Principal Engineer - Payments (Fintech)

TL;DR

Principal Engineer - Payments (Fintech): Shaping the technical direction of the payments platform and designing scalable, secure payment solutions with an accent on microservices architecture and distributed systems. Focus on solving complex scalability challenges, optimizing transaction lifecycles, and integrating with global payment providers.

Location: Must be based in the UK (Fully remote or hybrid in London)

Company

hirify.global is a fare payment technology company that builds the Justride platform to power seamless public transport ticketing globally.

What you will do

• Shape the technical direction of the payments platform, defining architecture, standards, and engineering best practices.
• Design and deliver secure, scalable, and cost-effective payment solutions aligned with platform goals.
• Guide the transition to a modern microservices-based architecture while balancing delivery and platform health.
• Conduct architecture reviews and provide targeted hands-on contributions to solve complex technical challenges.
• Collaborate with external payment partners and providers on technical alignment and integrations.
• Contribute to the technical roadmap, scoping, and prioritization for complex initiatives.

Requirements

• Must be based in the UK
• Deep experience with payment systems, including integrations with PSPs, gateways, or acquirers.
• Proven track record at Principal or Staff level, shaping technical direction across multiple teams.
• Expertise in designing and evolving distributed systems and microservices architectures.
• Strong experience with cloud platforms (AWS preferred) and modern infrastructure practices.
• Ability to translate complex, ambiguous problems into clear and practical technical approaches.

Nice to have

• Experience with transit payments, such as contactless EMV or tap-to-ride systems.
• Familiarity with card schemes including Visa, Mastercard, or Interac.
• Experience with complex event-driven architectures.
• Proficiency with Kotlin, Java, DynamoDB, MySQL, Terraform, and GitLab CI/CD.
• Exposure to the architectural implications of AI-enabled systems in production.

Culture & Benefits

• Purpose-driven mission to make transit fair and accessible for all.
• Culture based on openness, trust, and empathy with a focus on learning rather than blame.
• Flexible work arrangements with options for full remote (within UK) or hybrid (London).
• Support for professional growth and career acceleration.
• Inclusive environment welcoming underrepresented groups and neurodivergent individuals.