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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Design scalable, event-driven architectures for high-volume payment systems using Apache Kafka.
- Company: Leading banking solutions provider with a focus on innovation and technology.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working options, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Join a dynamic team to shape the future of real-time payments in banking.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in software engineering, 5+ years with Apache Kafka and payments systems.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with strong emphasis on mentorship and technical leadership.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
Location: London / Glasgow
Employment Type: Full-Time / Contract
Role Summary
We are seeking an experienced Solution Architect with strong expertise in Apache Kafka and real-time payment systems within the banking domain. The ideal candidate will design scalable, event-driven architectures that power high-volume, mission-critical payment processing platforms. This role requires deep knowledge of distributed systems, financial transaction processing, and regulatory-compliant banking solutions.
Key Responsibilities
- Architecture & Design
- Design and implement event-driven, microservices-based architectures using Apache Kafka
- Architect scalable and resilient real-time payment processing systems
- Define canonical data models for financial transactions and reconciliation
- Ensure high availability, fault tolerance, and disaster recovery strategies
- Lead architecture governance and design reviews
- Architect solutions for: Real-time payments (RTP), ACH, SWIFT, SEPA, ISO 20022 messaging
- Card processing systems
- Cross-border payments
- Design end-to-end transaction lifecycle management
- Implement reconciliation and settlement flows
- Ensure regulatory compliance (PCI-DSS, AML, KYC, SOX where applicable)
- Design Kafka clusters for high throughput and low latency
- Define topic strategy, partitioning, replication, and retention policies
- Implement exactly-once processing semantics
- Apply event-driven design patterns
- Integrate Kafka with core banking and payment platforms
- Experience with Kafka Streams / ksqlDB / Confluent platform preferred
- Ensure secure API design and data encryption standards
- Define data governance and access controls
- Maintain observability (logging, tracing, monitoring)
- Ensure system compliance with banking regulations
- Work closely with product owners, payment operations, compliance teams, and engineering teams
- Provide technical leadership and mentorship
- Translate business requirements into scalable architectural solutions
Required Qualifications
- 10+ years of experience in software engineering / architecture
- 5+ years of hands-on experience with Apache Kafka
- 5+ years of experience in payments systems
- Strong banking domain knowledge
- Proven experience designing event-driven and distributed systems
- Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP)
- Familiarity with containerization (Docker, Kubernetes)
- Strong understanding of high-availability and scalable system design
Technical Skills
- Apache Kafka (Core, Streams, Connect)
- Java / Scala / Python (at least one preferred)
- Microservices architecture
- REST & event-driven APIs
- SQL & NoSQL databases
- CI/CD pipelines
- Monitoring tools (Prometheus, Grafana, ELK)
Solution Architect - Kafka & Payments (Banking Domain) in London employer: Unitech
Contact Detail:
Unitech Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Solution Architect - Kafka & Payments (Banking Domain) in London
✨Network Like a Pro
Get out there and connect with folks in the banking and tech scene! Attend meetups, webinars, or industry events. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Show Off Your Skills
When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, don’t hold back! Share your experiences with Apache Kafka and real-time payment systems. Use specific examples to demonstrate how you've tackled challenges in the past.
✨Tailor Your Approach
Before any interview, do your homework! Research the company’s tech stack and recent projects. This way, you can tailor your answers to show how your skills align perfectly with their needs, especially in the banking domain.
✨Apply Through Our Website
Don’t forget to check out our website for the latest job openings! Applying directly through us not only shows your interest but also helps you stand out from the crowd. We’re excited to see what you bring to the table!
We think you need these skills to ace Solution Architect - Kafka & Payments (Banking Domain) in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your experience with Apache Kafka and payment systems. We want to see how your skills align with the role, so don’t be shy about showcasing relevant projects or achievements!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you’re passionate about the banking domain and how your expertise can help us design scalable solutions. Keep it engaging and personal!
Showcase Your Technical Skills: Don’t forget to mention your hands-on experience with distributed systems and cloud platforms. We love seeing candidates who can demonstrate their technical prowess, especially in areas like microservices and event-driven architectures.
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’s super easy!
How to prepare for a job interview at Unitech
✨Know Your Kafka Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your Apache Kafka knowledge. Be ready to discuss how you've designed Kafka clusters, implemented event-driven architectures, and tackled high throughput challenges. Prepare specific examples from your past experiences that showcase your expertise.
✨Understand the Banking Landscape
Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in real-time payment systems and banking regulations. Be prepared to talk about your experience with ACH, SWIFT, and ISO 20022 messaging. Showing that you understand the nuances of the banking domain will set you apart.
✨Demonstrate Your Design Skills
Be ready to walk through your architectural designs and decision-making processes. Discuss how you've ensured high availability and fault tolerance in your previous projects. Use diagrams if possible to illustrate your thought process during the interview.
✨Showcase Collaboration and Leadership
Highlight your experience working with cross-functional teams, especially product owners and compliance teams. Share examples of how you've provided technical leadership and mentorship. This role requires strong collaboration skills, so make sure to convey your ability to translate business needs into scalable solutions.
