At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead architectural design and implementation of secure financial applications using modern technologies.
- Company: Join Finastra, a global leader in open finance software solutions.
- Benefits: Unlimited vacation, hybrid work, well-being support, and career development opportunities.
- Other info: Embrace diversity and innovation in a vibrant, supportive environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on financial inclusion while working with cutting-edge technology.
- Qualifications: Strong experience in Java, Spring Boot, and backend technologies required.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
At Finastra, we are a dynamic global provider of open finance software solutions, dedicated to expanding access to financial services. Our innovative applications span Lending, Payments, Treasury and Capital Markets, and Universal Banking. Proudly serving over 8,000 customers, including 45 of the world's top 50 banks, we aim to boost financial inclusion for all. Join us and be part of a vibrant company that embraces diverse perspectives, and is committed to doing well by doing good.
You’ll lead architectural design while remaining deeply involved in implementation, reporting to the Head of Financial Messaging Engineering, working side‑by‑side with engineering teams to build robust solutions using Java, Spring Boot, RESTful and GraphQL APIs, Angular, and event‑driven architectures. Your expertise will help guide the adoption of modern frameworks and DevOps practices, ensuring our platforms are secure, resilient, and future‑ready.
Responsibilities
- Translating complex financial requirements into scalable technical solutions in collaboration with Product, Compliance, and Business stakeholders.
- Architecting and developing secure, high‑performance financial applications.
- Designing robust backend systems ensuring high availability and data integrity.
- Driving adoption of modern DevOps practices.
- Developing and exposing APIs for secure and efficient data exchange.
- Optimizing application and database performance through query tuning, caching, and asynchronous processing.
- Monitoring and troubleshooting production systems.
- Collaborating with QA teams to ensure comprehensive test coverage.
- Supporting modernization of legacy systems, including migration to microservices, cloud‑native architectures, and event‑driven systems.
- Maintaining technical documentation.
- Leading by example – writing code, reviewing implementations, mentoring engineering teams, and promoting clean code and agile best practices.
- Defining and enforcing coding standards and architectural guidelines.
- Championing a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and engineering excellence.
Required Skills & Experience
- Strong hands‑on experience in Java 21+, Spring Boot, and Node.js.
- Expertise in backend technologies: Hibernate, Oracle DB / PostgreSQL, Kafka, Redis, Elastic Search / Apache Solr.
- Proficiency in API design and development using REST and GraphQL.
- Solid understanding of secure coding practices.
- Desired experience with DevOps tools and practices: CI/CD: Jenkins / GitHub Actions / Azure DevOps. IaC: Terraform.
- Familiarity with monitoring and observability tools: Prometheus, Grafana.
- Experience with testing frameworks and tools: JUnit, Postman.
- Knowledge of cloud‑native architectures and migration strategies (preferably Azure).
- Strong documentation skills using Confluence, OpenAPI, and UML.
- Excellent leadership, mentoring, and communication skills.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in financial services or FinTech environments.
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field.
- Familiarity with legacy system modernization and event‑driven architecture.
- Certifications in cloud architecture, DevOps, or security standards.
- Passion for staying current with emerging technologies and industry trends.
Benefits
- Flexibility: Enjoy unlimited vacation, based on your location and business priorities. Hybrid working arrangements, and inclusive policies such as paid time off for voting, bereavement, and sick leave.
- Well‑being: Access confidential one‑on‑one therapy through our Employee Assistance Program, find support from our network of Wellbeing Champions and Gather Groups, and a calendar of monthly events and initiatives designed to help you thrive – Inside and Outside of work. Medical, life & disability insurance, retirement plan, lifestyle and other benefits.
- ESG: Benefit from paid time off for volunteering and donation matching.
- Career Development: Access online learning and accredited courses through our Skills & Career Navigator tool.
- Recognition: Be part of our global recognition program, Finastra Celebrates, and contribute to regular employee surveys to help shape Finastra and foster a culture where everyone is engaged and empowered to perform at their best.
At Finastra, each individual is unique, bringing their own ideas, thoughts, cultural beliefs, backgrounds, and experiences together. We learn from one another, embrace and celebrate our differences, and create an environment where everyone feels safe to be themselves. Be unique, be exceptional, and help us make a difference at Finastra!
Expert Solution Architect employer: Finastra
Finastra is an exceptional employer that fosters a culture of innovation and collaboration, making it an ideal place for professionals passionate about AI in banking. With a strong commitment to employee growth, you will have access to continuous learning opportunities and the chance to work on cutting-edge projects that shape the future of finance. Located in a vibrant tech hub, our team enjoys a dynamic work environment that encourages creativity and offers unique advantages such as flexible working arrangements and a focus on work-life balance.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Expert Solution Architect
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at Finastra or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to Finastra.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like Finastra.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like Finastra that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Expert Solution Architect
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at Finastra.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Finastra and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at Finastra
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If Finastra uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.
