Head, IT Software Engineering

Standard Bank Group is a leading Africa-focused financial services group, and an innovative player on the global stage, that offers a variety of career-enhancing opportunities – plus the chance to work alongside some of the sector’s most talented, motivated professionals. Our clients range from individuals, to businesses of all sizes, high net worth families and large multinational corporates and institutions. We’re passionate about creating growth in Africa. Bringing true, meaningful value to our clients and the communities we serve and creating a real sense of purpose for you.

Strategic Leadership

• Define and implement the software engineering strategy in alignment with the Bank’s technology and business objectives.
• Work closely with Head, IT Delivery to prioritize engineering initiatives and allocate resources effectively.
• Drive adoption of modern software engineering practices, including agile methodologies, DevSecOps, automated testing, and cloud-native development.
• Contribute to the Bank’s digital transformation roadmap through innovative software solutions.

Software Development & Delivery

• Oversee architecture, design, development, and deployment of banking applications, ensuring high performance, scalability, security, and regulatory compliance.
• Manage software development life cycles for projects, ensuring timely delivery, quality standards, and budget adherence.
• Establish and enforce coding standards, secure coding practices, and code review processes.
• Collaborate with solution architects to ensure software architecture meets enterprise standards and business requirements.
• Oversee integration of applications with core banking systems, digital channels, and third-party services (e.g. fintech partners, payment gateways).

People Leadership & Management

• Lead, mentor, and grow high-performing software engineering teams, fostering a culture of technical excellence, accountability, and innovation.
• Manage team capacity, career development, and succession planning for software engineers.
• Collaborate with HR on recruitment and retention strategies for critical software engineering talent.

Quality Assurance & Governance

• Ensure rigorous software testing practices, including automated testing, performance testing, and security testing.
• Work closely with Quality Assurance, Security, and Risk teams to ensure all software meets regulatory and internal control requirements.
• Maintain documentation for applications, codebases, and engineering processes.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Engage with business stakeholders to understand requirements and translate them into technical solutions.
• Serve as technical advisor to business units on feasibility, cost estimation, and solution options.
• Manage relationships with external vendors and partners supporting software development.

Financial Management

• Develop and manage software engineering budgets, controlling costs while ensuring quality and innovation.
• Evaluate cost-benefit of in-house development vs. third-party solutions.

Continuous Improvement, Emerging Technology & Innovation

• Stay abreast of emerging technologies and trends in banking, fintech, and software engineering.
• Introduce innovative solutions to improve customer experience, operational efficiency, and competitive differentiation.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement in processes, tools, and technologies.  

• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field.
• Master’s Degree or MBA is an added advantage
• Minimum 12-15 years’ experience in software engineering roles, with at least 5 years in a leadership capacity, preferably in the banking or financial services industry.
• Proven track record in managing large-scale software development projects.
• Strong background in enterprise application development, microservices architecture, APIs, cloud technologies, and DevSecOps practices.
• Experience working with core banking systems, digital channels, payment systems, and regulatory compliance in Nigeria.
• Sound knowledge of Nigerian banking regulations, CBN guidelines, and data privacy law

Technical Skills

• Proficiency in multiple programming languages (e.g. Java/Java Sprinbot, React, Angular, Node JS, C#, .NET, Python, Express, JavaScript, Ruby, Go, Swift/Kotin, etc.), Software engineering principles, Database (i.e. MongoDB, Postgres, Oracle, Sql etc.)
• Strong understanding of architectural patterns (e.g. microservices, event-driven architecture).
• Experience with modern software development practices (CI/CD, DevSecOps, containers, cloud-native development).
• Knowledge of API design and integration strategies.
• Agile development practices
• Good understanding of cybersecurity principles in software development.

Soft Skills

• Strong leadership and team management skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management.
• High problem-solving ability and analytical thinking.
• Business acumen with a strategic mindset.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, regulated environment.