Senior Architect – Java (with AI / GenAI)

Senior Architect – Java (with AI / GenAI)

Full-Time 74295 - 90805 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
Persistent Systems

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Design and lead innovative Java architectures with AI integration for enterprise platforms.
  • Company: Join a fast-growing AI-led tech company recognised for innovation and inclusion.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible work hours, and opportunities for professional growth.
  • Other info: Collaborative culture with employee engagement initiatives and career development support.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact by shaping the future of technology in a dynamic environment.
  • Qualifications: 12-15 years in software engineering with strong Java and architecture skills.

The predicted salary is between 74295 - 90805 £ per year.

We are an AI-led, platform-driven Digital Engineering and Enterprise Modernization partner, combining deep technical expertise and industry experience to help our clients anticipate what’s next. Our offerings and proven solutions create a unique competitive advantage for our clients by giving them the power to see beyond and rise above. We work with many industry-leading organizations across the world, including 20 Fortune 50 companies and 4 of the 5 top banks in both the US and India, and numerous innovators across the healthcare ecosystem.

Our disruptor’s mindset, commitment to client success, and agility to thrive in the dynamic environment have enabled us to sustain our growth momentum. Persistent has been recognized across top industry platforms for innovation, leadership, and inclusion. We have delivered 21 sequential quarters of growth with $389.7M in Q1 FY26 revenue, up 3.9% Q-o-Q and 18.8% Y-o-Y growth. Our 25,000+ global team members, located in 18 countries, have been instrumental in helping the market leaders transform their industries.

About Position and details:

  • Mode: Hybrid
  • Experience: 12 to 15 years
  • Job Type: Permanent role

Primary Skill Role Summary

We are seeking a Senior Architect with 12–15 years of experience to own the end-to-end solution and application architecture of enterprise-grade, distributed platforms. This is a hands‑on, Java-first architecture role: you will design scalable microservices and event‑driven systems, set engineering standards, and lead modernization initiatives while actively embedding Generative AI into the delivery lifecycle. The ideal candidate is a deep Java technologist and a proven technical leader who pairs strong system-design fundamentals with practical adoption of AI/GenAI tooling. Experience in banking, payments, or financial services is a strong plus.

Key Responsibilities

  • Own end-to-end solution and application architecture for enterprise Java platforms, translating business needs into resilient, scalable designs.
  • Design and evolve microservices and event‑driven architectures using Spring Boot, Apache Kafka, IBM MQ, and ActiveMQ.
  • Define the API strategy across REST, gRPC, and GraphQL with schema‑driven, contract‑first design (OpenAPI/Swagger).
  • Drive cloud‑native design on AWS and/or Azure/GCP, including containerization and orchestration with Docker, Kubernetes, and Helm.
  • Establish and enforce engineering standards — design patterns, clean architecture, domain‑driven design, coding standards, and code reviews.
  • Adopt and champion Generative AI tooling (GitHub Copilot, SASVA, OpenAI Codex, Claude Code) to accelerate development, documentation, and application modernization.
  • Integrate AI/ML and RAG‑based capabilities into enterprise applications where they add measurable value.
  • Own non‑functional requirements — scalability, high availability, resiliency, security, performance, and observability.
  • Lead legacy modernization, re‑platforming monoliths into scalable, maintainable microservices.
  • Provide technical leadership and mentorship; upskill engineers and grow the technical bench.
  • Collaborate with product managers, business stakeholders, QA, and DevOps to plan deliverables and timelines.
  • Safeguard quality, security, and performance through reviews, automated testing, and static analysis.

Must‑Have Skills — Primary (Java)

  • 12–15 years in software engineering, including 4+ years in an architecture or technical‑lead capacity.
  • Core Java: deep expertise in Java 11/17+, concurrency, multithreading, collections, and functional programming.
  • Spring ecosystem: Spring Boot, Spring MVC, Spring Integration, Spring Security, and Spring Batch.
  • Architecture: microservices, design patterns, clean architecture, and domain‑driven design.
  • Event‑driven & messaging: Apache Kafka, IBM MQ, ActiveMQ, JMS, and Pulsar / Event Hubs.
  • APIs: REST, gRPC, GraphQL, and OpenAPI/Swagger.
  • Databases: relational (PostgreSQL, MySQL, Oracle, SQL Server) and NoSQL (Mon Cloud & containers: AWS and/or Azure/GCP; Docker, Kubernetes, and Helm.
  • CI/CD & DevOps: Jenkins, GitLab CI, Git, and Maven; code quality with SonarQube and Snyk.
  • Testing: JUnit, Mockito, and integration/contract testing.
  • Security: Spring Security, JWT, TLS/SSL, and mutual TLS.
  • Non‑functional design: high availability, scalability, resiliency, performance tuning, and observability.

Additional Skills — Artificial Intelligence / GenAI

  • GenAI developer tooling: hands‑on with GitHub Copilot, OpenAI Codex, Claude Code, and SASVA for code generation and modernization.
  • RAG & LLM integration: experience with Retrieval‑Augmented Generation frameworks, prompt engineering, and integrating LLMs into applications.
  • AI‑accelerated delivery: applying GenAI to code generation, documentation, knowledge retrieval, and test automation.
  • AI/ML fundamentals: sound understanding of core AI/ML concepts and integrating AI‑enabled features and services into Java applications.
  • Vector stores (nice to have): familiarity with embeddings and vector databases.

Good to Have — Banking / Financial Services

  • Domain experience across banking, capital markets, payments, or financial services / insurance.
  • Financial messaging standards: ISO 20022, ISO 8583, CBPR+, pacs.008 / pacs.009, and camt.
  • Payment rails & networks: Fedwire Funds Service, FedNow, and networks/gateways such as Mastercard and PayPal.
  • Compliance & rules: AML/sanctions screening (e.g., FircoSoft), rules engines (Drools), and compliance‑driven processing.
  • Transaction systems: real‑time / high‑value transaction processing, reconciliation, order management systems, and mutual‑fund / DTCC integrations.

Leadership & Soft Skills

  • Technical mentorship and a track record of upskilling engineering teams.
  • Ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly to both technical and non‑technical audiences.
  • Strong ownership, structured problem‑solving, and a relentless focus on quality.
  • Disciplined documentation of systems, processes, and standards.

Education & Certifications

  • Education: Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or an equivalent discipline.
  • Certifications (nice to have): cloud architect certification (AWS / Azure) and relevant Java or architecture credentials.

Competitive salary and benefits package. Culture focused on talent development with quarterly promotion cycles and company‑sponsored higher education and certifications. Opportunity to work with cutting‑edge technologies. Employee engagement initiatives such as project parties, flexible work hours, and Long Service awards. Insurance coverage: group term life, personal accident, and Mediclaim hospitalization for self, spouse, two children, and parents.

“Persistent is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind.”

Senior Architect – Java (with AI / GenAI) employer: Persistent Systems

At Persistent, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture that prioritises talent development and employee well-being. Our Glasgow office provides a unique opportunity to work with cutting-edge technologies in a collaborative environment, supported by flexible working hours and comprehensive benefits, including insurance coverage and educational sponsorships. Join us to accelerate your career while making a meaningful impact in the tech industry alongside a diverse team of professionals.

Persistent Systems

Contact Details:

Persistent Systems Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Senior Architect – Java (with AI / GenAI)

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 Persistent Systems 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 Persistent Systems.

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 Persistent Systems.

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 Persistent Systems 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 Senior Architect – Java (with AI / GenAI)

Java 11/17+
Microservices Architecture
Spring Boot
Apache Kafka
IBM MQ
ActiveMQ
REST APIs

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 Persistent Systems.

Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Persistent Systems 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 Persistent Systems

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 Persistent Systems 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.