Standards: Define and enforce architectural patterns, principles, and best practices, ensuring solutions align with the overall enterprise architecture.
• Provide Technical Leadership: Act as a subject matter expert for core payments, providing guidance and mentorship to engineering teams on design, development, and implementation.
• Evaluate Technology: Research and evaluate new technologies, platforms, and third-party integrations to improve system performance, security, and scalability.
• Ensure Compliance and Security: Design solutions that adhere to industry standards and regulations, including PCI DSS, ISO 20022, and other relevant security protocols.
• Troubleshoot and Optimize: Analyze existing systems to identify deficiencies, recommend improvements, and troubleshoot complex technical issues to ensure optimal system performance and reliability.
• Create and Maintain Documentation: Develop and maintain comprehensive architectural documentation, including solution diagrams, data flow diagrams, and design specifications.
• Collaborate and Communicate: Facilitate communication and collaboration among cross-functional teams (e.g., engineering, DevOps, security, product) to ensure a shared understanding and successful project delivery.

Qualifications

• Educational Background: Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Experience: Minimum of 8+ years of experience in software development, with at least 5 years in a solutions or enterprise architect role.
• Proven experience in designing and building large-scale, distributed systems within the financial services or payments industry.
• Deep expertise in the core payments processing lifecycle, including authorization, settlement, and reconciliation.
• Technical Skills: Strong knowledge of payment networks and standards (e.g., ISO 8583, ISO 20022, Wire, ACH, SWIFT, Real-time-payments). Experience with cloud platforms and cloud-native architecture. Proficiency in designing microservices architecture, APIs, and event-driven systems. Solid understanding of security protocols, encryption, tokenization, and fraud detection. Familiarity with micro-services and CI/CD pipelines.
• Soft Skills: Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to think strategically. Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences. Demonstrated leadership and ability to influence and drive consensus across different teams. Experience with Agile development methodologies.