Senior Software Engineer – Prepaid Card Payments at Onafriq

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.