Lead System Architect

Visa, US - Foster City, CA

The role

Overview

At Visa, we are reimagining the future of global commerce.

The Payment Products Development (PPD) Architecture & Consulting team partners with Product, Engineering, and Business leaders to define technology strategy, architect next-generation payment solutions, modernize platforms, and accelerate innovation across Visa's global payment ecosystem.

Our team helps shape the technology foundations that power billions of payment interactions worldwide by simplifying complexity, guiding strategic investments, establishing architecture standards, and enabling scalable, resilient, secure, intelligent, and future-ready solutions.

As Visa continues its transformation toward open platforms, cloud-native solutions, and AI-powered experiences, our architects play a critical role in defining the technologies that will power the next generation of payments, commerce, and financial services.

Role Summary

What you will do

Define architecture strategies, target-state architectures, and technology roadmaps for Visa's strategic payment products and platforms.
Lead the design of open, scalable, API-first platforms leveraging cloud-native architectures, event-driven systems, reusable services, and modern integration patterns.
Partner with Product, Engineering, Operations, and Business leaders to transform bold ideas into scalable, secure, resilient, and high-performing solutions.
Lead architecture consulting engagements, providing strategic guidance, impact assessments, architecture reviews, and technology recommendations for critical initiatives.
Drive modernization initiatives that evolve legacy platforms into interoperable, cloud-enabled, developer-friendly ecosystems.
Architect and enable AI-native platforms and intelligent solutions utilizing GenAI, agentic workflows, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), orchestration frameworks, and emerging AI capabilities.
Leverage AI and automation to improve engineering productivity, operational efficiency, architecture analysis, and customer experiences.
Establish architecture standards, reusable patterns, governance frameworks, and engineering best practices that improve quality, consistency, and speed of delivery.
Define and execute proof-of-concept initiatives supporting strategic business objectives, platform modernization, and digital transformation programs.
Identify opportunities where emerging technologies can improve scalability, resiliency, security, operational efficiency, or customer experience.
Establish success criteria, measurable outcomes, and architectural evaluation frameworks for all POCs.
Lead end-to-end POC activities including requirements gathering, solution design, implementation, testing, and executive presentation.
Evaluate emerging technologies, develop proofs of concept, and influence Visa's long-term technology direction.
Mentor engineers and architects while fostering innovation, collaboration, and technical excellence.

Projects You Will Be Part Of

Next-generation payment products and platform modernization initiatives.
Open systems transformation programs focused on API enablement, interoperability, ecosystem integration, and platform simplification.
AI-native and GenAI-enabled solutions that transform how technology teams design, build, test, deploy, and operate software.
Cloud, data, API, and platform transformation programs.
Strategic architecture roadmaps supporting Visa's global payment ecosystem.
Cross-functional consulting engagements driving innovation, simplification, and business agility.
Emerging technology initiatives exploring the future of payments, digital commerce, intelligent systems, and financial services.

Visa requires at least 3 days in office, expectations of these days will be confirmed by your Hiring Manager.

Nice to have

12 or more years of work experience with a Bachelor’s Degree or 8-10 years of experience with an Advanced Degree (e.g. Masters, MBA, JD, MD) or 6+ years of work experience with a PhD.
12+ years of progressively responsible experience in software engineering, systems architecture, solution architecture, platform engineering, or related technology disciplines.
Experience building cloud-native platforms and leveraging platform engineering practices to improve developer productivity and operational excellence.
Experience designing AI-native architectures utilizing foundation models, agent orchestration frameworks, vector databases, RAG architectures, AI observability, model governance, and responsible AI principles.
Experience leading enterprise modernization initiatives involving cloud transformation, API enablement, platform simplification, or data architecture evolution.
Experience developing technology strategy, innovation roadmaps, or architecture guidance for large-scale product organizations.
Passion for mentoring others and building strong engineering and architecture communities.

Information for US Applicants For roles located in the US, the estimated salary range for this position is $193,800.00 to $ 310,100.00 USD per year, which may include potential sales incentive payments (if applicable). Salary may vary depending on job-related factors which may include knowledge, skills, experience, and location. In addition, this position may be eligible for bonus and equity.Visa has a comprehensive benefits package for which this position may be eligible that includes Medical, Dental, Vision, 401(k), FSA/HSA, Life Insurance, Paid Time Off, and Wellness Program.

Work Hours

Varies upon the needs of the department.

Travel Requirements

This position requires travel 5-10% of the time.

Mental/Physical Requirements

This position will be performed in an office setting. The position will require the incumbent to sit and stand at a desk, communicate in person and by telephone, frequently operate standard office equipment, such as telephones and computers.

Lead System Architect

The role

Overview

Role Summary

Lead System Architect

The role

Overview

Role Summary

What you will do

Projects You Will Be Part Of

What you need

Nice to have

About Visa

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