Solution Architect – Kafka & Payments (Banking Domain) in Slough
Solution Architect – Kafka & Payments (Banking Domain)

Solution Architect – Kafka & Payments (Banking Domain) in Slough

Slough Full-Time 72000 - 108000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Design scalable, event-driven architectures for real-time 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 banking technology and make a real impact.
  • Qualifications: 10+ years in software engineering, 5+ years with Apache Kafka and payments systems.
  • Other info: Collaborative environment with strong emphasis on mentorship and career development.

The predicted salary is between 72000 - 108000 £ 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
  • Payments & Banking Domain
    • 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)
  • Kafka & Streaming Expertise
    • 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
  • Governance & Security
    • 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
  • Collaboration
    • 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 Slough employer: Unitech

    Join a forward-thinking company in the heart of London or Glasgow, where innovation meets opportunity. As a Solution Architect, you'll thrive in a collaborative work culture that values your expertise in Apache Kafka and payment systems, while enjoying comprehensive benefits and ample opportunities for professional growth. With a focus on cutting-edge technology and regulatory compliance, this role offers a unique chance to make a significant impact in the banking domain.
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    Contact Detail:

    Unitech Recruiting Team

    StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

    We think this is how you could land Solution Architect – Kafka & Payments (Banking Domain) in Slough

    Tip Number 1

    Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in the banking and tech space, especially those who work with Kafka and payments. Attend meetups or webinars, and don’t be shy about sliding into DMs on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!

    Tip Number 2

    Show off your skills! Create a portfolio or GitHub repository showcasing your projects related to event-driven architectures or payment systems. This gives potential employers a taste of what you can do and sets you apart from the crowd.

    Tip Number 3

    Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your knowledge of Kafka and payment processing. Be ready to discuss your past experiences and how they relate to the role. Practise common interview questions and think about how you can demonstrate your expertise in real-time payment systems.

    Tip Number 4

    Don’t forget to apply through our website! We’re always on the lookout for talented individuals like you. Keep an eye on our job listings and make sure your application stands out by tailoring it to the specific role you’re after.

    We think you need these skills to ace Solution Architect – Kafka & Payments (Banking Domain) in Slough

    Apache Kafka
    Real-time Payment Systems
    Event-driven Architecture
    Microservices Architecture
    Financial Transaction Processing
    Regulatory Compliance (PCI-DSS, AML, KYC, SOX)
    Kafka Streams
    Cloud Platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP)
    Containerization (Docker, Kubernetes)
    High-availability System Design
    Java / Scala / Python
    REST & Event-driven APIs
    SQL & NoSQL Databases
    CI/CD Pipelines
    Monitoring Tools (Prometheus, Grafana, ELK)

    Some tips for your application 🫡

    Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to highlight 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!

    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 specific examples of how you've implemented Kafka or designed resilient architectures in your previous roles.

    Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any updates from us!

    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, defined topic strategies, and implemented event-driven design patterns in your previous roles. Real-world examples will show your expertise!

    Understand Payment Systems Thoroughly

    Dive deep into the specifics of real-time payment systems like RTP, ACH, and SWIFT. Familiarise yourself with regulatory compliance aspects such as PCI-DSS and KYC. Being able to articulate how these systems work will set you apart from other candidates.

    Showcase Your Architectural Skills

    Prepare to discuss your experience in designing scalable, resilient architectures. Bring examples of how you've implemented microservices-based solutions and ensured high availability and fault tolerance in your past projects. This is your chance to shine!

    Collaboration is Key

    Highlight your ability to work with cross-functional teams, including product owners and compliance teams. Share instances where you've provided technical leadership or mentorship, as this shows you're not just a tech whiz but also a team player.

    Solution Architect – Kafka & Payments (Banking Domain) in Slough
    Unitech
    Location: Slough

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    U
    • Solution Architect – Kafka & Payments (Banking Domain) in Slough

      Slough
      Full-Time
      72000 - 108000 £ / year (est.)
    • U

      Unitech

      50-100
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