Enterprise Payment Architect (SME)

Role SummaryWe are seeking an experienced Enterprise Payment Architect (SME) with deep domain expertise across modern payment systems. This is a functional and solution-focused role, requiring strong experience in payment transformations and system integrations, rather than hands-on development.______________Key Responsibilities• Design and drive end-to-end payment architecture across enterprise systems • Lead integration of payment platforms, banking systems, and third-party ecosystems • Work with COTS/off-the-shelf payment solutions and ensure seamless connectivity • Define and optimize payment flows, data models, and processing frameworks • Collaborate with business, product, and technology teams to align architecture with business goals • Support payment modernization and transformation initiatives • Ensure compliance with industry standards and messaging formats ______________Required Skills & Experience• Strong hands-on experience in payments domain: o ACH o Wires o RTP (Real-Time Payments) o Payment hubs • Solid understanding of ISO 20022 messaging standards and payment data flows • Proven experience in payment system integrations (API, middleware, messaging systems) • Experience working with COTS payment platforms (e.g., Finastra, FIS, ACI, etc.) • Expertise in end-to-end payment lifecycle and architecture design • Strong functional knowledge with ability to translate business requirements into solutions • Experience in large-scale payment transformation programs • Ability to go deep into payment processes without being coding-heavy ______________Preferred Qualifications• Experience with banking or financial services environments • Exposure to cloud-based payment architectures • Strong stakeholder management and communication skills ______________What the Ideal Candidate Should Have (Shortlist View)• 10+ years in payments domain (mandatory) • Deep expertise in ACH, Wires, RTP, ISO 20022 • Strong background in integration architecture (not development) • Experience with payment hubs / COTS platforms • Proven track record in payment transformation projects • Ability to work as a functional SME + solution architect