Intermediate ai-native software engineer (fintech/ payments)
Intermediate full-stack engineer at a fintech company building cross-border payment infrastructure across Africa. The engineer designs payment/settlement APIs and integrations using Node.js/TypeScript and React or Vue, while treating AI tools (Copilot, Cursor, LLM APIs) as a core part of daily engineering.
- Compensation
- Not disclosed
- Location
- Cape Town, South Africa
- Work setup
- Not specified
- Seniority
- Not specified
- Employment
- Full time
- Experience
- Not specified
- Category
- Software engineering
- Posted
Skills
Must have
- Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Computer Science or related field
- 3-5 years' experience as a Full Stack Engineer (preferably in fintech or payments)
- Solid backend development experience with Node.js and/or TypeScript
- Frontend experience with modern frameworks such as React.js or Vue.js
- Familiarity with both relational (PostgreSQL, MySQL) and NoSQL databases
- API development experience (REST, GraphQL)
- Basic understanding of security best practices, data handling, and encryption concepts
- Experience with Git and familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and Docker containerization
- Familiarity with cloud platforms such as AWS, GCP, or Azure
- Treats AI-assisted development as default; strong prompt engineering skills with judgment on verifying AI output
- Proficient with AI coding assistants such as GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Claude or equivalent
- Experience using LLM APIs (OpenAI, Anthropic, or open-source models) to build AI-powered features
Nice to have
- Experience with Python or Java
- Exposure to the African payments ecosystem, mobile money, or local payment APIs
- Knowledge of blockchain fundamentals and working with Web3 APIs or SDKs
- Understanding of stablecoin or blockchain-based settlement flows
- Interest or experience in FX, liquidity, or remittance platforms
- Enthusiasm for learning about blockchain, Web3 APIs, and emerging payment technologies
- Familiarity with AI-assisted code review, security scanning, or testing workflows
- Interest in applying AI/ML to payments use cases (fraud detection, anomaly detection, reconciliation)
- Understanding of responsible AI principles (fairness, auditability, explainability)
- Awareness of data privacy considerations when using AI tools with sensitive financial data
Full description
About the job Intermediate AI-Native Software Engineer (Fintech/ Payments)
Our client is a high-growth fintech company building the next generation of payment infrastructure across Africa. Their mission is to make money movement seamless, inclusive, and scalable across borders. They operate at the intersection of financial innovation and real-world impact, empowering businesses and consumers with tools to thrive in a rapidly digitizing economy.
Job Type: Full Time/Permanent
Location: Cape Town
Workplace: Hybrid (Onsite for the first 3 months of probation period)
Department: Engineering
Reports To: CTO Requirements Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Computer Science or a related field. 3 - 5 years' experience as a Full Stack Engineer (preferably in fintech or payments). Solid backend development experience using Node.js and/or Type Script (experience with Python or Java a plus). Frontend experience with modern frameworks such as React.js or Vue.js. Familiarity with both relational (e.g., Postgre SQL, My SQL) and No SQL databases. API development experience (REST, Graph QL). Basic understanding of security best practices, data handling, and encryption concepts. Experience with version control (Git) and familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and containerization (Docker). Enthusiasm for learning about blockchain, Web3 APIs, and emerging payment technologies. Exposure to the African payments ecosystem, mobile money, or local payment APIs. Knowledge of blockchain fundamentals and working with Web3 APIs or SDKs. Interest or experience in FX, liquidity, or remittance platforms. Familiarity with cloud platforms such as AWS, GCP, or Azure. Understanding of Stablecoin or blockchain-based settlement flows. Cloud experience (AWS, GCP, or Azure). Responsibilities Product Development & Architecture Contribute to the design and development of scalable web/app applications for payments and settlements. Build and maintain APIs that support core business functions such as payment processing, KYC/AML, and partner integrations. Participate in code reviews and help improve performance, security, and reliability across the stack. Integrations Support integrations with payment gateways, banks, and third-party services (e.g., compliance and blockchain partners). Assist in building internal tools for operations, reconciliation, and reporting Security & Compliance Follow secure coding practices and ensure adherence to internal security guidelines. Collaborate with compliance teams to implement KYC, AML, and transaction monitoring features. Learn and apply best practices related to data privacy and platform security. Collaboration & Growth Work closely with Senior Engineers, Product Managers, and Operations teams to deliver new features and enhancements. Take initiative in learning new technologies and improving existing systems. Contribute to a culture of quality and collaboration within the engineering team. AI-Native Engineering Our client expects engineers to be genuinely AI-native - not just familiar with AI tools, but actively using them to move faster, write better code, and solve harder problems. This role sits at the intersection of modern AI tooling and fintech infrastructure, and we want someone who treats AI as a core part of their engineering practice.