Software Engineer: Back-End II (Android / Payments)

Capitec Bank; Stellenbosch; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Capitec Bank is seeking a Level II Software Engineer in Payments Technology to work on card machine software and native Android apps on POS devices, as well as backend services powering them. You will design, develop, test, deploy and maintain native Android applications in Java and Kotlin, and integrate with card readers, NFC and PIN pads to ensure real-time, secure transaction processing.

You will contribute across the full payments stack, from device-level code to server-side APIs, with

Qualifications

• 3+ years' proven experience in software development, project delivery and implementation.
• Hands-on commercial experience building native Android applications in Java and/or Kotlin.
• Experience with EMV protocol (contact and/or contactless).
• Working knowledge of ISO 8583 financial messaging.
• Experience integrating hardware peripherals on Android via AIDL / IPC.
• Demonstrable experience building and maintaining server-side components, APIs and services that support transactional workloads.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, test, deploy, maintain and enhance native Android applications for POS devices and server-side components powering them.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate with card readers, NFC, PIN pads and backend services.
• Ensure reliability, performance and transaction integrity in real-time payment environments.

Skills

Android

Java/Kotlin

EMV protocol

ISO 8583

AIDL IPC

Server-side APIs

Education

Grade 12 National Certificate / Vocational

Relevant IT qualification

Job description

Purpose Statement

• As a level II Software Engineer in our Payments Technology team, you will play an integral part in a cross-functional team responsible for the full lifecycle of our card machine software, from concept and design, through development and testing, to deployment and ongoing operation in the field. You will design, develop, test, deploy, maintain and enhance native Android applications running on POS devices, as well as the server-side components that power them, translating requirements from the business or technical analyst and actively participating with the delivery team in design and problem-solving.
• You will work across the full payments stack: building the application in the merchant's hand, integrating directly with terminal hardware such as card readers, NFC and PIN pads, handling EMV and ISO 8583 messaging, and developing the back-end services that authorise, settle and report on every transaction. Reliability, performance and transaction integrity are non-negotiable, the code you write processes real money, in real time, at scale.

Education (Minimum)

• Grade 12 National Certificate / Vocational

Education (Ideal or Preferred)

• A relevant tertiary qualification in Information Technology

Knowledge and Experience

Experience

• 3+ years' proven experience in software development, project delivery and implementation, covering both
  native Android and
  back-end development
• Hands‑on commercial experience building native Android applications in
  Java and/or Kotlin
• Practical experience with
  EMV protocol (contact and/or contactless)
• Working knowledge of
  ISO 8583 financial messaging
• Experience integrating hardware peripherals on Android — card readers, NFC, PIN pads — via
  AIDL / IPC
• Demonstrable experience building and maintaining server-side components, APIs and services that support transactional workloads

Knowledge

Is able to apply advanced knowledge of the following:

• IT systems development processes (SDLC)
• Native Android application development and the Android SDK
• Advanced programming concepts
• Advanced algorithms and data structures
• Design Patterns
• Version Control
• Testing practices
• Database systems and query optimisation (e.g. SQL, NoSQL)
• RESTful API design and integration
• Cloud computing platforms and services (e.g. AWS, Azure)
• Advanced microservice and event‑driven architectures
• Deployment using Kubernetes and containerisation
• Secure coding and transaction integrity within a payments environment

Ideal

• Additional experience with React Native or Ionic/Capacitor alongside native Android
• Exposure to PCI PTS / PA-DSS standards
• DUKPT or MK‑SK key management
• Prior experience at a payment terminal vendor or fintech (e.g. PAX, Ingenico, Verifone, ECentric, Synthesis)

Skills

• Analytical Skills
• Attention to Detail
• Communications Skills
• Interpersonal & Relationship management Skills
• Problem solving skills

Additional Information

• Clear criminal and credit record

Capitec is committed to diversity, applications to this position will strictly be considered in support of our employment equity goals.