Software Architect Sr (Payments)

PNC•Farmers Branch, TX

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Payments Software Architect Sr is responsible for defining, governing, and guiding the end-to-end solution architecture for assigned Payments capabilities and platforms at PNC. This role operates as part of the Payments Solution Design & Engineering organization and works horizontally across multiple agile delivery teams to ensure solution designs are aligned with the Payments target-state architecture, enterprise standards, and regulatory requirements. The Software Engineer Expert reports into the Director, Payments Solution Design & Engineering and partners closely with engineering, product, risk, and business stakeholders to translate complex Payments domain requirements into scalable, resilient, and secure technical solutions.

Requirements

Strong expertise in enterprise solution architecture for large-scale, highly available systems.
Hands-on experience with modern architecture patterns, including: Event-driven and asynchronous architectures, API-first and service-oriented design, Microservices and domain-driven design (DDD), High-availability, active-active, and resilient system designs.
Experience designing solutions across hybrid environments (on-prem and cloud).
Strong understanding of data architecture concepts including transactional processing, reconciliation, operational reporting, and analytics.
Experience integrating vendor platforms and third-party products into enterprise ecosystems.
Working knowledge of payment networks, schemes, and rails such as: ACH, Wire payments (e.g., Fedwire, CHIPS), Real-Time Payments (RTP) and instant payments, SWIFT and international payments.
Understanding of industry standards and messaging formats (e.g., ISO 20022) and their architectural implications.
Experience working with payment engines, orchestration platforms, clearing systems, and supporting operational tooling.
Strong understanding of how payment systems operate in practice, including: End-to-end payment lifecycle and settlement models, Funding, liquidity, and cut-off timing considerations, Risk exposures, exception handling, and recovery scenarios, Operational resiliency, business continuity, and disaster recovery, Regulatory and compliance considerations impacting Payments technology.
Ability to translate complex Payments domain requirements into scalable, maintainable, and secure technical designs.
12+ years of experience in solution architecture, engineering, or technical leadership roles within financial services.
Proven experience designing and delivering complex Payments or transaction processing systems.
Strong understanding of agile delivery models and how to effectively embed architecture within them.
Ability to influence without authority and collaborate across engineering, product, and risk partners.
Strong communication skills with the ability to articulate complex technical concepts clearly.
Customer Focused - Knowledgeable of the values and practices that align customer needs and satisfaction as primary considerations in all business decisions and able to leverage that information in creating customized customer solutions.
Managing Risk - Assessing and effectively managing all of the risks associated with their business objectives and activities to ensure they adhere to and support PNC's Enterprise Risk Management Framework.
Bachelors degree (or comparable combination of education, job specific certification(s), and experience including military service).

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting large-scale Payments modernization or transformation initiatives.
Prior experience operating within an architecture governance or design authority model.
Strong executive presence and comfort engaging with senior technology and business leaders.
Higher level education such as a Masters degree, PhD, or certifications is desirable.
Specific certifications are often required.

Responsibilities

Define and own end-to-end solution architecture for assigned Payments capabilities, platforms, or value streams, under the guidance of the Payments design authority.
Develop solution designs that align with the Payments target-state architecture, enterprise technology standards, and architectural guardrails established by the Director.
Lead solution design activities including architecture diagrams, design specifications, integration models, and non-functional requirements.
Ensure architectural consistency across multiple agile delivery teams and initiatives.
Act as the embedded architectural lead across agile delivery teams while maintaining alignment to centralized Payments architecture standards.
Provide hands-on guidance to engineering teams during design, build, testing, and deployment phases.
Participate in sprint planning, design sessions, and technical reviews to ensure architecture is implemented as intended.
Identify and proactively escalate cross-team dependencies and architectural risks to the Director as needed.
Apply deep Payments domain knowledge to solution designs, ensuring they reflect real-world payment flows and operational realities.
Design solutions across Payments capabilities including (but not limited to): Core payment processing and clearing, Payment orchestration, routing, and workflow, Real-time, batch, and high-value payments, Integration with external networks, vendors, and fintech partners, Data, reporting, reconciliation, and operational controls.
Incorporate funding, liquidity, settlement timing, exception handling, and resiliency considerations into solution designs.
Ensure solution designs comply with Payments and enterprise architecture principles, standards, and patterns.
Participate in architecture design reviews, trade-off discussions, and exception processes led by the Payments design authority.
Partner with the Director and peer Solution Architects to resolve complex design decisions.
Contribute to the evolution of Payments reference architectures, patterns, and best practices.
Ensure all solution designs adhere to PNC policies for information security, resiliency, data protection, and operational risk.
Partner with Risk, Security, and Compliance teams to identify and mitigate technology and architectural risks.
Ensure regulatory, scheme, and network rules are appropriately reflected in solution designs.
Serve as a trusted technical advisor to engineering, product, and business partners.
Clearly communicate architectural decisions, trade-offs, and impacts to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Contribute to architectural knowledge sharing and continuous improvement across the Payments organization.
Leads in the overall design of cross-functional, multi-platform, and Web-based application systems; oversees all application system processes.
Develops application architecture and blueprints aimed at reflecting enterprise business logic.
Defines application components, platforms, interfaces, and development tools.
Directs mapping activities on specific technology platforms.
Provides technical guidance to application development teams.
Consults on integration and conversion activities.
Conducts reviews, and analyses organizational needs and goals to develop and implement applications.

Benefits

medical/prescription drug coverage (with a Health Savings Account feature)
dental and vision options
employee and spouse/child life insurance
short and long-term disability protection
401(k) with PNC match
pension and stock purchase plans
dependent care reimbursement account
back-up child/elder care
adoption, surrogacy, and doula reimbursement
educational assistance, including select programs fully paid
a robust wellness program with financial incentives
maternity and/or parental leave
up to 11 paid holidays each year
9 occasional absence days each year, unless otherwise required by law
between 15 to 25 vacation days each year, depending on career level; and years of service