API Integration Lead

AVP, API Integration, Payments & Innovation (L10)

Job Description:

Role Title: AVP, API Integration, Payments & Innovation (L10)

Company Overview:

Synchrony (NYSE: SYF) is a premier consumer financial services company delivering one of the industry's most complete digitally enabled product suites. Our experience, expertise and scale encompass a broad spectrum of industries including digital, health and wellness, retail, telecommunications, home, auto, outdoors, pet and more.

• We have recently been ranked #2 among India's Best Companies to Work for by Great Place to Work. We were among the Top 50 India's Best Workplaces in Building a Culture of Innovation by All by GPTW and Top 25 among Best Workplaces in BFSI by GPTW. We have also been recognized by AmbitionBox Employee Choice Awards among the Top 20 Mid-Sized Companies, ranked #3 among Top Rated Companies for Women, and Top-Rated Financial Services Companies.

• Synchrony celebrates ~52% women talent.

• We offer Flexibility and Choice for all employees and provide best-in-class employee benefits and programs that cater to work-life integration and overall well-being.

• We provide career advancement and upskilling opportunities, focusing on Advancing Diverse Talent to take up leadership roles.

Organizational Overview:

This role will be a part of the Payments Technology and Innovation Team:

• Payments Technology and Innovation team is responsible for designing, developing and delivering cutting edge Payments systems & API integration

• Team owns and manages the portfolio of payments initiatives , including API-driven innovations to meet the evolving demands of Synchrony's business functions and ecosystems

• Collaborates with cross-functional teams including product management , enterprise architects and external vendors/ clients

• Builds, integrates and maintains innovative payment capabilities, leveraging modern API frameworks and cloud technologies to facilitate frictionless payment experiences and drive business growth

Role Summary/Purpose:

This role will lead the design, development, and optimization of payment systems, providing technical leadership to a team of engineers. This position is responsible for architecting highly available, secure, and scalable payment solutions, mentoring team members, and driving innovation in payment technologies. The role demands strategic oversight, deep technical expertise, and collaboration with cross-functional teams to meet business goals.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead API architecture, development, and maintenance of payment processing systems, ensuring scalability, security, and high availability.

• Oversee integrations with payment gateways, financial platforms, and third-party vendors, ensuring compliance with industry standards (e.g., PCI DSS).

• Guide a team of engineers in delivering robust payment solutions, providing mentorship and technical direction.

• Drive root cause analysis and resolution for critical payment incidents, leading Emergency Response Teams (ERTs) as needed.

• Identify opportunities for system improvements, automation, and innovation to enhance payment workflows and transaction efficiency.

• Collaborate with product managers, architects, and external partners to define technical requirements and roadmaps for payment initiatives.

• Conduct design and code reviews, ensuring adherence to best practices and high-quality deliverables.

• Stay ahead of payment industry trends, emerging technologies, and regulatory changes, integrating them into team strategies.

• Build and retain a high-performing technical team, fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous learning.

• Manage special projects and perform additional duties as assigned

Required Skills/Knowledge:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science/Engineering or related field with a minimum of 4 years of experience in Information Technology; or in lieu of a degree, 6 years of IT experience

• Minimum 4 years of application development experience, with at least 2 years focused on payment systems or financial applications.

• 2+ years of experience leading technical teams or mentoring engineers.

• 5+ years of hands-on experience with Java, J2EE, Web Services, and Spring Framework.

• 3+ years of experience designing and implementing microservices architecture and cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, PCF, Azure).

• 2+ years of experience with CI/CD tools such as Maven, GitHub, Jenkins, and monitoring tools like Splunk.

• Strong expertise in agile software development practices and SDLC processes, with 5+ years of experience.

• Proven ability to troubleshoot complex payment issues and lead incident resolution efforts.

• Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to influence technical and non-technical stakeholders.

• Willingness to work flexible hours to support emergencies and align with global teams.

Desired Skills/Knowledge:

• Deep knowledge of payment application integrations

• Proficiency in database design, optimization, and querying with MySQL, SQL, or similar technologies.

• Expertise in scaling CI/CD pipelines and driving DevOps practices.

• Experience architecting secure payment systems compliant with PCI DSS and other regulatory standards.

• Prior leadership experience in fintech, banking, or credit card industries.

• Strong documentation and diagramming skills using tools like Visio, Word, or Whimsical.

• High initiative and passion for driving technical innovation in payments.

• Exceptional interpersonal skills to manage cross-functional collaboration and influence senior stakeholders.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science/Engineering or related field with a minimum of 4 years of experience in Information Technology; or in lieu of a degree, 6 years of IT experience

Work Timings: 03:00 PM to 12:00 AM IST

For Internal Applicants:

• Understand the criteria or mandatory skills required for the role, before applying

• Inform your manager and HRM before applying for any role on Workday

• Ensure that your professional profile is updated (fields such as education, prior experience, other skills) and it is mandatory to upload your updated resume (Word or PDF format)

• Must not be any corrective action plan (First Formal/Final Formal, LPP)

• L8+ Employees who have completed 18 months in the organization and 12 months in current role and level are only eligible.

• L08+ Employees can apply

Grade/Level: 10

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