Payments Architect Location: Remote, Duration: 4 Months contract - Possible Extenstion Type: Contract Job Description: Seeking an experienced Payments Architect with 5+ years of hands-on experience designing and implementing payment solutions. The candidate will lead payment architecture, system integration, security, and modernization initiatives across payment platforms and enterprise systems. Must-Have Skills: 5+ years of payments solution design and implementation. Strong knowledge of at least 1–2 payment domains: RTGS, real-time payments, check processing, SWIFT/wires, or clearing and settlement systems. Experience with ISO 20022, enterprise integration patterns, and system-to-system communication. Expertise in microservices, event-driven architecture, Kafka/RabbitMQ, messaging, and API-first design. Strong RDBMS knowledge, including Oracle, PostgreSQL, or SQL Server. API security experience with OAuth 2.0, OIDC, JWT, API gateways, and access controls. Knowledge of ISO 27001, NIST Cybersecurity Framework, OWASP Top 10, and PCI DSS. Understanding of Agentic AI, intelligent automation, digital wallets, tokenized assets, and blockchain applications in payments. Preferred Profile: Candidates with strong payments domain expertise, enterprise architecture experience, and a background in secure, scalable payment integrations.