Sr. Principal Architect - Payments Platform

Location: Palo Alto, CA, United States

Job Family: Architecture

About the Role

At JP Morgan Chase, we are at the forefront of financial innovation, and our Payments Platform team is pivotal in delivering seamless, secure, and efficient payment solutions to millions of customers worldwide. As a Sr. Principal Architect in the Architecture category, based in our Palo Alto, CA office, you will spearhead the transformation and modernization of our core payments platforms. This role involves architecting resilient systems that support everything from domestic real-time payments to global cross-border transactions, ensuring compliance with stringent financial regulations while leveraging cutting-edge technologies to drive business growth. You will play a key role in shaping the future of digital payments at one of the world's largest financial institutions, collaborating with elite teams to build platforms that handle trillions in transaction volume annually. In this leadership position, you will define the technical vision for platform evolution, including migrations to cloud-native environments and the adoption of microservices architectures tailored to the high-stakes demands of the financial services industry. Your responsibilities will span from designing scalable infrastructures that integrate with legacy banking systems to pioneering innovations like AI-driven fraud detection and blockchain-enabled settlements. Working closely with product managers, engineers, and compliance experts, you will ensure our platforms not only meet but exceed industry standards for security, speed, and reliability, all while aligning with JP Morgan Chase's commitment to ethical innovation and customer-centric solutions. We seek a visionary architect with deep expertise in payments technology who thrives in a dynamic, fast-paced environment. This is an opportunity to influence strategic decisions that impact global finance, backed by JP Morgan Chase's unparalleled resources and culture of excellence. Join us in Palo Alto to architect the next generation of payments that power the world's economy.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the architectural design and modernization of JP Morgan Chase's payments platforms to support scalable, secure, and innovative financial services
• Define and implement technical roadmaps for cloud migration and microservices adoption in payment processing systems
• Collaborate with engineering teams to ensure platforms meet regulatory standards and handle high-volume transactions
• Evaluate and integrate emerging technologies like blockchain or API gateways to enhance payment efficiency
• Mentor senior architects and developers, fostering a culture of technical excellence within the Architecture category
• Conduct risk assessments and design resilient systems to mitigate downtime in global payment networks
• Partner with product and business stakeholders to align platform capabilities with strategic goals in digital banking
• Oversee proof-of-concept projects for new payment innovations, such as real-time cross-border transactions
• Drive adoption of best practices in security, data privacy, and performance optimization for financial platforms
• Present architectural strategies to executive leadership to secure buy-in for transformation initiatives

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field; Master's degree preferred
• 15+ years of experience in software architecture, with at least 8 years focused on payments or financial systems
• Proven track record of leading large-scale platform transformations in a financial services environment
• Deep expertise in cloud-native architectures, microservices, and distributed systems
• Strong understanding of regulatory compliance in payments, including PCI-DSS, GDPR, and SOX
• Experience with agile methodologies and DevOps practices in high-stakes financial projects
• Ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams including engineering, product, and compliance

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced certifications such as AWS Certified Solutions Architect or Google Cloud Professional Architect
• Prior experience at a major financial institution like JP Morgan Chase or similar
• Knowledge of real-time payment systems such as RTP, FedNow, or SWIFT
• Experience with AI/ML integration in payment processing for fraud detection
• Publication or speaking experience in fintech architecture conferences

Required Skills

• Expertise in enterprise architecture frameworks like TOGAF or Zachman
• Proficiency in cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud
• Strong knowledge of Java, Python, or Go for backend development in payments
• Experience with containerization tools like Docker and Kubernetes
• Deep understanding of API design, RESTful services, and GraphQL
• Skills in database management including SQL/NoSQL for transaction data
• Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and tools like Jenkins or GitLab
• Knowledge of cybersecurity principles specific to financial transactions
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical thinking
• Strong communication and leadership abilities for stakeholder engagement
• Experience with event-driven architectures using Kafka or RabbitMQ
• Understanding of payment protocols like ISO 20022 and SEPA
• Agile and scrum facilitation skills
• Data modeling and system integration expertise
• Strategic planning and innovation mindset

Benefits

• Competitive base salary and performance-based annual bonuses
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans
• 401(k) retirement savings plan with generous company matching
• Paid time off including vacation, sick days, and parental leave
• Professional development opportunities through JP Morgan's internal training programs
• Employee stock purchase plan and financial wellness resources
• On-site fitness centers and wellness programs at Palo Alto location
• Flexible work arrangements including hybrid options post-onboarding

JP Morgan Chase is an equal opportunity employer.