Senior Architect - Payment Gateway Applications (10-18 yrs)

Business Overview :

The Technology Platforms Division (TPD) is responsible for building and operating the infrastructure and ecosystem platforms that power the Rakuten Group. Our mission is to provide our Rakuten Cloud and Ecosystem Platforms which will deliver Core Value to accelerate the growth of Rakuten Group services.

Department Overview :

The Incentive Platform Department (INPD) provides incentive and payment solutions that empower Rakuten's businesses worldwide. The platforms continually add capabilities and scale to accelerate the Rakuten ecosystem synergies.

Job Position Details :

The Senior Architect will be responsible for the end-to-end modernization of our payment gateway application. This role requires a deep understanding of modern architecture principles, cloud infrastructure (specifically AWS), and hybrid cloud environments. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of successfully leading large-scale modernization projects and a passion for driving innovation in the financial technology space.

Responsibilities :

1. Architectural Leadership :

- Lead the architectural design and modernization of the payment gateway application.

- Define and implement modern architecture principles, including microservices, serverless computing, and containerization.

- Ensure the architecture is scalable, secure, and resilient to handle billions of JPY worth of transactions and millions of transactions processed per day.

- Maintain a 99.99% uptime and integrate with over 30 third-party providers.

2. Cloud Infrastructure :

- Design and implement cloud infrastructure solutions using AWS services.

- Develop strategies for hybrid cloud environments, integrating on-premises systems with cloud-based solutions.

- Optimize cloud resource utilization and cost management.

- Manage and process petabytes of data efficiently and securely.

3. Technical Expertise :

- Provide technical leadership and guidance to development teams.

- Stay current with emerging technologies and industry trends, and apply them to the modernization project.

- Conduct architectural reviews and ensure adherence to best practices.

4. Collaboration and Communication :

- Work closely with cross-functional teams, including product management, development, operations, and security.

- Communicate architectural decisions and strategies to stakeholders at all levels.

- Foster a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.

5. Technical Roadmap Planning :

- Define the technical roadmap for the modernization project, outlining key milestones and deliverables.

- Align the technical roadmap with business objectives and ensure it supports long-term strategic goals.

- Monitor progress against the roadmap and adjust plans as necessary to address emerging challenges and opportunities.

Qualifications :

- Education: Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.

- Experience: Minimum of 10+ years of experience in software architecture, with a focus on payment gateway applications and cloud infrastructure.

Technical Skills :

- Expertise in modern architecture principles, including microservices, serverless computing, and containerization (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes).

- Extensive experience with AWS services (e.g., EC2, S3, Lambda, RDS, API Gateway).

- Knowledge of hybrid cloud strategies and integration techniques.

- Proficiency in programming languages such as Java, Python, or Node.js.

- Strong understanding of security best practices and compliance requirements in the financial industry.

Soft Skills :

- Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills.

- Strong leadership and team management abilities.

- Effective communication and interpersonal skills.

- Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

Preferred Qualifications :

- Experience with other cloud platforms (e.g., Azure, Google Cloud).

- Certification in AWS (e.g., AWS Certified Solutions Architect).

- Experience with DevOps practices and tools (e.g., CI/CD pipelines, Terraform, Ansible).

- Familiarity with Agile methodologies.

"Rakuten is committed to cultivating and preserving a culture of inclusion and connectedness. We are able to grow and learn better together with a diverse team and inclusive workforce. The collective sum of the individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, innovation, self-expression, and talent that our employees invest in their work represents not only part of our culture, but our reputation and Rakuten's achievement as well. In recruiting for our team, we welcome the unique contributions that you can bring in terms of their education, opinions, culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, veteran's status, color, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and beliefs."