Specialist Solutions Architect, Payments in London

Specialist Solutions Architect, Payments in London

London Full-Time 63900 - 78100 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
Stripe

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Drive payment solutions and optimise customer experiences with cutting-edge technology.
  • Company: Join Stripe, a leading financial infrastructure platform transforming global payments.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible work options, and opportunities for professional growth.
  • Other info: Dynamic team environment with opportunities for travel and networking.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact on the future of payments while collaborating with industry experts.
  • Qualifications: 7+ years in payments or fintech, strong knowledge of global payment methods.

The predicted salary is between 63900 - 78100 £ per year.

Who we are

About Stripe: Stripe is a financial infrastructure platform for businesses. Millions of companies - from the world's largest enterprises to the most ambitious startups - use Stripe to accept payments, grow their revenue, and accelerate new business opportunities. Our mission is to increase the GDP of the internet, and we have a staggering amount of work ahead. That means you have an unprecedented opportunity to put the global economy within everyone's reach while doing the most important work of your career.

About the team: Specialist Solutions Architects (SSA) are domain experts aligned to specific Stripe solutions and customer buying centers. We have in-depth knowledge of specific solution offerings and a deep understanding of customer challenges. We align with specialist product sellers on deals, advise the broader pre-sales team on complex opportunities, support pipeline development and revenue attainment, serve as an advisor on go-to-market sales plays, and provide critical insights to our product and engineering teams.

What you'll do: You will collaborate closely with sales and pre-sales teams to drive pipeline and revenue targets, while also educating the product and engineering teams on market trends and strongly influencing the product roadmap. You will develop deep relationships with senior customer business leaders and grow Stripe's solution offerings with new and existing customers. As a subject matter expert, you will scale the broader organization by creating reusable assets and coaching others on complex, high-value opportunities.

The team is looking for a payments optimization specialist with a proven track record of designing and deploying payment infrastructure for global enterprises. You will engage with customers as a thought leader in the advanced payments stack - helping them navigate multi-PSP environments, payment orchestration, adaptive pricing, and buy-now-pay-later integrations to maximize authorization rates, reduce costs, and improve conversion at scale.

Responsibilities:

  • Act as a subject matter expert on Stripe's Optimized Checkout Suite, Adaptive Pricing, Managed Payments, Orchestration, and BNPL integrations to accelerate opportunities globally.
  • Demonstrate a deep understanding of global payment optimization - including local acquiring, intelligent routing, dynamic currency conversion, and authorization improvement strategies.
  • Develop expertise in designing multi-PSP and payment orchestration architectures, including how Stripe integrates alongside or replaces incumbent processors.
  • Advise customers on BNPL strategy, including product selection, regulatory considerations, and integration patterns across checkout and billing flows.
  • Define, share, and learn best practices and reusable assets with the broader GTM organization to enhance the quality and efficiency of the team.
  • Create reference architectures that help customers design end-to-end payment infrastructure with Stripe at the core.
  • Partner closely with the Payments product sales team on Stripe's most complex OCS and Orchestration opportunities, leading solution strategy and owning key customer relationships.
  • Serve as a 'Voice of the Customer' internally to drive product and feature request prioritization.
  • Identify and summarize trends in payment orchestration, cost optimization, and alternative payment methods, and provide actionable insights to product stakeholders and sales.
  • Act as an escalation point to drive complex technical issues to resolution with Stripe's engineering team.
  • Stay current on competitive analysis and market differentiation.
  • Support marketing events including executive briefings, conferences, user groups, and trade shows.

Approximately 25% travel is anticipated.

Who you are: We're looking for someone who meets the minimum requirements to be considered for the role. If you meet these requirements, you are encouraged to apply. The preferred qualifications are a bonus, not a requirement.

Minimum requirements:

  • 7+ years of experience in payments, fintech, or a closely related industry in a pre-sales, solutions architecture, or technical consulting role.
  • Strong working knowledge of global payment methods including cards, wallets, bank-based methods, and BNPLs - including regional preferences and regulatory context.
  • Experience designing payment optimization architectures for large enterprises, including multi-PSP environments and orchestration layers.
  • Knowledge of authorization rate improvement levers: local acquiring, network tokenization, 3DS, smart retries, and the technical and commercial tradeoffs between them.
  • Strong knowledge of software engineering and API integration patterns.
  • Exceptional communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, comfortable explaining complex concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
  • A proven ability to build strong collaborative working relationships with business partners.
  • Ability to deal effectively with ambiguity and thrive in an unstructured, fast-moving environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience integrating Stripe or other RESTful payment APIs into web applications.
  • Knowledge of ISO payment standards and card network rules.
  • Experience with payment cost modeling, interchange optimization, or processor benchmarking.
  • Familiarity with marketplace and platform payment flows (Connect, multi-party transactions).
  • Experience as a subject matter expert in a relevant industry, vertical, or product.

Specialist Solutions Architect, Payments in London employer: Stripe

Stripe is an exceptional employer that fosters a dynamic and inclusive work culture, empowering employees to innovate and lead in the fast-paced world of financial technology. With a strong focus on professional development, employees have access to numerous growth opportunities and resources to enhance their skills, all while working in vibrant locations across Europe. Join us at Stripe to be part of a forward-thinking team that values creativity and collaboration, making a meaningful impact in the industry.

Stripe

Contact Details:

Stripe Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Specialist Solutions Architect, Payments in London

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 Stripe. 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 Specialist Solutions Architect, Payments in London

Payments Optimization
Payment Infrastructure Design
Multi-PSP Environments
Payment Orchestration
Adaptive Pricing
Buy-Now-Pay-Later Integrations
Authorization Rate Improvement

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 Stripe.

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 Stripe'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 Stripe

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 Stripe.

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 Stripe 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 Stripe 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.