Software Engineering Team Lead

Mukuru; Pretoria; Remote; ZAR 800,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Mukuru is seeking a Software Engineering Team Lead to guide a dynamic engineering team in creating innovative financial solutions. This role requires strong experience in PHP and Symfony, with a focus on mentoring, product ownership, and agile practices, to drive impactful projects that enhance financial inclusion across Africa.

Benefits

Flexible work environment

Opportunities for working with latest tech

Supportive team culture

Qualifications

• Experience leading Agile/Scrum teams.
• Deep knowledge of software architecture like Microservices.
• Experience with continuous integration and deployment.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of software engineers.
• Own the product lifecycle from architecture to deployment.
• Improve processes and optimize workflows.

Skills

PHP

Symfony

Agile/Scrum

Problem-solving

Leadership

Education

Senior Software Engineer or Team Lead experience

Tools

Git

GitLab

GitHub

Job description

Mukuru is one of Africa’s leading FinTechs, with over 40 million cross-border transactions delivered to date. Our mission? To bring safe, affordable, and reliable financial services to underserved communities. From remittances and funeral cover to payment solutions for emerging market businesses, we’re changing how money moves across the continent.

Now, we’re on the lookout for a Software Engineering Team Lead to join our Financial Services Engineering team—an opportunity to lead, mentor, and make a real-world impact at scale.

Why This Role Matters

As a Software Engineering Team Lead, you won’t just write code—you’ll shape the product, lead the people who build it, and drive engineering excellence in a business that thrives on innovation. You’ll work on meaningful projects that power real-life financial inclusion and collaborate with a passionate, agile team that’s all about creating scalable, secure, and smart solutions.

What You'll Do

• Lead and mentor a team of 2–5 software engineers, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and collaboration.

• Own the product lifecycle—from architecture to deployment—ensuring quality, scalability, and impact.

• Apply and advocate best practices in PHP (especially Symfony), microservices, domain-driven design (DDD), hexagonal architecture, and CI/CD.

• Continuously improve processes, identifying bottlenecks and optimizing team workflows and delivery pipelines.

• Collaborate across functions—Product Owners, Business Analysts, DevOps, and QA—to align on goals, solve problems, and deliver high-impact software.

• Influence cross-team relationships, ensuring project alignment and stakeholder buy-in.

• Conduct performance reviews, set growth goals, and support team development through coaching and constructive feedback.

What You Bring

• Proven experience as a Senior Software Engineer or Team Lead in a fast-paced environment.

• Deep knowledge of PHP, Symfony (or similar frameworks), and modern software architecture (Microservices, DDD, Hexagonal Architecture).

• Solid experience with Git, GitLab, or GitHub for version control and collaboration.

• Hands-on experience leading Agile/Scrum development teams with a track record of successful delivery.

• Exceptional problem-solving skills, with a proactive mindset and ownership mentality.

• Strong interpersonal and leadership skills, with a passion for mentoring and team growth.

Bonus Points For

• Experience working alongside DevOps teams to ensure smooth deployment and infrastructure scaling.

• Familiarity with cross-functional collaboration involving Test Analysts, Product Owners, and other Tech Leads.

• A knack for process improvement—whether that’s optimizing sprint planning, introducing automation, or championing clean code practices.

• Experience in FinTech or financial services is highly advantageous.

What You’ll Love About Working at Mukuru

• A purpose-driven mission that impacts millions across Africa

• A team of smart, humble, and supportive colleagues who thrive on solving big problems

• Opportunities to work with the latest tech and innovate at scale

• A culture of learning, ownership, and continuous feedback

• Flexible and collaborative work environment

I am sure you are reading this job description and meet majority of the criteria BUT you may also still not be 100% comfortable in applying. We believe that there is a place for everyone under the Mukuru sun and we want YOU to contribute to our diverse tapestry of talent. So come on, take a leap of faith, and send your application if you meet majority of our requirements. Remember to include a snippet of how you will bring value and help us build a future of success that will help us determine where and how you may best be suited” Maybe you are just the future Mukurian we need!!

Should you be appointed in a remote/work from home role at Mukuru, it is your responsibility to ensure that you have uninterrupted internet connectivity and a ‘work-like’ environment at your home location, in order to deliver your best in terms of performance, productivity and service to our customers.

If you do not receive any response after two weeks, please consider your application unsuccessful.

NB: ALL STAFF APPOINTMENTS WILL BE MADE WITH DUE CONSIDERATION OF THE COMPANY’S DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION PLANS