In case you have ever used your mobile app for money transfer or your smartphone for check depositing, then you have already interacted with financial technology.
Fintech, which is the abbreviation for financial technology, encompasses a vast range of tools, platforms, and digital systems that are not only reshaping modern business but also creating new job opportunities.
It is a wide-ranging network of services and solutions that are revolutionizing business and providing new job opportunities.
Fintech engineers are the new hotcakes in the financial industry as the sector is constantly evolving.
The fintech role might require specialized training, but at the same time, it provides a good salary, creative problem-solving, and career paths that are common to both the tech and finance industries.
This article is part of the “Trends to Bet Your Career On” series, which brings to light the emerging professional opportunities.
Fintech is a term that covers all aspects from payment systems to digital lending and crypto ecosystems, and it is coming to change the way companies run their businesses and to introduce a new wave of the profession that is already growing rapidly.
Fintech has undergone a transformation thanks to the efforts of the engineers. These are the professionals who design, improve, and keep running the software that powers the current financial tools. The job, even though often requiring high-level skills, comes with a rare mix of technical challenges and opportunities across several industries.
And the demand is enormous. The World Economic Forum’s “Future of Jobs Report 2025” listed fintech engineers as the second fastest-growing occupation expected over the next five years.
Jimmie Lenz, executive director of the Master of Engineering in Fintech program at Duke University’s Pratt School of Engineering, has spent nearly three decades in financial services and has watched the need for fintech expertise skyrocket.
“Innovation has driven every major shift in finance over the last 30 years,” Lenz told Business Telegraph. He explained that each new wave of technology pushes the industry forward, ensuring fintech engineers stay both relevant and indispensable.
Stella Zhang, engineering manager for applied AI and growth at Plaid, a company enabling bank-to-app connectivity, says she values how her work helps simplify people’s financial decisions and make money management more intuitive.
“This field rewards people who can zoom out to grasp the big picture while zooming in to refine the details,” Zhang said. “If that type of multi-layered thinking appeals to you, fintech will feel like home.”
Working on Finance’s Leading Edge
Lenz said that when Duke introduced its fintech engineering master’s program in 2020, demand was immediate and strong. “The first year, we probably had eight to ten applicants for each available seat,” he said.
Fintech engineers typically develop skills in programming languages, blockchain systems, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. Aspiring engineers can pursue training through multiple pathways, including shorter boot camps or highly specialized degree programs.
While students come from diverse majors, Lenz sees strong interest from those who studied math, computer science, economics, or finance. He believes what draws people to the field is the opportunity to be part of something fast-moving and transformative.
“Students view their training as a chance to be on the leading edge,” Lenz said.
He added that strong fintech engineers can merge technical ability with financial understanding, which is why his program emphasizes both.
Zhang’s path to Plaid was “unconventional,” blending finance and tech along the way. She studied quantitative finance at Princeton, researched AI and computer science at Stanford, and held roles at Goldman Sachs, Citadel, and the software company Ironclad. Plaid appealed to her because it unified all parts of her background.
“At Plaid, I can use my understanding of financial systems to build AI that supports developers and millions of end-users,” she said. “Working on applied AI in fintech, where precision, security, and reliability matter deeply, gives me the level of challenge and responsibility I look forward to every day.”
Lenz noted that alumni from Duke’s program have joined major tech companies, established banks, start-ups, investment firms, and brokerage operations. Glassdoor estimates fintech engineers earn between $109,000 and $170,000, though Lenz said he’s seen compensation reach $200,000 for some graduates.
What are FinTech Employers Looking for?
FinTech roles are increasingly emphasizing a broader range of soft skills. Deloitte’s latest analysis suggests companies are prioritizing adaptability, strategic thinking, and a forward-leaning mindset—especially as traditional finance positions shift and the role of intermediaries continues to shrink. To be innovative and responsive is the only way out for the financial institutions that are still under the burden of regulatory complexity. Interaction and connection among different teams and departments are becoming the most important traits for FinTech professionals.
Adaptability is extremely crucial since employees are being expected more and more often to enhance their skills. The following are five basic tech skills that coincide with this need for constant upskilling.
1. Software Development
Software development remains the strongest driving force behind the FinTech revolution, and the demand for skilled developers continues to be the most influential factor for the industry. Clearing the way to the developer ecosystem has led to the preference of full-stack development over independent front-end or back-end specialties, which also reflects the giving of the sector for adaptable contributors who can cope with the entire product lifecycle. Employers are on the lookout for developers who possess excellent coding skills along with good design understanding and deep knowledge of system architecture, thus enabling them to influence the digital products both in terms of their creation and their strategic positioning.
2. Blockchain Technology
As digital currencies and DeFi (decentralized finance) are quickly bringing about the biggest changes within the financial world, the know-how in the field of blockchain becomes a must-have. The transition to secure and traceable digital interactions being the norm is almost complete; hence, the demand for blockchain experts has increased by 30%. People well-versed in distributed systems, cryptographic methods, and the programming languages used in blockchain-related areas are being looked at more and more by employers who want their companies to be able to come up with and support decentralized solutions.
3. Data Science & AI
The data that comes from massive databases needs to be turned into useful information by highly qualified experts, which is why FinTech companies depend on such employees a lot. The most sought-after skills are in the areas of machine learning, large-scale data analysis, and artificial intelligence. A study done by McKinsey shows that data-driven financial firms are 23 times more likely to attract new clients, thus putting data scientists and AI experts in a very advantageous position.
4. Cybersecurity
Various digital threats, including the very sophisticated ones, have put the FinTech sector under increased threat exposure, and thus, the need for cybersecurity expertise has become the number one priority. Accenture mentioned a recent 23% hike in cybersecurity expenditures as a sign of the urgent demand for the protection of financial platforms and sensitive user data. Consequently, employers are looking for specialists who are very well-versed in regulatory compliance, incident response, encryption tools, and security operations, which in turn guarantees the app’s resilience to evolving attacks.
5. DevOps & Automation
Innovations are coming in double-quick time, and FinTech cannot afford to be anything other than efficient and scalable. Such a situation has created a huge demand for professionals who are skilled in CI/CD workflows, container management, and modern infrastructure maintenance. Among the DevOps teams, the rapid development of the product comes with little operational risk, and they even do the necessary automation of the tasks, which leads to the support of the large-scale data processing that is typical of digital finance environments.
6. Cloud Solutions
FinTech careers focusing on cloud technology revolve around constructing secure, scalable, and cost-efficient architectures through platforms such as AWS, Google Cloud, Azure, and DigitalOcean. These roles involve compliance management, advanced analytics, AI deployment, and hybrid-cloud integration. Cloud professionals are proficient in rapid innovation for both startups and mature institutions, safe data handling, and worldwide users’ access to seamless and powerful digital services.
7. Virtual Assets
Professionals working with virtual assets oversee digital payment ecosystems, maintain regulatory adherence, and mitigate risks involving fraud and money laundering. These careers intersect with blockchain systems and support the broader evolution of digital finance. Specialists help ensure secure electronic transactions while assisting institutions in integrating high-volatility virtual assets into mainstream financial operations—always with an emphasis on consumer protection, transparency, and responsible innovation.
What Is the Most Important Ingredient in a Fintech Career?
Justin Pincar, Managing Director of Achievable, drawing from his experience delivering career-enhancing courses, said ongoing advances in artificial intelligence ensure that fintech remains dynamic and constantly evolving.
Fintech job prospects “mirror the technological shifts happening now,” he said. The rapid expansion of billion-dollar companies in the space “signals extremely strong career potential.”
Justin said that hiring managers today increasingly value something beyond technical expertise: genuine curiosity.
“You need the technical foundation, but the ability to learn quickly and the curiosity to pursue new knowledge are the kind of adaptability employers want most,” he said.
He encouraged engineers to join companies that “let you experiment and fail safely.” Breakthroughs rarely emerge from rigid plans, he said. Many great ideas start as casual “what if” conversations.
“Above all, remember that fintech engineering is about people, not just systems,” Stella Zhang said. “Yes, you need to understand distributed systems and API design, but you also need empathy for the small-business owner juggling payroll or the recent grad struggling with loan payments.”
“The strongest solutions come from engineers who always remember there’s a human behind every product interaction,” she added.
Also Read: How to Become an AI Engineer and Why It’s One of the Highest-Paying Careers of the Future
