As an engineer at Mara, your role extends beyond feature development to encompass the creation of a robust “trust infrastructure.” This critical system ensures that every dollar is efficiently and securely allocated, directly supporting community-led organizations in delivering highly localized interventions. By doing so, you empower these organizations to effectively address the needs of women and girls in the most underserved areas.
We are seeking a highly skilled professional to join our team, entrusted with upholding and advancing our core engineering principles. The ideal candidate will possess expertise in architectural design, system optimization, and sustainable practices, ensuring alignment with industry standards and organizational objectives. Responsibilities include leading cross-functional initiatives, mentoring junior engineers, and driving continuous innovation to enhance operational efficiency and product quality. Candidates must demonstrate proficiency in relevant technologies, problem-solving capabilities, and a commitment to fostering a collaborative work environment. A minimum of five years of hands-on experience in engineering, along with strong leadership and communication skills, is required to succeed in this role.
We are tasked with designing a Fintech solution—a unified contract framework—that caters to government procurement requirements while enabling dynamic capital reallocation across diverse geographic regions.
AI-Powered Verification and Fraud Prevention: Leveraging artificial intelligence and the trusted Tito platform, the role automates data collection and validates real-world outcomes, transitioning from labor-intensive, costly manual audits to instantaneous, high-reliability data verification.
Ecosystem-Scale Architecture: Developing a comprehensive platform capable of serving the entire industry, extending beyond Tito to accommodate diverse organizations and funders within a unified, transparent ecosystem.
Ensuring the highest security standards for sensitive health and educational data, we uphold data integrity to advance social good, making “paying for what works” a global benchmark in philanthropy.
For this role, we are actively seeking candidates who are currently residing in South Africa and Kenya.
The Job
Our Java Engineering Team Lead oversees the leadership and growth of a team of software engineers while overseeing the development, enhancement, and upkeep of the Mara Impact software. Key responsibilities encompass guiding the team through technical challenges, fostering collaboration, and ensuring the delivery of high-quality solutions aligned with business objectives. Additionally, this role involves maintaining system stability, optimizing performance, and spearheading innovation to meet evolving project demands.
Guide and mentor your team members, fostering their professional growth and enhancing their skills through effective leadership and targeted development initiatives.
Design, implement, and maintain innovative features for the Mara Impact software platform.
As part of our agile-driven team, you will actively engage in iterative processes, collaborative rituals, and established best practices to drive project success.
The software engineering team’s tasks are organized and managed to ensure efficient execution.
Leveraging software engineering methodologies, we design, develop, maintain, test, and evaluate our software systems to ensure optimal performance and reliability.
You are responsible for guaranteeing the security and integrity of the software you create, with a strong emphasis on protecting sensitive data throughout its development lifecycle.
You ensure that all work performed is thoroughly documented and that the documentation is clear, concise, and accessible for future reference by colleagues.
About You
You possess extensive development expertise in Java, with a proven ability to architect and implement software solutions from inception. Your analytical mindset and innate problem-solving abilities drive you to leverage your technical proficiency to deliver meaningful contributions.
Requirements include a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, such as information technology, computer science, or engineering, and a minimum of three years of experience in IT support or a related technical role. Proficiency in troubleshooting hardware and software issues, strong problem-solving abilities, and familiarity with network systems are essential. Candidates must possess excellent communication skills to effectively interact with users at all levels, as well as the capability to work independently and manage multiple priorities. Additional qualifications may include certifications such as Compton A+, CCNA, or ITIL, along with a proven track record in providing timely and efficient technical support.
With a minimum of eight years of specialized experience in backend engineering, particularly in JVM languages, the ideal candidate will possess a deep understanding of scalable and performant systems.
Requires a minimum of three years of proven leadership experience directing a team of Java backend engineers, with accountability for performing team performance reviews.
Proficiency in Microservices architecture and Amazon Web Services (AWS) is required.
With a strong background in Java backend development, you bring deep expertise in the Spring framework, alongside proficiency with a range of other backend tools and technologies.
Proficiency in Salesforce CRM constitutes a valuable asset.
You aspire to do more than merely write code—you aim to design and implement robust, scalable systems that meet the highest standards of quality and performance.
You will be located in either Kenya or South Africa.
You possess strong proficiency in English, both written and verbal, with a keen ability to communicate clearly and effectively.
Qualifications
BA/BSc/HND
Experience Required
8 years
