Senior Software Engineer
Safaricom PLC
Quick Take
You will design, build, and scale high-performance APIs and microservices that power Safaricom's digital products — including M-Pesa integrations — for over 40 million customers, while mentoring junior engineers and leading technical design reviews.
At least 5 years of software engineering experience with strong proficiency in Node.js, Python, or Java, plus hands-on experience with cloud platforms and microservices architecture.
This role offers an above-market salary of up to KES 380,000/month, the rare opportunity to build at massive scale for Kenya's most impactful tech company, and strong benefits including medical cover, training budget, and free airtime and data.
Job Description
Safaricom PLC, one of Kenya's leading telecommunications companies, is seeking an experienced Senior Software Engineer to become part of its Digital Products team based in Nairobi. This is a high-impact opportunity where you will be at the forefront of building and scaling digital solutions that serve more than 40 million customers across the country.
In this role, you will take ownership of critical engineering challenges, working closely with cross-functional teams to deliver robust, reliable, and innovative products that define how millions of Kenyans interact with digital services every day.
- Architect and develop high-performance APIs that underpin Safaricom's suite of digital services
- Build and manage integrations with M-Pesa and other payment platforms
- Spearhead technical design reviews and provide hands-on mentorship to junior members of the engineering team
- Partner with product managers to plan, prioritise, and deliver new features within agreed timelines
- Take accountability for maintaining 99.9% uptime across mission-critical services and systems
- A minimum of 5 years of professional software engineering experience
- Strong hands-on proficiency in at least one of the following languages: Node.js, Python, or Java
- Demonstrable experience working with cloud platforms such as AWS, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), or Microsoft Azure
- Solid understanding of microservices architecture and how to apply it in a production environment
- A Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or a closely related technical discipline
- Competitive salary package complemented by an annual performance bonus
- Comprehensive medical cover extending to the employee's immediate family
- Complimentary Safaricom airtime and data allocation
- A dedicated training and professional development budget to support continuous learning
This position is best suited to a seasoned software engineer who thrives in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment and is passionate about building technology at scale. You are someone who combines deep technical expertise with the ability to lead and inspire others, communicate effectively with non-technical stakeholders, and take pride in delivering reliable systems. If you are driven by the idea of engineering solutions that tangibly improve the lives of tens of millions of people across Kenya, this role is an excellent fit for you.
Interested and qualified candidates should apply for the Senior Software Engineer position at Safaricom PLC through the official Safaricom careers portal or the job listing page where this advertisement appears. Ensure your application includes an up-to-date CV that clearly highlights your relevant experience, technical skills, and educational background before submitting.
Requirements Breakdown
Must Have
- 5+ years of professional software engineering experience
- Strong proficiency in at least one of: Node.js, Python, or Java
- Hands-on experience with cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, or Azure)
- Knowledge of microservices architecture and distributed systems
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or a related field
Nice to Have
- Prior experience integrating with M-Pesa or similar payment APIs
- Experience building systems that operate at high availability (99.9%+ uptime)
- Track record of mentoring junior engineers or leading technical design sessions
- Familiarity with Safaricom's Digital Products ecosystem or fintech platforms in Kenya
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Salary Context
Above market rate for Senior Software Engineers in Nairobi
Senior Software Engineers in Nairobi typically earn between KES 150,000 and KES 280,000 per month, making Safaricom's range of KES 250,000–380,000 competitive and toward the top of the local market. Factors that push pay higher in this field include cloud expertise, fintech/payments experience, and the ability to operate at large consumer scale — all of which are directly relevant here.
About Safaricom PLC
Safaricom PLC is Kenya's largest telecommunications company and one of the most influential tech-driven businesses in Africa, best known for pioneering M-Pesa — the mobile money platform that has transformed financial inclusion across the continent. With over 40 million customers and a footprint spanning telecoms, digital services, and fintech, Safaricom operates at a scale that very few African tech companies can match. Working here means your code ships to millions of real users daily, making it one of the most impactful engineering environments available to a software engineer based in Kenya.
Likely Interview Questions
- 1
Walk us through how you would design a high-availability REST API that handles millions of requests per day — what architectural decisions would you make and why?
- 2
Describe a time you integrated with a third-party payments platform (such as M-Pesa). What challenges did you encounter and how did you resolve them?
- 3
How do you approach ensuring 99.9% uptime for a mission-critical service — what monitoring, alerting, and incident response practices do you rely on?
- 4
Tell us about a technical design review you led. How did you gather input from the team, resolve disagreements, and arrive at a final decision?
- 5
How have you mentored junior engineers in a previous role, and what approach do you take to raising the technical bar of an entire team?
Application Tips
Quantify the scale you've worked at in your CV — mention the number of users, requests per second, or transactions processed, as Safaricom will value candidates who have built for large, real-world audiences.
Highlight any direct experience with payment gateway integrations, especially M-Pesa's Daraja API, mobile money systems, or fintech infrastructure, as this is central to the role.
Showcase leadership moments: code reviews you led, junior engineers you mentored, or architectural decisions you drove — this role is senior and Safaricom will be looking for evidence of technical leadership, not just individual contribution.
Career Path
Roles that lead here
Where this leads
Skills & Keywords
Honest Assessment
Green Flags
- Salary range is transparent and above the Nairobi market average for this level, signalling that Safaricom is serious about attracting strong talent.
- Safaricom is one of Kenya's most reputable and financially stable employers, offering strong job security and brand credibility on your CV.
- The role offers genuine technical impact — building products used by over 40 million customers means your work has immediate, measurable real-world effect.
- The benefits package is well-rounded, including family medical cover and a training and development budget, which indicates investment in employee growth and wellbeing.
Watch Out
- The job description does not mention remote or hybrid work options, suggesting this is likely a fully on-site role in Nairobi — candidates outside the city should clarify before applying.
- Responsibilities are broad (APIs, payment integrations, mentoring, uptime, product collaboration) without clear team size or squad structure mentioned, which makes it harder to assess day-to-day workload and expectations.
A Day in the Life
A typical week would likely begin with a team standup and a technical design review session where you walk through API architecture decisions with product managers and fellow engineers. Mid-week, you might spend focused blocks writing or reviewing Node.js or Python code for a new M-Pesa integration feature, then jump into a code review session to give structured feedback to junior engineers on the team. By Friday, you could be monitoring deployment dashboards and SLA metrics to ensure the services you own are hitting the 99.9% uptime target, while wrapping up a technical spec document for an upcoming sprint — all within Safaricom's fast-paced Digital Products environment in Nairobi.
Frequently Asked Questions
What qualifications do I need to become a Senior Software Engineer at Safaricom PLC?
You need at least 5 years of software engineering experience, a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or a related field, and strong proficiency in Node.js, Python, or Java along with cloud platform experience (AWS, GCP, or Azure).
Is the Senior Software Engineer role at Safaricom PLC remote or hybrid?
The posting lists the location as Nairobi with no mention of remote or hybrid arrangements, suggesting this is an on-site role — it's worth confirming the working model directly with Safaricom during the application process.
How much does a Senior Software Engineer earn at Safaricom PLC?
Safaricom is offering a salary range of KES 250,000 to KES 380,000 per month, plus an annual bonus — this is above the typical Nairobi market rate for this level and one of the stronger compensation packages available in Kenya's tech sector.
What are the career growth opportunities for a Senior Software Engineer at Safaricom?
This role provides a strong platform to progress into Principal or Staff Engineer positions, or transition into engineering leadership as an Engineering Manager, especially given the mentoring responsibilities and technical leadership expected at this level.
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