Head of Engineering, Field Verification

About the role

Moniepoint, an African financial platform, is looking for a Head of Engineering, Field Verification to join its Kenya team. Field Verification confirms that customers and businesses are real through in-person checks for KYC, and supports onboarding, loans, compliance and fraud. The current team is a lean squad without a dedicated engineering leader, and the role sets the direction for the platform.

Key responsibilities

• Own the technical strategy, architecture and roadmap of the Field Verification platform end to end.
• Move the platform from keep-the-lights-on operation to a prioritised, planned development.
• Lead and grow the cross-functional team and build the organisation as scope expands.
• Build the operational efficiency layer: trip and route optimisation, task allocation and capacity management for field officers.
• Own the client-facing APIs, webhooks and back office used by other business units.
• Deliver a native mobile experience for field officers.
• Ensure verification data is structured, auditable and fit for compliance scrutiny.
• Build for multi-country expansion and partner with Product and the dependent business units.
• Define architecture standards, engineering processes and quality metrics, and hire and develop engineers and Engineering Managers.

Required profile

• 10+ years of software engineering experience, with strong hands-on production and backend depth.
• At least 5 years of engineering leadership, including managing Engineering Managers.
• Built things yourself and grew into leadership; not someone who moved into management early.
• Capable across backend, web and mobile, with credibility in each.
• Problem solver first; experience across fintech, e-commerce, logistics or other industries is a positive signal.

Required skills

• Backend engineering in Java and Spring Boot.
• Strong plus: location and geospatial data, including map integrations.
• Strong plus: route, trip or delivery optimisation.
• Strong plus: building for compliance and experience with identity, KYC or verification platforms.