Software Engineer - Mobile Android Native at Pagatech Limited

As a Software Engineer - Mobile Android Native at Paga, you will take on responsibility for implementing high-quality functionality for well-defined functional or technical areas of the Android platform. You will design, build, and maintain native Android applications that serve millions of customers across Africa. You will work within an agile, functionally-aligned team across a broad range of technical platforms and frameworks. You will participate in the full range of product development and product-maintenance activities including design, support, code review and training and be expected to engage consistently with other stakeholders across the organization within the functional areas that your work affects.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILL REQUIREMENTS

• A degree in Computer Science, Engineering or a related discipline
• 1 to 5 years of continuous working experience developing native Android applications using Kotlin and/or Java
• Strong understanding of the Android SDK, Android Studio, and the broader Android development ecosystem
• Solid grasp of Android UI/UX guidelines (Material Design), multi-screen layouts, responsive design, and platform best practices
• Hands-on experience with modern Android architectural patterns (MVVM, MVI, Clean Architecture) and Android Jetpack components (LiveData, ViewModel, Navigation, Room, WorkManager, DataStore)
• Proficiency with Jetpack Compose and/or XML-based UI development
• Experience consuming RESTful APIs using Retrofit/OkHttp, handling asynchronous operations using Kotlin Coroutines, Flow, or RxJava
• Familiarity with dependency injection frameworks (Hilt/Dagger/Koin)
• Experience with local data persistence (Room, SQLite, SharedPreferences/DataStore)
• Understanding of mobile security best practices, including secure storage, certificate pinning, biometric authentication, and ProGuard/R8 obfuscation
• Familiarity with the Google Play Store publishing process, app signing, and Play Console release management
• Experience integrating push notifications (Firebase Cloud Messaging), analytics, crash reporting (Firebase Crashlytics) and remote config
• Working knowledge of version control with Git, CI/CD pipelines (GitHub Actions, Bitrise, Jenkins) and automated testing on Android
• Knowledge of Java/J2EE, Spring/Spring Boot and other backend Java frameworks will be considered an added advantage
• Experience working with team development tools and agile organization structures

TECHNICAL EXPECTATIONS

• Code Sophistication – Understands software, from core functional and object-oriented programming logic concepts up to fairly complex code constructs and applies them in their work. Can apply well-known and standard code routines and algorithms. Understands fairly complex code constructs, design patterns and frameworks and applies. May have depth of usage knowledge in one or two specific mobile frameworks. May be able to understand and apply complex logical algorithms in their work.
• Code Performance and Optimization – Is aware of significant code performance “smells” and avoids them independently. Adept at considering performance on resource-constrained mobile devices — battery efficiency, network usage, memory footprint, smooth UI rendering (60fps) and app startup time — and leverages well known patterns and tools (profilers, memory analyzers) to maintain performant code. Capable of considering other optimizations such as APK/IPA size and usability in their implementations.
• Abstraction Knowledge – Understands basic code abstraction concepts (e.g. separation of concerns, direction of dependence, working through interfaces, modularity, etc.) for the frameworks that they are familiar with and applies them through work with varying levels of guidance. Is able to translate real-world concepts for their specific area/domain of work into efficient mobile software models/structures.
• Technical Independence – Can execute well-defined technical tasks with little-to-no oversight and broadly defined technical tasks with oversight. Has a well-developed sense of when to seek assistance in design and implementation. Can debug and fix existing code proficiently. Follows prescribed mobile security standards effectively.
• Code Testing (Manual, Auto, Unit) – Consistently produces high quality tests for own work products that support the continuous deployment cycle. Is able to perform manual testing for broad features following specifications and knowledge of intended functionality. Is able to write effective unit, UI, and automated tests for own work products on mobile devices and emulators/simulators.
• Bug Free Code – Produces bug-free code at a reasonable pace. Doesn't require much time or back-and-forth with testing to produce error-free code, including on edge cases involving device fragmentation, OS versions, network conditions, and screen sizes.
• Debugging Efficiency – Is able to effectively debug own code and that of others at a fast pace and leverages thoughtful debugging tools (debuggers, profilers, logs, crash reports) and constructs to increase efficiency.
• Code Review Quality – Effectively reviews code within their specific areas of knowledge and contributes to the code-review cycle meaningfully.
• IDE/Tool Usage & Routine Automation – Can use the IDE (Android Studio / Xcode) proficiently. Considers effective use of tools to maximize development efficiency. Considers and occasionally contributes mechanisms to improve the development practice, including build automation, CI/CD, and process improvements.
• Process Adherence & Development – Follows defined development processes with little or no oversight. Works well in an iterative, agile development environment and adheres to processes effectively.
• Aesthetic Design – Can follow broadly defined visual designs well without compromising aesthetic detail. Has a strong eye for pixel-perfect implementation of mobile UI and respects platform design conventions.

NON-TECHNICAL VALUES & TRAITS

• Scope – Is able to take on specific, well defined, lower-complexity tasks and execute them effectively and to a high level of quality with supervision. May own small to medium features of the mobile application from technical design through to completion with guidance.
• Initiative – Takes the initiative to reach out to superiors and senior peers whenever necessary for support and assistance. Takes initiative to effectively breakdown, prioritize and implement tasks tactically. Takes initiative to improve on design and strategic impact on the areas of responsibility in collaboration with feature stakeholders.
• Follow Through/Scrappiness/Grit/Availability – Sees tasks through to completion, focusing on quality and completeness rather than speed of execution. “Does what it takes” to marshal resources and support to drive tasks to completion efficiently.
• Mastery/Depth of Understanding – Is able to develop a sufficient understanding of the task at hand to execute it effectively. Develops strong, self-sufficient knowledge of a specific area of the system. Understands core mobile framework enough to be able to use them with minimal supervision. Capable of providing on-call support for areas of the system that they are familiar with. Understands company process and methodology well.
• Business Impact Awareness, Pragmatism – Takes direction effectively to implement tasks per instruction from managers. May make independent sensible design decisions that optimize business value of work. Avoids focusing on unimportant details and excessive bikeshedding.
• Vision & Strategic Perspective – Is able to understand the vision and strategic goals of the organization. Understands current business strategic goals and incorporates them in design and development decisions in an effective way. Demands an understanding of strategic motivations for their work.
• Collaboration – Works well in a team environment composed of multiple product development skills. Is courteous, tactful and diplomatic. Responds positively to requests for help from internal and external partners. Does his/her share of tasks. Takes on additional work, when asked, to help a colleague out. Keeps people informed of progress on key tasks.
• Ownership & Results Orientation – Demonstrates self-motivation and initiative taking on a personal and professional level. Is comfortable with rapid change and is willing to take ownership to deliver results in a high-pressure product development environment. Takes decisive and accurate action to deliver value. Accepts responsibility for outcomes even when elements are not within his/her control, providing a balanced and objective explanation. Supports and encourages others to adopt a constructive attitude to the successful completion of work responsibilities. Shares own successes and praises others for motivation. Motivates colleagues through their own enthusiasm and willingness to learn.
• Integrity – Is honest without fail. Treats everyone with respect. Expresses an interest in the way people behave, recognizing the importance of attitudes and motives. Acknowledges the good work of others. Pays close attention to the needs of others.
• Policy Adherence – Keeps up to date with rules and regulations. Applies policies, processes and procedures to daily working. Identifies and proposes solutions for improvements to ways of working.
• Communication – Shares technical and product-specific knowledge with team and company through 1x1 conversations, presentations, and support. Expresses ideas or facts clearly. Good written and verbal communication skills. Promotes two-way communication with others through correct interpretation of messages and appropriate responses. Communicates in a non-threatening way. Shows empathy.