At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and optimise high-performance Apache Cassandra platforms for real-time payment solutions.
- Company: Leading financial services firm with a focus on innovation and security.
- Benefits: Competitive contract rate, hybrid work model, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborate with cross-functional teams in a regulated industry.
- Why this job: Join a dynamic team tackling fraud detection in a fast-paced environment.
- Qualifications: 5+ years of Apache Cassandra experience and strong technical skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
We are seeking an experienced Senior Apache Cassandra Database Engineer to join our Business Platform team supporting critical Financial Crime and Payments systems. You will play a key role in designing, building, and operationalising a high-performance Apache Cassandra platform that underpins a real-time payment capture and replay solution for fraud detection.
This role requires deep technical expertise in Apache Cassandra, NoSQL data modelling, performance optimisation, and production support within a highly regulated financial services environment. You will work closely with application, infrastructure, middleware, and security teams to deliver a resilient, scalable, and secure data platform.
Key Responsibilities- Design and implement Apache Cassandra clusters, keyspaces, replication strategies, and partitioning models.
- Develop scalable Cassandra data models aligned with application query patterns.
- Optimise read/write performance through appropriate consistency levels, compaction strategies, and JVM tuning.
- Design highly available, fault-tolerant Cassandra cluster architectures.
- Perform cluster administration including node additions, decommissioning, repairs, backups, upgrades, and disaster recovery.
- Monitor database health and performance using tools such as Prometheus, Grafana, DataStax OpsCenter, or equivalent.
- Support application teams with CQL query optimisation and Cassandra best practices.
- Collaborate with Actimize, IBM MQ/IIB, middleware, infrastructure, and security teams to ensure seamless platform integration.
- Implement database security including encryption at rest, encryption in transit, authentication, and RBAC.
- Produce technical documentation including solution designs, operational runbooks, support procedures, and knowledge transfer documentation.
- Deliver solutions in line with enterprise governance, regulatory standards, and change management processes.
- 4-9 years of hands-on experience administering and engineering Apache Cassandra in production environments.
- Strong expertise in Cassandra architecture, keyspace design, replication strategies, partition key design, and data modelling.
- Excellent understanding of Cassandra internals including SSTables, Memtables, Commit Log, Gossip Protocol, Tombstones, and Compaction.
- Strong experience with CQL development and performance tuning.
- Hands-on experience managing Cassandra clusters including repairs, scaling, backups, disaster recovery, and capacity planning.
- Strong Linux administration skills.
- Scripting experience using Bash and/or Python.
- Experience with monitoring tools such as Prometheus, Grafana, or DataStax OpsCenter.
- Good understanding of database security, encryption, authentication, and RBAC.
- Experience working within Agile delivery environments.
- Experience with NICE Actimize.
- IBM MQ, IBM Integration Bus (IIB), or Apache Kafka.
- Oracle PL/SQL.
- DataStax Enterprise.
- Cassandra/DataStax certifications.
- AWS Keyspaces or Azure Managed Instance for Apache Cassandra.
- Previous experience in Banking, Financial Services, Payments, or Financial Crime platforms.
- Real-time payment transaction processing platform.
- Fraud detection and financial crime systems.
- High-volume NoSQL data platform.
- Performance-critical, highly available Cassandra infrastructure.
- Cross-functional collaboration with architecture, middleware, infrastructure, security, and application teams.
You are a highly skilled Cassandra specialist who enjoys solving complex performance and scalability challenges. You have strong ownership, can work independently, and are comfortable designing enterprise-scale NoSQL solutions while collaborating across multiple technology teams in a regulated financial services environment.
Senior Apache Cassandra Database Engineer in London employer: Falcon Smart IT Limited
Join a dynamic and innovative team in London as an MSBI Lead, where your expertise will be valued and nurtured. We offer a collaborative work culture that prioritises employee growth through continuous learning opportunities and mentorship. Enjoy the benefits of a hybrid work model, competitive compensation, and the chance to make a meaningful impact in the insurance domain.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Apache Cassandra Database Engineer in London
✨Tap into Local Tech Meetups
Get yourself to local tech meetups or database management conferences. It's a really great way to meet industry professionals and potentially uncover unadvertised full-time roles. When chatting with people, mention your skills and interests in database management; you never know who might be looking for someone just like you!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Diving into open-source projects can not only sharpen your database skills but also get you noticed by employers. Many companies look for candidates who actively contribute to projects – it shows initiative and a real passion for the field. Plus, it's a perfect excuse to connect with other developers and expand your professional network.
✨Utilise Professional Bodies
Sign up for professional bodies related to database management, like the British Computer Society. They often host events and networking opportunities that can lead directly to job openings in the full-time market. Plus, it adds a nice touch to your professional profile!
✨Showcase Your Skills in a Public Portfolio
As you’re on the hunt for that full-time role, make sure to have a public portfolio that displays your best database projects. This can easily set you apart from the competition. And when you apply for roles, definitely mention it – it shows employers you mean business and are proud of your work!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Apache Cassandra Database Engineer in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your database skills:When applying for a full-time role in database management, it’s super important to highlight your skills with specific database technologies like SQL, NoSQL, or any relevant data visualisation tools. We want to see how you've used these tools in real projects, so don't shy away from detailing your hands-on experience!
Tailor your CV for data:Make sure your CV is structured clearly, focusing on your previous experience in database management. Use specific metrics to demonstrate your impact, like how you improved data retrieval times or reduced errors. This isn't just about what you've done; it’s about what you’ve achieved with your skills!
Craft a compelling cover letter:In your cover letter, share what excites you about database management and how you can contribute to Falcon Smart IT Limited. Mention any relevant projects where you tackled challenges or implemented new solutions. Let us know why you want to join our team and how your passion aligns with our goals.
Document your projects:If you've worked on interesting database projects—maybe during your studies or in previous roles—be sure to include those in your application. If you can, link to a portfolio or GitHub repo where we can see examples of your work. Having a tangible showcase of your skills will really make your application stand out!
How to prepare for a job interview at Falcon Smart IT Limited
✨Brush Up on Database Tools
Make sure you're well-versed with popular database management systems like MySQL, PostgreSQL, or MongoDB. Incorporating real-world examples of how you've used these tools in past projects will show that you can put theory into practice, which is something Falcon Smart IT Limited will definitely appreciate.
✨Know Your SQL Inside Out
Get ready for some technical questions focused on SQL queries and database design. We should anticipate coding challenges where you might need to optimise queries or design a database schema on the spot. Practising these problems will build our confidence to impress in the interview.
✨Demonstrate Problem-Solving Skills
Besides just technical know-how, be prepared to answer scenario-based questions that test your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. Think about how you would approach data integrity issues or handle performance bottlenecks — Falcon Smart IT Limited will want to see your analytical side!
✨Show Your Collaboration Spirit
Since this is a full-time role, it's crucial to highlight how you've collaborated with cross-functional teams or contributed to team projects in the past. Emphasising our interpersonal skills will demonstrate that you’re not just a tech wizard, but also a team player who fits well with Falcon Smart IT Limited's culture.
