At a Glance
- Tasks: Shape the future of payments technology and lead innovative projects.
- Company: Join Masabi, a diverse team revolutionising fare payments globally.
- Benefits: Flexible remote work, inclusive culture, and opportunities for personal growth.
- Other info: Empowering environment that values authenticity and supports diverse backgrounds.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on millions of journeys with cutting-edge payment solutions.
- Qualifications: Strong technical expertise in payment systems and cloud platforms.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
This job is with Masabi, an inclusive employer and a member of myGwork – the largest global platform for the LGBTQ+ business community.
About Us: At Masabi, we're driving the fare payment revolution, powering the journeys of millions all over the world. We build fare collection platforms that allow riders to seamlessly buy and present tickets for public transport either on their mobile phones, from a ticket machine, or even by tapping their bank card to travel. Our Justride platform is used in over 250 locations globally, including some of the largest cities in the world. With our industry-first mobile ticketing SDK, we've partnered with large players in the transport space, including Uber, Moovit and Transit. Your own journey is important to us too. Choosing a role here means joining a network of innovators from all walks of life; a group of passionate individuals who consistently deliver. Here, you'll find the tools you need to build the career you want. Whether you're taking the direct route or trying a new path, we'll support you no matter what.
The Role: We're looking for a Principal Engineer - Payments to join Masabi's Architecture team, with a primary focus on our payments domain. This is a senior role for someone who combines strong technical judgement with deep payments experience. You'll shape the technical direction of our payments platform while staying close enough to the detail to design, review and support meaningful technical work. Working across the engineering organisation, you'll act as a senior technical leader within the payments domain: contributing to architecture, guiding complex decisions and helping teams build scalable, resilient systems that support millions of journeys worldwide. The role suits someone who can move between system-level thinking and implementation, who understands trade-offs, can navigate ambiguity and helps turn complex or loosely defined problems into clear, practical technical approaches.
Location: This role is open to candidates based anywhere in the UK, with the flexibility to work fully remotely. For those based in or around London, we also offer the option of hybrid working from our London office.
Responsibilities:
- Shape the technical direction of Masabi's payments platform, contributing to architecture, standards and engineering best practices.
- Design and deliver scalable, secure, resilient and cost-effective payment solutions aligned with Masabi's platform direction.
- Support teams in building towards a modern, microservices-based architecture while balancing delivery priorities and long-term platform health.
- Stay close to technical delivery through architecture reviews, design discussions and targeted hands-on contribution where needed.
- Identify and work through complex technical challenges related to scalability, resilience, operational performance and system evolution.
- Act as a senior technical advisor across engineering teams, supporting and influencing technical decisions, particularly within the payments domain.
- Work with external providers and payment partners on integrations, technical alignment and problem-solving.
- Contribute to technical roadmap planning, prioritisation, technical scoping and architecture discussions for complex initiatives.
- Produce clear technical documentation and contribute to engineering standards, technical forums and good practices across the organisation.
About You: You bring a mix of strong technical expertise, sound judgement and real-world payments experience. Strong experience working on payment systems, including integrations with PSPs, gateways or acquirers. Good understanding of payment flows, transaction lifecycles and system design considerations. Experience designing and evolving distributed systems and microservices architectures. You've operated at Principal or Staff level, shaping technical direction across multiple teams or domains. Strong judgement and the ability to balance short-term delivery with long-term architectural outcomes. Comfortable navigating ambiguity and turning complex problems into clear, practical technical approaches. Clear and thoughtful communicator, able to engage both technical and non-technical audiences. Comfortable being hands-on where needed, while maintaining a focus on system-level impact. You have strong experience with cloud platforms (AWS preferred) and modern infrastructure practices. You've worked on systems where scale, reliability, performance and cost trade-offs matter, and can navigate those decisions thoughtfully. You've contributed to engineering standards, architecture patterns or platform direction. Interest in or exposure to AI-enabled systems, particularly understanding architectural implications in production.
Nice To Have: Experience with transit payments (e.g. contactless EMV, tap-to-ride systems). Familiarity with card schemes (e.g. Visa, Mastercard, Interac). Experience working in complex, multi-service or event-driven architectures. Familiarity with a range of tools and technologies including: Development: Kotlin, Java. Data storage: DynamoDB, MySQL. Infrastructure as code and CI/CD: Terraform, GitLab CI/CD.
You don't need to have experience in every area listed above. If you bring strong fundamentals, good judgement and a willingness to learn, we'd still love to hear from you.
Careers at Masabi are for people going places - driven by a mission to make transit fair and accessible for all. We are a network of innovators from all walks of life, passionate about making a difference. At Masabi, we operate with openness and trust, creating an environment where everyone feels empowered to bring their whole, authentic selves to work. Whoever you are, just be yourself. We welcome applications from underrepresented groups, including disabled and neurodivergent people, and can make adjustments at any stage of the process. You're also welcome to share your pronouns whenever you feel comfortable. Together, we simplify journeys, remove barriers, and improve daily life for millions.
Why Join Masabi? Driven by Purpose - We believe in journeys made simple. The work isn't always easy, but the best things never are. Encouraged to Accelerate - Masabi is going places and our people are in the driving seat. Whether you're taking the direct route or exploring new paths, we support your journey. Advancing with Empathy - We put people first and foster a culture of learning, not blame. No matter your cargo, we share the load. We're already powering journeys - are you ready to join us?
Principal Engineer (Payments) employer: Masabi
At Masabi, we pride ourselves on being an inclusive employer that champions diversity and innovation. Our flexible working options, including fully remote roles and hybrid opportunities in London, empower employees to thrive in a supportive environment where personal growth is prioritised. Join us to be part of a passionate team dedicated to revolutionising fare payments while enjoying a culture that values openness, trust, and the unique contributions of every individual.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Engineer (Payments)
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in the industry, especially those at Masabi. LinkedIn is your best mate here – drop them a message, ask about their journey, and express your interest in the Principal Engineer role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by brushing up on your technical skills and understanding payment systems inside out. Be ready to discuss how you've tackled complex problems in the past and how you can contribute to Masabi's mission.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your passion for innovation! During interviews, share examples of how you've driven change or improved processes in previous roles. Masabi loves forward-thinkers who can help shape their payments platform.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you're genuinely interested in being part of the Masabi team.
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Engineer (Payments)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Principal Engineer role. Highlight your experience with payment systems and any relevant projects you've worked on. We want to see how your skills align with our mission at Masabi!
Showcase Your Technical Skills:Don’t hold back on showcasing your technical expertise! Include specific examples of your work with microservices, cloud platforms, and payment integrations. This is your chance to shine and show us what you can bring to the table.
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. Use straightforward language to explain your experiences and achievements. We appreciate clarity, especially when it comes to complex technical topics!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team at Masabi!
How to prepare for a job interview at Masabi
✨Know Your Payments Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of payment systems, transaction lifecycles, and integrations with PSPs. Be ready to discuss your past experiences and how they relate to the role at Masabi. This will show that you’re not just technically savvy but also understand the nuances of the payments domain.
✨Showcase Your Architectural Thinking
Prepare to talk about your experience with designing scalable and resilient systems. Think of specific examples where you’ve had to balance short-term delivery with long-term architectural goals. This will demonstrate your ability to navigate complex technical challenges and contribute to Masabi's architecture.
✨Communicate Clearly and Confidently
Practice explaining complex technical concepts in a way that’s easy for non-technical folks to understand. Masabi values clear communication, so be prepared to engage with both technical and non-technical audiences during the interview. This will highlight your ability to bridge gaps between teams.
✨Be Hands-On and Ready to Dive Deep
While the role is senior, don’t shy away from discussing hands-on contributions you’ve made in previous roles. Be ready to share how you’ve been involved in architecture reviews or design discussions. This shows that you’re not just a leader but also someone who can get into the nitty-gritty when needed.
