Job Opportunities at Kyosk Digital Services

Role Profile:

• Kyosk is looking for a passionate Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) to work in the Quality Assurance (QA) team to help in the testing of the solutions developed by the software engineers on the leading edge of innovation in Africa. The successful candidate will be responsible for all aspects of test automation with the goal of achieving at least 95% test automation coverage. 
• As an SDET you will join the other Product and Technology professionals who share a passion for leveraging technology to empower informal retailers across the African continent. You’ll work with teams from multiple countries across the organization to create innovative solutions for Kyosk’s customers and internal teams.
• To be successful in this role you will need to be analytical, have high attention to detail, be able to carry out multiple tasks in tandem, support other team members when needed and still be able to deliver despite distractions. 

Key Responsibilities

• Test Automation: Create and maintain a comprehensive set of automated tests at all levels by referring to the technical and product documentation. Configure these automated tests to execute reliability and efficiently in CI/CD environments. Contribute to the following types of automated tests : performance, API and E2E tests using tools such as Playwright, Gatling, Postman. Recognise and automate the routine tasks which can reduce the time for regression testing. Track and communicate test results in a timely, effective, and automated manner.
• Test Coverage: Work towards attaining a minimum 90% test coverage on the service assigned to you. Automated tests should consider both positive and negative test cases, which will make code releases a faster and automated process thus reducing the time for manual automation, and allowing teams to do more exploratory testing. Be aware of new functionalities being added to your respective service and plan to add test cases consecutively. Actively work towards decreasing the testing time.
• Test Stability: Own the test pipeline triage and ensure pipeline failures are triaged promptly. This will ensure developers are not blocked on code merge. Carry out performance tests regularly to identify the systems’ breaking point. Communicate this information to the correct team members promoting a proactive behaviour to problem solution.
• Release Management: Be aware of items being released into production and identify gaps in the automated tests and plan for manual testing by communicating the same to manual test team members. 
• Domain Knowledge: Take time to deeply understand the Kyosk architecture by reading the technical and product documentation. This will allow you to quickly identify areas in which the issue has occurred which will reduce the turnaround time for the bug resolution.
• Team Collaboration: Interact closely with other cross functional teams towards the delivery of engineering goals. Be able to identify the effect of code change, and communicate the same to other dependent teams promoting proactive communication.
• Process Adherence: Adhere to agile processes identified by Kyosk. You are encouraged to find better ways of performing the day to day tasks, getting buy-in from team members and eventually updating the Kyosk Engineering SOP’s.

Minimum Requirements & Key Skills:

• 2+ years of writing automated tests by referencing technical and product documentation and have working experience with testing and deployment of software to real production environments;
• You have working experience of a test automation tool and have added the respective tests to a CI/CD pipeline
• Experience working with Agile methodologies, Scrum and demonstrated experience in working in end-to-end software development lifecycles.
• Proficiency with tools of the product and engineering trade such as JIRA, GIT, a CI/CD tool ex GCP, SQL etc.
• Working experience in any of the popular automation tools such as Cucumber, Cypress, Gatling, Postman etc.
• Have working experience in programming concepts such as OOP’s, Flow Control Structures etc 

Desired Technical Competencies

• Experience in expertly troubleshooting production issues leading to a quick turnaround to resolution
• Experience in e-commerce, payments, and/or distribution of FMCG products is a plus
• Certifications in any level of ISTQB is a plus
• Ability to independently plan, execute and deliver on tasks
• Aware of when to seek guidance when blocked ensuring project delivery is not compromised
• Experience in building test automation frameworks is a plus
• Able to understand developers code and create use cases for test automation is a plus 

Desired Behavioral Competencies

• You have experience in handling the pressure of fast-paced environments typical of a tech startup environment where you wear multiple hats and have access to limited resources 
• You have a strong desire for continuous improvement
• You can work under pressure, with tight timelines and ambitious deadlines
• You have a passion for digital products 
• You can stay motivated through difficult challenges, and occasional long hours
• Your passion is contagious, and you use it to inspire the rest of the team
• You have equal empathy for internal users, and our target market of informal retailers
• You have a strong work ethic and exhibit genuine care for the team and their products, with a willingness to go to any necessary length to ensure their success
• You have integrity: You do what you say you will do and make no excuses. 
• You develop a deep understanding and respect for what each team member is responsible for, and trust them to do their job
• Your confidence and experience make you trust your instinct and communicate persuasively. 
• You are detail-oriented, process-driven, and organized

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Role Profile

• We are seeking an experienced & skilled and Technical Product Manager (PM) to take full ownership of our core platform's strategy, ensuring it aligns with business requirements for scalability, stability, and security.
• As the Product Manager for our core platform, you will play a pivotal role in formulating and executing the strategic roadmap for its development. Your expertise will be central in defining how the platform meets our business needs and requirements, particularly in terms of scaling to accommodate growth, ensuring stability, and fortifying security measures.
• Your responsibilities will involve collaborating with cross-functional teams, including engineering, architecture, and operations, to ensure a cohesive and well-coordinated approach to platform enhancements. Your deep understanding of technical aspects and market trends will be essential in making informed decisions and leading the platform's growth.
• Success in this role hinges on your ability to navigate complex technical challenges, devise innovative solutions, and drive continuous improvements to optimize the core platform. If you are passionate about owning and shaping the technical direction of a core platform to meet business objectives and thrive in a fast-paced e-commerce environment, we invite you to join our team and play a crucial role in shaping the future of our company. 
• This is a rare opportunity to impact not just the future of Kyosk, but the future of digital service delivery across Africa.

Key Responsibilities

• As the  Product Manager for the Core Platform, you will play a critical role in driving the vision, strategy, and execution of our platform to support our e-commerce business. You will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including engineering, design, marketing, and customer support, to deliver cutting-edge solutions.

Product Ownership and Strategy:

• Take full ownership of the roadmap and strategy for the core software platform, ensuring alignment with the company's overall business objectives and product vision.
• Define the key features, functionalities, and improvements required for the core software platform based on technical requirements and market analysis.
• Drive the product strategy by collaborating with key stakeholders, including engineering, architecture, and executive teams, to prioritize initiatives that enhance the platform's performance and scalability.

 Technical Roadmap Development:

• Develop a comprehensive and detailed technical roadmap for the core platform, outlining major technology upgrades, system architecture enhancements, and infrastructure improvements.
• Work closely with the engineering team to identify technical debt, prioritize its resolution, and ensure the platform remains maintainable and scalable.

Market and Technology Analysis:

• Conduct thorough market analysis, focusing on technical trends and advancements, to identify opportunities for innovation and competitive advantage within the core platform.
• Stay abreast of industry best practices, emerging technologies, and advancements in software development, integrating relevant insights into the platform's strategy and roadmap.

Product Definition and Backlog Management::

• Collaborate closely with the engineering team to define clear and precise product specifications and user stories that address technical requirements and align with the platform's objectives.
• Take charge of grooming and maintaining the technical product backlog, ensuring that technical tasks and deliverables are prioritized effectively.

Agile Development and Release Planning:

• Champion and implement agile methodologies for the technical product development process, facilitating effective collaboration between product, engineering, and other cross-functional teams.
• Collaborate with the engineering team to plan releases, set timelines for functional solutions, and coordinate product feature delivery within development sprints.

Technical Documentation:

• Collaborate with technical stakeholders to create and maintain comprehensive technical documentation for the core software platform, including system architecture diagrams, API documentation, and technical specifications.
• Ensure that technical documentation is up-to-date, easily accessible, and serves as a valuable resource for development teams.

Product Performance Analysis:

• Establish and track key performance indicators (KPIs) for the core platform's technical aspects, regularly analyzing and reporting on these metrics to identify areas for optimization and improvement.
• Utilize data-driven insights to make informed decisions and prioritize future technical enhancements.

Collaboration and Communication:

• Foster effective communication and collaboration between cross-functional teams, including engineering, architecture, and product teams, to ensure a seamless and successful development process.
• Keep stakeholders informed of the progress of technical initiatives, milestones, and any potential risks to delivery.

Skills & Key Competencies

Required:

• Technical Background: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field. Demonstrated experience of 2-7 years as a product manager within a technical environment, with a strong focus on building and delivering customer-centric solutions for a core platform.
• Fintech Expertise: Between 2 and 5 years of hands-on experience in building Fintech applications or platforms, or integrating Fintech services into mobile or web applications. This includes experience in areas such as Buy Now Pay Later, Stock Financing, E-Wallet, Insurance, Savings, or Agency Banking.
• Communication: Excellent communication and presentation skills to effectively motivate, influence, and lead cross-functional teams towards common goals. Ability to secure buy-in from stakeholders, whether internal teams or executives. Capable of preparing and delivering product portfolio-related presentations both internally and externally.
• Ownership: Demonstrate a sense of ownership in taking on tasks and workstreams, showing commitment to seeing projects through to successful execution. Willingness to take responsibility when things go wrong and generously give credit to the team when things go well.
•  Collaboration and Agile Methodology: Proven experience in creating product plans and effectively communicating the product roadmap. Demonstrated success in working closely with Engineering, Design, and Data/Data Science teams using Agile methodology and development sprints.
• Time Management: Exceptional time management skills to differentiate between urgent and important tasks and effectively prioritize and plan work. Adaptability to thrive in a fast-paced environment with tight timelines and a desire for continuous improvement.
• User-Centric Approach: Strong user understanding and empathy, enabling the ability to co-create with end customers and address their pain points effectively. A keen eye for good design and user experience to drive product enhancements.
•  Work Ethic: Display a genuine care for the core platform and demonstrate a proactive attitude, willing to go the extra mile to ensure its success.

Desired:

• Empathy for Lower Socio-economic Segments: Experience in working with and understanding the needs of people in lower socio-economic segments, and a desire to develop solutions that cater to their specific requirements.
• High-Growth Startup Experience: Previous experience working in a high-growth startup environment, with a strong emphasis on speed and agility in product development and deployment.
• Toolset Familiarity: Familiarity with product management tools such as Jira, Confluence, and Productboard to streamline product development processes and enhance collaboration.