At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the design of enterprise-grade payment platforms and ensure scalable, secure solutions.
- Company: Join Endava, a tech leader driving innovation through AI and dynamic digital experiences.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, career development, flexible work hours, and global wellbeing programmes.
- Other info: Be part of an inclusive team that values diverse perspectives and fosters growth.
- Why this job: Shape the future of payments and make a real impact in a fast-paced environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in payment solutions and strong architectural knowledge required.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
Technology is our how. And people are our why. For over two decades, we have been harnessing technology to drive meaningful change. By combining world‑class engineering, industry expertise and a people‑centric mindset, we consult and partner with leading brands from various industries to create dynamic platforms and intelligent digital experiences that drive innovation and transform businesses. From prototype to real‑world impact – be part of a global shift by doing work that matters. Endava is on an AI Native journey. As one of OpenAI’s global partners we are committed to exploring (and helping our clients explore) the benefits AI can bring to productivity, effectiveness and accuracy. Our goal is to seize the AI‑catalyzed growth moment to navigate this changing landscape and ensure ourselves and our clients thrive.
We’re looking for a Principal Payments Architect to join our growing team in London. This is a specialised architectural leadership role focused on shaping and delivering enterprise‑grade payment platforms – from gateway and authorisation layers through to clearing, settlement, and financial management. This role is suited to someone who thrives in complex, high‑stakes environments and operates confidently at the intersection of business strategy and technical execution. You will engage across the full lifecycle – from early discovery and architectural shaping through to delivery oversight – ensuring that solutions are scalable, secure, commercially viable, and aligned to long‑term platform strategy. You will be responsible for designing robust, maintainable architectures that address real client challenges. You will define target‑state platforms, challenge assumptions constructively, and ensure that technology decisions are grounded in strong domain expertise and measurable business outcomes.
What You’ll Be Doing
- You will bring deep expertise in merchant acquiring and payment processing across both online and physical acceptance channels. This includes a strong understanding of gateway architecture, authorisation lifecycles, 3DS/SCA, scheme integrations, tokenisation, fraud decisioning, reconciliation, settlement, and financial ledger integration.
- Design and review scalable, resilient payment architectures capable of supporting high transaction volumes and demanding availability requirements.
- Define and govern non‑functional requirements including latency, throughput, availability, recoverability, observability, and security.
- Shape API strategies, integration models, and event‑driven or distributed system designs that support extensibility and regulatory compliance.
- Contribute to PCI DSS scoping strategies and secure‑by‑design approaches within cloud and hybrid environments.
- Participate in architectural governance forums, representing Endava with clarity and authority.
- Support pre‑sales and bid shaping activities by defining credible, commercially grounded target‑state solutions.
- Translate architectural decisions into clear executive narratives, articulating trade‑offs, risks, and investment implications.
You will be comfortable speaking the language of enterprise, solution, and data architects, and equally confident engaging in detailed technical discussions with engineering teams or strategic conversations with C‑level stakeholders. Where appropriate, you will explore the application of emerging capabilities – including AI‑driven optimisation, intelligent routing, fraud modelling, and AIOps – ensuring innovation is grounded in practical, value‑led use cases.
Qualifications
- We’re seeking someone with significant experience designing and delivering enterprise‑grade payment solutions in regulated environments.
- Demonstrate deep knowledge of acquiring, gateway processing, and scheme connectivity.
- Be fluent in architectural principles and able to apply them pragmatically across APIs, integration layers, distributed systems, and cloud‑native services.
- Have experience operating in complex, multi‑stakeholder environments with formal governance structures.
- Be comfortable defining target architectures and guiding delivery teams to implement them effectively.
- Have experience with major cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP) and modern engineering and delivery practices.
- Bring experience in pre‑sales, technical discovery, or executive‑level stakeholder engagement.
You communicate clearly, think strategically, and approach complex problems with both architectural discipline and collaborative intent.
Additional Information
Discover some of the global benefits that empower our people to become the best version of themselves:
- Finance: Competitive salary package, share plan, company performance bonuses, value‑based recognition awards, referral bonus.
- Career Development: Career coaching, global career opportunities, non‑linear career paths, internal development programmes for management and technical leadership.
- Learning Opportunities: Complex projects, rotations, internal tech communities, training, certifications, coaching, online learning platforms subscriptions, pass‑it‑on sessions, workshops, conferences.
- Work‑Life Balance: Hybrid work and flexible working hours, employee assistance programme.
- Health: Global internal wellbeing programme, access to wellbeing apps.
- Community: Global internal tech communities, hobby clubs and interest groups, inclusion and diversity programmes, events and celebrations.
At Endava, we’re committed to creating an open, inclusive, and respectful environment where everyone feels safe, valued, and empowered to be their best. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives—because we know that inclusive teams help us deliver smarter, more innovative solutions for our customers. Hiring decisions are based on merit, skills, qualifications, and potential. If you need adjustments or support during the recruitment process, please let us know.
Principal Payments Architect in London employer: Endava Limited
Endava is an exceptional employer that prioritises both technology and people, fostering a dynamic work culture in London where innovation thrives. With a strong commitment to employee growth through career coaching, diverse learning opportunities, and a focus on work-life balance, Endava empowers its team to excel in their roles while contributing to meaningful projects. The inclusive environment encourages collaboration and creativity, making it an ideal place for professionals seeking to make a real impact in the payments architecture space.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Payments Architect in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your industry on LinkedIn or at events. A friendly chat can lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Tailor your answers to show how your skills align with their mission, especially around tech and innovation.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your expertise! Bring examples of your past work to interviews, especially those that highlight your experience with payment solutions and architectural design.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive!
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Payments Architect in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience with payment platforms and architectural principles. We want to see how your skills align with the role of Principal Payments Architect, so don’t hold back!
Showcase Your Expertise:When detailing your past experiences, focus on specific projects where you’ve designed scalable payment architectures or worked with cloud platforms. We love seeing real-world examples that demonstrate your deep knowledge in merchant acquiring and payment processing.
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use clear language to articulate your achievements and how they relate to the job description. We appreciate clarity, especially when it comes to complex topics like architecture and integration models.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen to join our team at Endava!
How to prepare for a job interview at Endava Limited
✨Know Your Payment Architecture Inside Out
Make sure you have a solid grasp of payment processing, gateway architecture, and the intricacies of authorisation lifecycles. Brush up on your knowledge of 3DS/SCA and tokenisation, as these are crucial topics that may come up during your interview.
✨Speak the Language of Stakeholders
Be prepared to engage in conversations with both technical teams and C-level stakeholders. Practise articulating complex architectural decisions in a way that highlights their business impact, ensuring you can translate technical jargon into clear, executive narratives.
✨Demonstrate Your Problem-Solving Skills
Expect to face scenario-based questions that test your ability to navigate complex, high-stakes environments. Prepare examples from your past experiences where you successfully tackled challenges in payment architecture or delivery oversight.
✨Showcase Your Innovative Mindset
With Endava's focus on AI-driven optimisation, be ready to discuss how emerging technologies can enhance payment solutions. Think of practical use cases where AI could add value, and be prepared to share your insights on integrating these capabilities into existing architectures.
