We are hiring a Senior Tech Lead / Solutions Architect for a regulated fintech / digital assets platform operating in the UAE. This is a license-critical role, sitting at the intersection of technology, compliance, and regulation. Our client has a newly launched crypto exchange venture, backed by a well-established UAE-based investment group with a diversified portfolio across retail, real estate, hospitality, and financial services.

The successful candidate will play a key role in designing compliance-first architecture, translating regulatory requirements into scalable systems, and contributing directly to licensing applications (e.g. VARA, FCA, MiCA, CBUAE).

Key Responsibilities

• Translate regulatory and compliance requirements (KYC/AML, audit, reporting) into robust technical architecture
• Author and review technical sections of regulatory license applications
• Design compliance-first systems, including:
• Audit trails & reporting
• KYT / AML integrations
• Data segregation & access controls
• Review and approve blockchain / smart contract architecture from a compliance and risk perspective
• Design and oversee infrastructure architecture for a multi-product fintech / blockchain ecosystem
• Collaborate closely with Compliance, Legal, Product, and Engineering teams
• Act as a senior technical point of contact during regulatory reviews and audits

Must-Have Requirements

• 7+ years experience in backend and/or infrastructure engineering
• Strong background in financial services architecture (fintech, banking, payments, digital assets)
• Solid understanding of regulatory requirements (KYC, AML, licensing, audit readiness)
• Proven ability to produce high-quality technical and regulatory documentation
• Conceptual understanding of blockchain and smart contracts
• Fluent English (C1+) – capable of engaging with regulators and external stakeholders

Nice-to-Have

• Direct experience with VARA, MiCA, FCA, or similar regulatory submissions
• Previous role in a licensed crypto exchange, tokenization platform, or regulated fintech
• DevOps / Infrastructure expertise (AWS, Azure, Kubernetes, cloud security)
• Experience in legal tech or compliance automation platforms