Senior Frontend Engineer Digital Payments

Job Title: Senior Frontend Engineer - Digital Payments

Employment type: Contract

Contract length: 12 months

Location: Nairobi Kenya

PURPOSE OF THE PROJECT

We are looking for a Senior Frontend Engineer to play a critical role in building high-quality elegant and responsive user experience using the latest front-end technologies. Embedded within a cross-functional tech squad this role works in close collaboration with backend engineers UX/UI designers and the Scrum Master to deliver high-quality features iteratively within sprint cycles.

Core Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

• Implement frontend features and enhancements for push provisioning flows within the M-Pesa app including wallet provisioning UI token management screens and user consent flows.
• Integrate CYBS (CyberSource) payment services into the M-Pesa application frontend implementing required UI components and user flows to specification.
• Execute frontend test scripts for acquiring/payment acceptance flows including UI-level functional tests and end-to-end test scenarios
• Collaborate with the UI/UX Designer to translate wireframes prototypes and design specifications into pixel-accurate responsive and accessible frontend implementations.
• Implement analytics and event-tracking instrumentation within the app frontend to support digital lift measurement and data-driven campaign tracking.
• Ensure frontend code meets performance standards: app load time rendering performance and network efficiency benchmarks defined in the projects performance budget.
• Build and maintain frontend unit and integration tests; contribute to automated UI testing frameworks where applicable.
• Work with Backend Engineers to agree and consume backend API contracts; surface and resolve API integration issues at the frontend layer.
• Support knowledge transfer by producing component documentation frontend integration guides and onboarding materials for internal team frontend engineering counterparts.

Knowledge and Experience:

• Extensive frontend/mobile engineering experience including production-grade mobile app development (Android iOS or React Native / Flutter cross-platform).
• At least 3 years in payments fintech or mobile money application development.
• Experience with frontend architecture design component library strategy and technical leadership.
• Proficiency in native Android (Kotlin/Java) / native iOS (Swift) or equivalent
• Experience consuming RESTful APIs and handling complex async data flows in frontend/mobile applications.
• Familiarity with mobile app testing frameworks and UI test automation.
• Strong understanding of mobile performance optimisation and network efficiency.
• Experience implementing third-party SDK or payment gateway integrations within mobile apps.
• Working knowledge of analytics/event-tracking SDK integration (Firebase Mixpanel or equivalent).
• Mobile frameworks: Kotlin / Swift or equivalent
• Design collaboration: Figma or equivalent.
• Analytics: Firebase Analytics Mixpanel or equivalent.
• Testing: Detox Espresso XCTest or equivalent mobile test frameworks.
• API testing support: Postman or equivalent.
• Version control: Git (GitHub / GitLab / Bitbucket).
• CI/CD: Fastlane / GitHub Actions / Bitrise / equivalent mobile CI.
• Performance profiling: Android Profiler / Xcode Instruments / equivalent.
• Issue tracking: Jira / Azure DevOps.
• Documentation: Confluence / SharePoint.

Mandatory Skills:

• Bachelors degree in Technology or a related field (Masters preferred).
• Previous experience within Banking Digital Payment & Card solutions or the FinTech industry.
• Excellent communication skills (written verbal and presentation) in English.

Preferred Skills:

• Direct experience with M-Pesa app development or comparable super-app / mobile wallet platforms.
• Familiarity with push provisioning flows digital wallet standards (e.g. Google Pay Apple Pay SDK integration).
• Knowledge of accessibility standards (WCAG) in mobile contexts.
• Familiarity with A/B testing frameworks and feature flagging tools.
• Experience with offline-first or low-connectivity mobile app design patterns (relevant for emerging markets context).