Senior Software Engineer – Prepaid Card Payments

Onafriq; Johannesburg; Hybrid; ZAR 600 000 - 900 000; Full time

Job summary

A fintech company in Africa is seeking a Senior Software Engineer to design and maintain payment processing applications. The ideal candidate will have over 7 years of experience, proficiency in C++ and PL/SQL, and a strong background in payment systems. This role offers a competitive salary and benefits, with opportunities for growth in a diverse and innovative environment.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Unlimited leave policy

Opportunities for growth and learning

Qualifications

• 7+ years of software development experience.
• Expert-level proficiency in C++ and PL/SQL.
• Experience with Visa/Mastercard processing as a TPP.
• Knowledge of PCI DSS compliance.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop payment processing applications.
• Implement systems that comply with Visa and Mastercard TPP requirements.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex transaction processing issues.

Skills

C++

PL/SQL

Payments Processing

ISO 8583

PostBridge

Analytical skills

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or Engineering

Master's degree preferred

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

Job description

Who We Are

Onafriq is an omnichannel network of networks, making borders matter less by providing our partners with a single pathway to unlock the full power of cross-border and cross-platform payment solutions.

With a network spanning 40 African markets, Onafriq connects over 500 million mobile money wallets, 200 million bank accounts, and 300,000 agents in Nigeria, enabling domestic and cross-border disbursements and collections, card issuing and processing, agency banking, and treasury services.

By connecting global and regional enterprises, mobile money operators, money transfer operators, banks, fintechs, global development organisations, and online and offline merchants, supported by world‑class regulatory and compliance capabilities and a strong regional presence in 10 offices in Africa, and others in the UK, US, and China, Onafriq is ushering in a new era of access for people across the African continent and beyond.

About the Role

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Senior Software Engineer with deep expertise in payments processing and strong technical proficiency in C++ and PL/SQL. The ideal candidate will have hands‑on experience with Visa and/or Mastercard processing as a Third‑Party Processor (TPP), a solid understanding of ISO 8583 and PostBridge specifications, and a background in the banking or fintech sector. This role will focus on designing, developing, and maintaining high‑performance, secure payment processing applications with emphasis on dual message prepaid card processing and an interest in extending into debit card processing.

The position is location agnostic. (Lagos, Nigeria/ Nairobi, Kenya/ Johannesburg, South Africa/ Zimbabwe)

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain payment processing applications using C++, python, Bash and PL/SQL.
• Assist with daily support activities and identify automation opportunities.
• Implement and enhance systems that comply with Visa and Mastercard TPP requirements, including certification and compliance updates.
• Work with ISO 8583 and PostBridge protocols to ensure reliable message parsing, routing, and settlement.
• Support dual message processing for prepaid card transactions and contribute to expanding capabilities for debit card processing.
• Collaborate with business, operations, and compliance teams to deliver solutions aligned with financial industry regulations and standards.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex transaction processing issues in production environments.
• Optimize system performance, scalability, and security for mission‑critical applications.
• Mentor junior engineers and provide technical leadership in payments domain knowledge.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field (Master’s preferred).
• 7+ years of software development experience, with expert‑level proficiency in C++ and PL/SQL.
• Strong background in Visa/Mastercard payment processing as a Third‑Party Processor (TPP).
• Proven experience with ISO 8583 message specifications and PostBridge.
• Hands‑on experience with dual message credit card processing.
• Banking or fintech industry experience required.
• Familiarity with debit card processing highly desirable.
• Knowledge of transaction security, encryption, and PCI DSS compliance.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem‑solving skills.
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills.

Preferred Skills

• Experience with switching platforms and real‑time transaction processing systems.
• Exposure to cloud‑native architectures and containerized deployments (Docker, Kubernetes).
• Knowledge of fraud detection, settlement, and reconciliation processes.
• Familiarity with Agile/Scrum methodologies.

Why work for us

• We work at the very cutting edge of fintech in Africa.
• We solve relevant problems for Africa and the world in hope of continuing to make an impact on the millions, if not billions, of users who also believe in what we do.
• We have a very diverse work environment with over 28 nationalities represented and continually strive to build a culture of caring and execution.
• We operate a flexible working and unlimited leave policy.
• We offer a competitive salary package and bonuses.
• We prioritize the overall well‑being of our staff through various initiatives aimed at ensuring they reach their full potential in a supportive environment.
• Work on high‑impact products used across Africa and beyond.
• Collaborative, inclusive, and innovative engineering culture.
• Opportunities for growth, learning, and making a difference.