Job Description
As a Fintech Solutions Architect, you will play a crucial role in facilitating technical and commercial collaborations. Your expertise will be instrumental in creating end-to-end solution architectures, guiding the successful delivery of our products, services, and technology initiatives. This position offers an opportunity to contribute to our mission, vision, and values, ensuring effective and systematic progress.
Responsibilities
At Safaricom Ethiopia, we are a purpose
‑
led technology company dedicated to transforming lives through digital connectivity and inclusive financial services. In less than five years, we have grown to serve 15 million customers, with our network now reaching 62% of Ethiopia’s population — a testament to our bold vision and trusted partnerships.
Guided by our core values of customer obsession, innovation, integrity, and collaboration, we are building a workplace that is dynamic, inclusive, and empowering. We believe our greatest strength lies in our people. That is why, for three consecutive years, we have proudly earned the Top Employer Award — recognition of our unwavering commitment to fostering a supportive, innovative, and inclusive environment.
Join Safaricom Ethiopia and be part of a team that is shaping the digital future of Ethiopia. Here, your work has meaning, your voice matters, and your growth is our priority. Together, we are transforming lives for a digital future.
Role purpose:
The position holder shall develop and maintain end to end Technical Solutions that enable the organization to achieve its mission, vision, and values systematically through effective facilitation across multiple technical and commercial stakeholders and the development of end-to-end technical solution architecture artefacts that guide the successful delivery of products and services and technology enablers
Systems Design
Participate in the Strategy formulation sessions for both Technology & Commercial
Develop & maintain the high-level and low-level designs and champion adoption of leading practice methodologies for system design
Work with teams to ensure that all technical and commercial compromises with respect to system design are dealt with in a way that minimizes technical debt whilst maintaining BAU delivery.
Collaboratively oversee the development of the solution as per agreed architecture, evolving it throughout the delivery in the face of changing requirements and feedback from the team.
Set baseline through introduction of standards and working practices such as coding standards, design principles and tools.
Execute research and development for system design, experiment by building prototypes, frameworks and foundations to be consumed by the technical development team
Project Management Overview
Maintain a high-level overview of ongoing systems design projects
Champion the implementation of software projects within agreed timelines
Services Architecture
Define AS-IS and TO-BE services architecture guided by the business plans and ambition indicating integrations, protocols and connectivity details
Give guidance on integration options for Technical Solutions
Recommend solutions based on the most efficient architecture
Quality Management
Ensure application of best practice in Service Delivery Models
Drive adoption of ISO and ITIL into systems architecture and integration practices
Ensure uniform Standards across the integrations team
Knowledge Transfer
Ensure on the job training of the relevant teams
Ensure detailed and standardized documentation practices across the team
Participate in technical knowledge exchange sessions within the team
Core competencies, knowledge, and experience:
Business Competencies:
Working knowledge of all technical domains in telecoms including VAS, Charging, CRM and Digital Financial Services
Proven track record for delivery of large scale, complex projects delivering IT/Telco customer solutions; demonstrable leadership skills and organizational experience.
Creativity and Innovation
Excellent Problem-solving skills
Business Know how
Strong business acumen and mindset
Ability to guide/teach others in architecture principles
Working with Change
Excellent communication skills
Experience in planning medium to complex projects
Project and Programme Management
Certification in Agile Project Management will be an added advantage
Knowledge of Scrum/Kanban Agile methodologies
Functional Competencies:
Degree in Science/computer science/Engineering related.
Certification in Solution Architecture and Certificate in Cloud expertise will be an added advantage.
At least 2 years of broad technical background inclusive of databases, applications, Infrastructure, cloud, development, enterprise architecture, solutions architecture and system design experience
At least 1 year experience as a developer or systems engineer
Key performance indicator:
100% design & documentation of all solution designs
Skillset modernization – continuously upskill according to M-Pesa Technology yearly skillset modernization program.
Adherence to industry standards such as TOGAF , TM Forum in solution design
Qualifications
Must have technical / professional qualifications:
Working knowledge of all technical domains in telecoms including VAS, Charging, CRM and Digital Financial Services
Proven track record for delivery of large scale, complex projects delivering IT/Telco customer solutions; demonstrable leadership skills and organizational experience.
Desired
Certification in Solution Architecture and Certificate in Cloud expertise will be an added advantage