Senior Java Application Architect

We are looking for a hands-on Senior Java Application Architect to lead the planning, architecture, design, and development of a payment gateway. This is a high-impact role where you will build a solution on Google Cloud (GCP) designated for rollout across Africa and international markets!

You will own the end-to-end architecture with a strong emphasis on security, compliance (PCI, POPIA/GDPR), and operational observability. This is not just a diagramming role; you will lead the Java implementation while ensuring the platform delivers low-latency, high-throughout transaction processing.

Key Outcomes You Will Drive:

• Architect a PCI-aligned, low-latency payment gateway on GCP with clear SLIs/SLOs
• Deliver production integrations with external providers, including mobile-money services (e.g., Tigo Pesa, M-Pesa, Airtel Money) and MNO/banking APIs.
• Design scalable microservices ready for multi-region expansion (ZA/EU/UK) with robust reconciliation, idempotency, and retries
• Embed PCI DSS controls, tokenization, and key management while preparing for PSD2/UK requirement

The Tech Stack:

You must have production experience with the following technologies:

• Java 17+, Spring Boot/Spring Cloud, JPA/Hibernate (Reactive/WebFlux is a plus)
• OAuth2/OIDC, mTLS, HMAC, API policy enforcement
• Cloud Run (Primary Runtime) and/or GKE Autopilot
• Cloud SQL (MySQL/Postgres), AlloyDB, Memorystore (Redis), BigQuery
• Pub/Sub, Dataflow, 
  CI/CD (Cloud Build/GitHub Actions), Terraform (IaC)

Who We Are Looking For:

• 8–10+ years in Java engineering with 3–5+ years as an Application/Domain Architect in payments or fintech.
• You have built or significantly evolved a payment gateway, acquiring platform, or wallet/PSP system.
• Experience with wallet/mobile money flows (e.g., M-Pesa, Tigo Pesa) regarding KYC, float, and settlement is strongly preferred.
• Proven production experience on GCP.
• Deep understanding of high-availability, traffic shaping, circuit breakers, saga/outbox patterns, and event-driven systems.