At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead technical consulting on complex payment solutions and advise clients on architecture strategies.
- Company: Respected payments consultancy at the forefront of global payments transformation.
- Benefits: Hybrid working, exposure to international projects, and significant autonomy.
- Other info: Collaborative team environment with opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Shape the future of payments while working with top-tier clients and technologies.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in payments architecture and strong client-facing advisory skills.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 € per year.
Tech Lead – Payments Architecture & Advisory
London SE1 | Hybrid Working ✈️ Occasional International Travel
Permanent | Full-Time
Shape the Future of Payments: An opportunity has arisen to join a highly respected specialist payments consultancy at the forefront of payments transformation across Europe and global markets. This is a rare opportunity for a technically strong payments expert to step into a high-impact advisory role, working directly with some of the most recognised merchants, financial institutions, fintechs, acquirers, issuers, PSPs, and payment providers in the market. You will play a key role in designing complex payment solutions, advising clients on architecture and technology strategy, and helping organisations modernise and evolve their payments ecosystems. This is not a delivery management role and not a coding role. It is a true consulting position for someone with deep technical payments knowledge, strong architectural understanding, and the ability to engage confidently with senior stakeholders and engineering teams alike.
The Role: As Tech Lead, you will act as a trusted technical advisor across a wide range of client engagements, helping businesses solve complex payments challenges and shape future-state payment environments. You will lead the technical side of consulting engagements from early-stage solution design and vendor selection through to implementation planning and client handover. Projects will include:
- Redesigning payment architectures for major retailers and enterprise organisations
- Advising on payment platform modernisation and migration strategies
- Evaluating payment technologies, vendors, and integration models
- Supporting RFI/RFP processes and technical solution selection
- Designing scalable, secure, and commercially viable payment solutions
- Working across ecommerce, POS, wallets, acquiring, issuing, and alternative payment environments
You will collaborate closely with clients as well as internal commercial and consulting teams to deliver high-quality, knowledge-led advisory work.
What We’re Looking For: We are seeking someone with strong technical depth in payments architecture and the ability to operate confidently in a client-facing advisory environment. You will likely bring:
- 10+ years’ experience in payments architecture, solution consulting, pre-sales, or technical advisory roles
- Deep understanding of card payments and payment ecosystems
- Strong knowledge of acquiring, issuing, card schemes, wallets, and payment processing flows
- Experience with technologies such as ISO8583, 3DS, network tokens, hosted fields, cryptography, APIs, and APMs
- Strong understanding of PCI, P2PE, and payment security standards
- Experience working within ecommerce and/or POS technology environments
- A hands-on technical background in software engineering, development, or testing
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to engage both technical and non-technical stakeholders
- Strong analytical thinking and commercial awareness
- Exposure to emerging payment standards and non-card payment methods would be highly beneficial.
Why Join? Work on some of the most interesting and complex payments projects in the market. Join an expert-led consultancy where technical knowledge and credibility are genuinely valued. Work directly with senior decision-makers across global payment organisations. Gain exposure to international projects across Europe, APAC, and the Americas. Be part of a collaborative, intellectually strong team with significant autonomy and influence. Opportunity to help shape and grow the technical capability within the business.
Working Environment: The role is primarily based in a central London office environment with hybrid flexibility available. There will be occasional travel to client sites, including some international travel, but this is not a heavily travel-focused role.
Senior Solution Architect – Payments in London employer: Space Executive
Join a leading payments consultancy in London SE1, where you will be at the forefront of payments transformation, working on complex projects that shape the future of payment solutions. Our collaborative and intellectually stimulating work culture values technical expertise and offers significant autonomy, allowing you to engage directly with senior stakeholders while contributing to international projects. With a strong focus on employee growth and development, this role provides a unique opportunity to enhance your skills in a dynamic environment that prioritises innovation and excellence.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Solution Architect – Payments in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with industry professionals on LinkedIn or at events. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your expertise! Prepare a portfolio or case studies showcasing your past projects and achievements in payments architecture. This will help you stand out during interviews and demonstrate your value to potential employers.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Conduct mock interviews with friends or mentors to refine your answers and boost your confidence. Focus on articulating your technical knowledge and how it applies to real-world scenarios.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We’ve got some fantastic opportunities waiting for you, and applying directly can sometimes give you an edge over other candidates. Let’s get you that dream job!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Solution Architect – Payments in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to highlight your experience in payments architecture and consulting. We want to see how your skills align with the role, so don’t be shy about showcasing your technical depth and client-facing experience!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you’re passionate about payments and how your background makes you the perfect fit for this advisory role. We love seeing genuine enthusiasm and a clear understanding of the industry.
Showcase Relevant Projects:When detailing your experience, focus on specific projects that demonstrate your ability to design complex payment solutions and engage with stakeholders. We’re looking for real-world examples that show off your problem-solving skills and technical expertise.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, it shows us you’re proactive and keen to join our team at StudySmarter!
How to prepare for a job interview at Space Executive
✨Know Your Payments Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of payment architectures, card schemes, and the latest technologies like ISO8583 and network tokens. Being able to discuss these topics confidently will show that you're not just familiar with the basics but have a deep understanding of the payments ecosystem.
✨Prepare for Client-Facing Scenarios
Since this role involves engaging with senior stakeholders, practice how you would explain complex technical concepts in simple terms. Think about potential client questions and prepare clear, concise answers that demonstrate your advisory skills and ability to communicate effectively.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Be ready to discuss specific examples where you've tackled complex payments challenges. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses, highlighting your analytical thinking and how you’ve successfully led projects or advised clients in the past.
✨Understand the Company’s Vision
Research the consultancy's recent projects and their approach to payments transformation. This will not only help you align your answers with their values but also allow you to ask insightful questions during the interview, showing your genuine interest in contributing to their mission.
