Payments Platform Architect: Real-Time, High-Impact

Astra Tech; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 350,000 - 520,000; Full time

Job summary

Astra Tech, Abu Dhabi-based fintech leader, seeks a senior backend architect to own payments platform architecture across merchant acquiring, real-time processing, and settlement. You will translate product intent into scalable designs, lead engineers, and ensure high-throughput, secure transaction flows.

You will work hands-on on Java microservices, guide tech direction, and collaborate with Product, Risk, and Compliance to meet regulatory requirements.

Qualifications

• 12 to 15 years of backend or platform engineering experience in fintech/payments.
• Expert-level Java and Spring Boot proficiency with production API development.
• Deep knowledge of ISO 8583, payment messaging, and transaction lifecycle.
• Experience integrating with payment gateways and processors (REST/ISO-based).
• Experience with RabbitMQ or Kafka and RPC frameworks (Dubbo/gRPC).
• Architect Leader who guides a pod of engineers and ADRs.

Responsibilities

• Own backend platform architecture across acquiring and payment services, ensuring high throughput and low latency.
• Translate product intent and regulatory requirements into scalable, auditable designs.
• Lead and mentor a cross-squad engineering team and drive design reviews.
• Define integration architecture for card schemes, processors, and switching layers.
• Hands-on coding in critical Java microservice components to improve architecture.

Skills

Java/Spring Boot

ISO 8583

Payment messaging

Payment gateways

RabbitMQ Kafka

Dubbo/gRPC

Architect leadership

High-volume systems

Tools

jPOS

Redis

Job description

Astra Tech, Abu Dhabi-based fintech leader, seeks a senior backend architect to own payments platform architecture across merchant acquiring, real-time processing, and settlement. You will translate product intent into scalable designs, lead engineers, and ensure high-throughput, secure transaction flows.

You will work hands-on on Java microservices, guide tech direction, and collaborate with Product, Risk, and Compliance to meet regulatory requirements.