Black Pen Recruitment

Mid Level Backend Developer (Fintech)

Black Pen Recruitment  •  Cape Town, ZA (Onsite)  •  20 days ago
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Job Description

Our client is looking for a technically excellent and ambitious Mid Level Backend Developer to take ownership of our client’s technology systems. This is a hands-on role for a builder - someone who thrives on solving complex problems, writing clean code, and designing systems that scale.



You’ll be their key developer on the ground, with real autonomy and responsibility. Your work will power everything from credit decisions to compliance reporting and internal tools - while ensuring their systems stay reliable, efficient, and secure. You’ll collaborate closely with the South African business team and their Nairobi-based Group engineering team, leveraging shared services while aligning delivery with our in country priorities.

If you’re excited about working at the intersection of fintech, infrastructure, and impact - this role offers a unique opportunity to grow your skills while contributing to financial inclusion across South Africa.

Job type: Full time/Permanent

Location: Cape Town

Workplace: Onsite

Requirements

  • 2–3 years of experience in full stack or backend-focused development
  • Strong academic record in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, or similar (top university preferred)
  • Proficiency in Python, Java, or Kotlin, with working knowledge of relational databases and modern web frameworks
  • Familiarity with cloud services (preferably AWS) and containerization tools (e.g., Docker)
  • Proven ability to collaborate with remote/cross-country teams; strong written async communication.

Nice-to-Haves

  • Experience in fintech, lending, or working with data-heavy systems
  • Exposure to system architecture, microservices, and API design
  • Familiarity with financial integrations (e.g., credit bureaus, ID verification, payments)
  • Experience managing partner/vendor deliverables or contributing to a shared platform team.

Personal Attributes

  • Strong analytical thinker with high attention to detail
  • Independent and self-motivated - able to manage your own workload and timelines
  • Pragmatic problem-solver who enjoys full ownership
  • Clear communicator, able to bridge technical and business contexts
  • Curious, adaptable, and committed to building for impact

Responsibilities

Technical Development

  • Build and maintain fullstack applications that support lending operations, clientservices, and internal tools.
  • Extend and integrate with our loan management system, middleware APIs, and data dashboards.
  • Write clean, testable code and conduct reviews where relevant.

System Ownership

  • Ensure performance, reliability, and security across local infrastructure components.
  • Implement and maintain system enhancements and data flows for reporting, compliance, and credit decisioning.
  • Manage deployments, configuration, and version control for country-specific modules.

Collaboration

  • Act as the bridge between our South African business team and Group tech team.
  • Work closely with credit and operations to scope new features or improve existing processes.
  • Help shape the local tech roadmap in collaboration with cross-functional stakeholders.
  • Translate local requirements into clear specs/tickets and align scope/timelines with Group sprints.
  • Own the integration backlog with Group services (LMS, APIs, data lake) and track to closure. Coordinate releases and handovers with Group; test, sign off, and escalate blockers quickly.

Their Stack

  • Backend: Java (Fineract), Kotlin (Quarkus), Python (Django)
  • Frontend: Internal UIs and dashboards via Superset
  • Data & Storage: Supabase (Postgres), AWS (Parquet Data Lake)
  • DevOps: Docker, GitHub Actions, AWS

Why work with our client

  • Build for real-world impact: Help make housing finance more accessible through better technology.
  • Own your work: This is a high-autonomy, high-responsibility role with tangible results.
  • Work with purpose: Join a mission-driven fintech with clear social value.
  • Collaborate across disciplines: Gain exposure to credit, data, compliance, and strategic decision making.
  • Scale with us: Be part of a business that blends startup pace with operational discipline.
  • Cross-border collaboration: Work with an experienced Group engineering team in Kenya.
Black Pen Recruitment

About Black Pen Recruitment

Black Pen Recruitment is the leading recruitment agency in fintech and cryptocurrency across Africa. From our headquarters in Cape Town, South Africa, we've been at the forefront of specialised recruitment since 2012, carving out a distinct niche in the landscape of financial technology. Our success story is rooted in our ability to identify top-tier talent and match them with leading companies in the industry. With over 180 clients worldwide and over 120,000 candidates in our database, we've built partnerships with Startups, Scale-ups, SMEs, and Corporates, driving growth and innovation every step of the way. We have also expanded our reach into key sectors including e-Commerce, Digital Banking, SaaS, Tech, and Travel/Tourism.

Black Pen Recruitment stands as a dedicated partner in growing your team, with over a decade of experience. Driven by a vision to bridge the gap between talent and opportunity in the growing fintech and cryptocurrency sectors, we've built a formidable team of internationally trained recruiters who share a passion for excellence and dedication. With a strategic presence in Malta, we have established a global footprint, nurturing relationships with clients worldwide. Our journey has been defined by navigating the frontier of finance and technology, driving excellence in every partnership we forge.

Industry
HR & Recruiting
Company Size
11-50 employees
Headquarters
Cape Town, ZA
Year Founded
2012
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