Senior Java Architect - Payments

Sanderson; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 143,000 - 156,000; Full time

Job summary

Sanderson is looking for a Senior Java Architect - Payments in London (Hybrid) to lead backend architecture for a global payments transformation project, building cloud-native platforms that support cross-border payments, settlement, reconciliation, and banking operations.

You will partner with Lead Architect, guide offshore teams, and design microservices, event-driven solutions with Kafka, REST APIs, and secure scalable patterns, while driving governance, delivery progress, and AI-assisted

Qualifications

• Significant experience as Java Architect or Lead Backend Architect.
• Banking/Payments domain experience.
• Expertise in Java, Spring Boot, and enterprise-scale backend development.
• Strong knowledge of microservices and distributed systems.
• Experience with event-driven architectures (Kafka) and API-first design.
• Cloud-native deployment on AWS/Azure and containerization (Kubernetes, Docker).
• Proven leadership of offshore/distributed engineering teams.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication.

Responsibilities

• Design and deliver enterprise-grade banking and payments platforms.
• Lead offshore Java engineering teams and provide technical direction.
• Contribute to governance, reviews, and roadmap planning.
• Design scalable microservices and real-time payments capabilities.
• Collaborate with architects to refine solution designs.
• Promote engineering excellence and AI-assisted tooling.

Skills

Java

Spring Boot

Microservices

API-first design

REST APIs

Tools

Kafka

Docker

Kubernetes

AWS

Azure

Job description

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 regulated environments
• Deep expertise in Java, Spring Boot, and enterprise-scale backend development
• Strong knowledge of microservices architecture and distributed systems
• Experience designing event-driven solutions using Kafka or similar messaging technologies
• Strong understanding of API-first architecture, REST services, and enterprise integration patterns
• Experience working with cloud-native platforms and containerised environments
• Exposure to AWS, Azure, Kubernetes, Docker, and CI/CD pipelines
• Proven experience leading distributed engineering teams and driving large-scale delivery programmes
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills

Highly Desirable

• Payments domain expertise including SWIFT, ISO 20022, real-time payments, settlement, reconciliation, treasury, or cash management
• Experience delivering large-scale modernisation and transformation programmes
• Architecture certifications such as TOGAF
• Experience implementing AI-assisted engineering practices within development teams
• Exposure to cloud-native banking platforms and digital transformation initiatives

Reasonable Adjustments:

Respect and equality are core values to us. We are proud of the diverse and inclusive community we have built, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and perspectives. Our success is driven by our people, united by the spirit of partnership to deliver the best resourcing solutions for our clients.