At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and build high-volume payment systems that power real money movement.
- Company: Fast-growing fintech revolutionising financial infrastructure.
- Benefits: Up to £250k base salary, equity, and high autonomy in a small team.
- Other info: Join a dynamic team with significant architectural influence and career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on critical financial systems with high ownership from day one.
- Qualifications: Strong backend engineering experience and knowledge of distributed systems.
We're partnered with a fast-growing fintech building the next generation of financial infrastructure. The platform sits directly in the flow of real money movement, powering payment processing, risk decisions, reconciliation, compliance workflows, and transaction orchestration at scale. These are business-critical systems where correctness, reliability, and resilience matter just as much as performance. The engineering organisation is intentionally small, highly experienced, and operates with a high degree of autonomy. Engineers are trusted to make decisions, own systems end-to-end, and have direct influence over both architecture and product outcomes.
The Opportunity
This is a Staff-level engineering role focused on designing and operating the core systems that power payments across the platform.
What You'll Be Doing
- Design and build high-volume payment orchestration services
- Develop real-time risk and decisioning systems operating directly within payment flows
- Own ledgering and reconciliation systems that serve as the financial source of truth
- Build fault-tolerant, event-driven architectures capable of operating reliably under failure conditions
- Design systems with a strong focus on consistency, resilience, idempotency, and auditability
- Improve observability, monitoring, tracing, and operational tooling across critical services
- Partner with Compliance and Operations teams to build verification, screening, and audit-ready workflows
- Influence technical architecture and engineering standards across the organisation
- Own services throughout their entire lifecycle, from design and implementation through production operation
What They're Looking For
Core Requirements
- Strong backend and distributed systems engineering experience
- Proven track record building production systems where correctness and reliability are critical
- Background in payments, fintech, banking, financial infrastructure, transaction processing, trading systems, or similarly complex domains
- Deep understanding of distributed systems concepts including consistency, fault tolerance, scalability, idempotency, and event-driven architectures
- Experience operating high-availability production environments
- Strong database and data architecture fundamentals
- Ability to independently own and deliver complex technical initiatives
- Comfortable collaborating with both technical and non-technical stakeholders
Technology
The engineering team primarily works in Rust, but they are open to exceptional engineers from:
- Rust
- Go
- C++
Strong engineering fundamentals and systems thinking are valued significantly more than direct Rust experience.
Nice to Have
- Payments infrastructure
- Ledgering and reconciliation systems
- Fraud, risk, or decisioning platforms
- Compliance, KYC, AML, or audit systems
- Crypto or digital asset infrastructure
- High-performance or low-latency distributed systems
- Strong observability and operational excellence experience
Why Join?
- Build critical financial infrastructure from the ground up
- Work on systems responsible for moving real money
- High ownership and autonomy from day one
- Small team of exceptionally strong engineers
- Significant architectural influence and technical ownership
Staff Software Engineer - Payments | London | Up to £250k Base + Equity employer: Scope Group
Join a dynamic fintech company in London that is revolutionising financial infrastructure with a focus on high-performance payment systems. As a Staff Software Engineer, you'll enjoy a culture of autonomy and trust, where your expertise directly shapes the architecture and outcomes of critical systems. With competitive compensation, equity options, and opportunities for professional growth within a small, talented team, this role offers a unique chance to make a significant impact in the world of payments.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Staff Software Engineer - Payments | London | Up to £250k Base + Equity
✨Tap into Campus Networks
If you're still in uni, don’t forget to engage with your campus's career services and attend finance-related events. Banks often do presentations and recruitment drives on campus, so put yourself out there and make use of these opportunities to show off your passion for the field.
✨Get Certified
Consider pursuing relevant certifications like the CFA or ACCA while you’re job hunting. They not only beef up your CV but also connect you with professional bodies which can lead to networking opportunities and even job openings in banking and financial services.
✨Connect on Professional Platforms
Join finance-focused groups on platforms like LinkedIn and engage in discussions. This can really help you stand out from the crowd, allowing potential employers to see your knowledge and interest in industry trends. Plus, you might stumble upon job postings shared exclusively within the group.
✨Apply Directly and Be Proactive
Don’t shy away from reaching out directly to firms like Scope Group. Use their websites and apply through them, but also consider following up with a polite email to express your enthusiasm. Being proactive can make a huge difference in getting noticed in the competitive financial services sector.
We think you need these skills to ace Staff Software Engineer - Payments | London | Up to £250k Base + Equity
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Numbers!:In the banking and financial services world, quantifiable achievements are key. Make sure your CV highlights your grades in relevant subjects, any financial certifications you hold, and specific projects where you've delivered measurable results. Employers love to see how your skills translate into real-world success.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Role:When applying for a full-time position, your cover letter should make a direct connection between your experience and the job description. Don't just state your enthusiasm for finance—dive into how your background in banking or financial analysis sets you apart. Let your passion shine through while being specific about what you can bring to Scope Group.
Include Relevant Financial Software Experience:If you've worked with financial modelling tools or software like Excel, SAP, or specific analytical tools during your studies or internships, bring that up! Highlighting your proficiency can really make your application pop and show you're ready to hit the ground running in a full-time role.
Research and Reflect:Before hitting that 'apply' button on Scope Group's website, do a little digging. Look up their recent projects, values, and culture. Reflecting their ethos in your application can make a huge difference and show you’re genuinely interested in being part of the team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Scope Group
✨Brush Up on Financial Analysis Skills
Make sure you're well-versed in financial concepts and analytical techniques relevant to banking and financial services. Get comfortable with tools like Excel for modelling or financial forecasting, as technical questions in this area are common during interviews with Scope Group.
✨Prepare for Case Studies
Expect to tackle case studies that demonstrate your problem-solving skills in real-world banking scenarios. Familiarise yourself with the types of problems you might face—think risk assessments or investment evaluations—and be ready to articulate your thought process clearly.
✨Show Your Passion for Finance
Since this is a full-time position, employers at Scope Group will be keen to see your genuine interest in finance. Be prepared to discuss recent industry trends or news articles that excite you, showcasing your enthusiasm and engagement with the field.
✨Network with Industry Professionals
Before your interview, reach out to current or former Scope Group employees on platforms like LinkedIn. They'll offer unique insights into the company's culture and the interview process, which can give us a delightful edge in showcasing a good fit for the team.
