Backend Developer

Britam, one of Kenya's leading diversified financial services groups, is seeking a talented and experienced Backend Developer to join its innovative Betalab unit within the Partnership and Digital department. This is an exciting opportunity to work at the intersection of fintech and insurance, building cutting-edge digital solutions that serve millions of customers across Africa.

In this role, you will be responsible for the full lifecycle of backend development — from requirements gathering and database design to building robust APIs, microservices, and enterprise-grade application backends. You will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams including frontend engineers, product managers, and business stakeholders to deliver scalable, secure, and high-performance solutions.

• Design, develop, and maintain RESTful and event-driven APIs using Spring Boot and Go for both internal and external applications.
• Architect and build enterprise-grade application backends that are scalable, resilient, and maintainable.
• Optimize API performance through caching strategies, request batching, and efficient database query design.
• Collaborate with frontend teams to ensure API contracts align with business requirements and user experience goals.
• Implement and enforce security best practices including OAuth/JWT-based authentication, role-based authorization, rate-limiting, and input validation.
• Write clean, well-documented, and testable code adhering to industry standards and internal coding guidelines.
• Participate actively in code reviews, technical design discussions, and architecture planning sessions.
• Monitor backend service health, debug production issues, and drive continuous performance and reliability improvements.
• Integrate asynchronous messaging workflows using Azure Service Bus or Apache Kafka.
• Support CI/CD pipeline management and containerized deployments using Docker and Kubernetes.

• Hold a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrate proven production experience building and maintaining backend systems with Spring Boot and C# (.NET).
• Write and ship production-quality code in Node.js, TypeScript, or similar backend languages.
• Design and manage relational databases including PostgreSQL, MySQL, or Oracle — including schema design and query optimization.
• Implement API security patterns using OAuth 2.0, JWT, and modern authorization frameworks.
• Configure and work with message queue systems (Azure Service Bus, Kafka) to build reliable asynchronous workflows.
• Build and maintain services using server frameworks such as Express.js, NestJS, Apollo Server, or equivalent.
• Work proficiently with Git for version control and operate within CI/CD pipelines using tools like Jenkins, GitHub Actions, or Azure DevOps.
• Deploy and manage containerized applications using Docker and Kubernetes on cloud platforms such as AWS, GCP, or Azure.
• Communicate technical concepts clearly and collaborate effectively within cross-functional Agile teams.

Britam offers a competitive and market-aligned salary package. While the specific figure for this role has not been publicly disclosed, mid-to-senior backend developers at leading financial services companies in Nairobi typically earn between KES 180,000 and KES 350,000 per month, depending on experience and technical depth. The total compensation package at Britam is complemented by a comprehensive benefits programme befitting a top-tier employer in the Kenyan financial sector.

This role is ideal for a self-driven backend engineer with at least four years of hands-on experience in production environments, who thrives in fast-paced, innovation-focused settings. You are someone who takes ownership of technical quality, enjoys solving complex integration challenges, and is comfortable working across multiple technology stacks. Experience in the fintech, insurance, or financial services space is a strong advantage.

You should NOT apply if: you have only academic or theoretical exposure to these technologies without production deployments, if you are uncomfortable working in collaborative code-review-driven environments, or if you have no practical experience with cloud infrastructure or containerisation tools.

To apply for this position, visit the official Britam careers portal at www.britam.com/careers and search for the Backend Developer vacancy. Submit your updated CV, a cover letter highlighting your most relevant backend projects, and any links to portfolios, GitHub repositories, or case studies that demonstrate your technical capability. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so early submission is strongly encouraged.