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Principal Software Engineer

MasterCard Nairobi Full Time Posted 2026-10-30
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MasterCard is seeking a Principal Software Engineer in Nairobi to lead architecture and design across enterprise-scale systems and multiple teams. The role requires deep expertise in distributed, resilient, highly available platforms, public cloud, containers, orchestration, and hands-on technical leadership.

  • Lead architecture and design for enterprise-scale software systems and applications.
  • Influence architecture decisions across multiple teams and collaborate with product teams.
  • Build resilient, fault-tolerant systems supporting millions of daily transactions.
Source BrighterMonday Kenya Salary Confidential

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CountyNairobiCityNairobiContractFull TimePosted2026-10-30Close dateNot specifiedExperienceNot specifiedSourceBrighterMonday KenyaSalaryConfidential
Principal Software EngineerNairobiFull TimePayments TechnologyDistributed SystemsCloud ArchitectureTechnical LeadershipEnterprise Softwaresecurityinternshipentregadortechnology

AI summary

MasterCard is seeking a Principal Software Engineer in Nairobi to lead architecture and design across enterprise-scale systems and multiple teams. The role requires deep expertise in distributed, resilient, highly available platforms, public cloud, containers, orchestration, and hands-on technical leadership.

  • Lead architecture and design for enterprise-scale software systems and applications.
  • Influence architecture decisions across multiple teams and collaborate with product teams.
  • Build resilient, fault-tolerant systems supporting millions of daily transactions.
  • Set technical direction, develop talent, and drive engineering excellence.
  • Work with public cloud platforms, containers, and container orchestration.
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AI job guide

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AI salary guide

Source salary available

The source lists Confidential. Confirm the final pay, benefits, contract terms and allowances directly with the employer before accepting an offer.

Can you qualify for this role?

  • UnclearRelated work experienceThe text mentions experience, but the exact level should be confirmed at source.
  • PreferredPractical evidence in security, internship, entregadorThe tags and summary point to skills connected with this role.
  • RequiredAvailability to work in NairobiThe vacancy is associated with this location.
  • UnclearComfort with the Full Time contract termsConfirm hours, duration, probation and benefits at the original source.

Documents to prepare

  • Likely requiredUpdated CV
  • Role specificCover letter or short employer message
  • OptionalProfessional references
  • VerifyID or passport only after verifying the employer

Application tips for this job

  • Place your strongest Principal Software Engineer evidence in the first half of your CV.
  • In your cover letter or employer message, connect your experience to MasterCard and the role in Nairobi.
  • Add concrete examples related to security, internship, entregador, ideally with measurable outcomes or clear responsibilities.
  • Follow the instructions from BrighterMonday Kenya; avoid sending documents to unofficial contacts or copied links.
  • Confirm the deadline, interview location and employer contact before sharing personal documents.

Source and safety check

  • BrighterMonday Kenya
  • Original source link available
  • Application method is clear
  • Deadline not specified
  • No major risk signal was detected in the captured text.

Never pay for interviews, shortlisting, medical checks, uniforms, or job placement. Confirm every application at the original source before sharing personal documents. Report suspicious listing.

Interview preparation

  • What experience makes you a strong fit for this Principal Software Engineer role in security, internship?
  • How have you handled responsibilities similar to those in this job post?
  • Are you available to work in Nairobi under the listed contract or schedule?
  • Prepare examples with clear responsibilities, tools used and measurable outcomes.
  • Review the source and research MasterCard before the interview.

Ask what the first priorities will be in the role and how success will be measured.

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Original source description

As a Principal Software Engineer, you will:

Lead the architecture & design of software systems and applications

Influence architecture decisions across multiple teams

Collaborate with product teams to understand requirements, identify solutions, and provide technical thought leadership

Ensure solutions meet corporate security standards and adhere to operability principles

Drive a culture of engineering excellence

Build great relationships with technical peers across the organization

All About You

Broad experience as a Software Engineer / Full Stack Developer

Working experience across a variety of languages and frameworks

Experience designing distributed, mission-critical, highly available systems supporting millions of transactions daily

Deep understanding of resiliency, fault tolerance and scalability patterns

In depth knowledge of Public Cloud platforms, containers and container orchestration

Hands-on technical leader who consistently demonstrates leadership, builds trust, develops talent and inspires the team

High-energy, detail-oriented and proactive with the ability to function under pressure with minimal supervision

Have a passion for continuous learning and enjoy challenging opportunities

Strong communication skills – both verbal and written – with strong relationship building, collaborative skills and organizational skills

Drives outcomes through strong commitment to timely delivery of key objectives

Demonstrates strong decision-making skills

Required Experience

Experience in software engineering within enterprise-scale environments

Experience providing technical leadership, architecture guidance, or principal engineering contributions

Demonstrated success designing and delivering large-scale distributed systems and leading complex engineering initiatives across multiple teams

Proven track record designing and delivering large-scale distributed systems

Experience leading complex engineering initiatives across multiple teams

About Mastercard

Mastercard is a global technology company specializing in the payments industry. Our mission is to connect and empower an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere by ensuring transactions are safe, simple, smart, and accessible. Utilizing secure data and networks, strategic partnerships, and passion, our innovations and solutions support individuals, financial institutions, governments, and businesses in realizing their greatest potential.

Overview

Mastercard is looking for a talented Principal Software Engineer to join the Mastercard Foundry Research and Development team in our Nairobi office. In this role you will be part of a highly agile, AI native development team building innovative large-scale software platforms and solutions from ideation to release. Our team is built on a foundation of research and development, mining innovation internally, innovating new product lines with emerging technology, managing new products from inception to market validation and engaging strategically with start-ups to shape the future of commerce with and for our customers.

At Mastercard you will help define the future of commerce globally. As an architect on the R&D team, you will be at the forefront of the design of complex, large-scale data-oriented new product concepts. This is a hands-on role for an engineer who is deeply engaged in using Generative and Agentic AI through the full product development lifecycle. You will work on lean, high-performance pods to architect software solutions to rapidly evolving product concepts which heavily leverage Mastercard and other datasets. The team will rapidly experiment with and iterate on AI native ways of working.

Job Purpose

As a Principal Software Engineer, you will:

Lead the architecture & design of software systems and applications

Influence architecture decisions across multiple teams

Collaborate with product teams to understand requirements, identify solutions, and provide technical thought leadership

Ensure solutions meet corporate security standards and adhere to operability principles

Drive a culture of engineering excellence

Build great relationships with technical peers across the organization

All About You

Broad experience as a Software Engineer / Full Stack Developer

Working experience across a variety of languages and frameworks

Experience designing distributed, mission-critical, highly available systems supporting millions of transactions daily

Deep understanding of resiliency, fault tolerance and scalability patterns

In depth knowledge of Public Cloud platforms, containers and container orchestration

Hands-on technical leader who consistently demonstrates leadership, builds trust, develops talent and inspires the team

High-energy, detail-oriented and proactive with the ability to function under pressure with minimal supervision

Have a passion for continuous learning and enjoy challenging opportunities

Strong communication skills – both verbal and written – with strong relationship building, collaborative skills and organizational skills

Drives outcomes through strong commitment to timely delivery of key objectives

Demonstrates strong decision-making skills

Required Experience

Experience in software engineering within enterprise-scale environments

Experience providing technical leadership, architecture guidance, or principal engineering contributions

Demonstrated success designing and delivering large-scale distributed systems and leading complex engineering initiatives across multiple teams

Proven track record designing and delivering large-scale distributed systems

Experience leading complex engineering initiatives across multiple teams

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Source and provenanceSource: BrighterMonday Kenya. Last checked: 2026-10-30.Kazi Connect is a job discovery service, not the employer. Always confirm the vacancy at the original source.Summaries may be AI-assisted. Report inaccurate content.
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