Lead Engineer / Payment Architect

Location: Remote (U.S. overlap preferred) Type: Contract (Full-Time Preferred) Domain: Payments / Fintech / eCommerce Infrastructure About the Project We are leading a modernization initiative for a high-growth digital commerce platform focused on payment orchestration, gateway optimization, and API-driven architecture . This role will architect and lead integration efforts involving: Payment gateway orchestration Tokenization strategy Direct PSP integrations Subscription billing logic Checkout modernization without disruption Experience with orchestration platforms such as Gr4vy, Stripe, etc. is highly desirable, but not required. Deep payments architecture experience is mandatory. What You’ll Do Architect and lead end-to-end payment orchestration strategy Design multi-PSP routing logic and failover systems Lead integration from gateway abstraction to direct acquirer connections Oversee token migration and vault strategy Ensure PCI-compliant design and security best practices Guide backend and DevOps engineers through execution What Success Looks Like Clean abstraction layer across PSPs Reduced payment friction Improved authorization rates Modernized checkout infrastructure 8+ years backend engineering experience 4+ years in payments infrastructure Strong knowledge of: REST APIs Webhooks Tokenization Recurring billing logic Card-not-present flows Experience integrating PSPs (e.g., Worldpay, Checkout.com, Adyen, Stripe, etc.) Experience designing high-availability systems Ideal (Not Required) Gr4vy integration exposure Subscription/SaaS billing systems Gateway-to-direct processor migration projects High-Impact Architecture Project Executive Visibility Competitive Contract Compensation Flexible Remote Structure Clear Scope, Clear Timeline Long-Term Engagement Technical Ownership