Database Engineer

JOB DESCRIPTION: Database Engineer

Company: Paga

Sector: FinTech

Position: Database Engineer

Reports to: Software Team Lead/Senior Database Engineer

Location: Lagos, Nigeria

Experience: 1 to 6 years of database engineering experience

ABOUT PAGA

Paga is on a mission to enable one billion Africans and millions of SMEs to pay, preserve hard-earned income, participate in global trade, and purchase goods and services at home and abroad. We have built a multicurrency, cloud-based payments and financial services engine that leverages multiple business services built on the same best-in-class infrastructure to serve the ecosystem through three businesses - Paga Engine (Enterprise B2B - www.pagaengine.com); Paga (Consumer - www.Paga.com); and Doroki (SME Retail - www.doroki.com). Paga has three licenses with the Central Bank of Nigeria – mobile money, international remittance, and a microfinance bank. Paga is headquartered out of the United Kingdom and has operating entities in Nigeria, United States, and Ethiopia. Founded in 2009, Paga now serves millions of users and businesses across Africa and beyond.

Paga is a licensed financial services company and a leading payments company in Nigeria. Our purpose at Paga is to make it simple for 1 billion people to access and use money. We do that by delivering innovative financial services to the mass market across large, underserved markets.

We were founded on the simple belief that the growing ubiquity of the internet and mobile phones enables us to build an ecosystem that empowers everyone to digitally send and receive money and to use simple but meaningful financial services.

At Paga we value above all else, Collaboration, Ownership, Results Orientation, Integrity and Innovation (CORII).

As a Software Engineer - Mobile iOS Native at Paga, you will take on responsibility for implementing high-quality functionality for well-defined functional or technical areas of the iOS platform. You will design, build, and maintain native iOS applications that serve millions of customers across Africa. You will work within an agile, functionally-aligned team across a broad range of technical platforms and frameworks. You will participate in the full range of product development and product-maintenance activities including design, support, code review and training and be expected to engage consistently with other stakeholders across the organization within the functional areas that your work affects.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILL REQUIREMENTS

• A degree in a related discipline
• 1 – 6 years database programming experience
• Agile product development methodology experience
• Excellent SQL programming skills
• Strong knowledge and experience with database performance optimization and optimization application
• Working knowledge of database management concepts
• Strong Microsoft SQL specific applied knowledge
• PostgreSQL applied knowledge a plus
• MySQL specific applied knowledge a plus

TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS

• SQL Code Sophistication – Understands database programming concepts, from basic functional up to fairly complex programming constructs/techniques and applies them in their work. Can Implement complex, well-defined functions, scripts, stored procedures and triggers to a high level of quality to support application development.

• SQL Code Performance and Optimization - Is aware of significant database programming performance "smells" and avoids them independently. Considers performance in their implementation and leverages well known methods to produce performant code. Can identify issues related to database performance and provide corrective measures. Can evaluate existing data storage solutions and recommend improvements for performance efficiency

• Testing - Is fastidious about testing query results and testing the impact of potential write operations prior to provision for any production use. Takes pride in the accuracy of their results.

• No-SQL Database Knowledge - Can understand no-sql data source paradigms and implement data queries for no-sql databases. May have working knowledge in one or more common no-sql data stores.

• Abstraction Knowledge – Participates in database design and architecture to support application development projects. Develops rational database tables and dictionary designs

.

• Code Cleanliness and Organization - Produces clean and well-organized, well-documented code. Effectively documents database products and objects. Is meticulous about in-code comments to support reusable database objects

• Tool/Routine Automation - Is consistent about automating or “tooling” repetitive database engineering tasks to improve long-term productivity and institutionalize activities

• Bug Free Code - Produces bug-free code at a reasonable pace. Doesn't require much time or back-and-forth with testing to produce error-free code.

• Process Adherence & Development - Follows defined development processes with little or no oversight. Works well in an iterative, agile development environment and adheres to processes effectively.

NON-TECHNICAL VALUES & TRAITS

• Scope - Is able to take on specific, well defined, lower-complexity tasks and execute them effectively and to a high level of quality with supervision. May own small to medium features of the system from technical design through to completion with guidance.

• Initiative - Takes the initiative to reach out to superiors and senior peers whenever necessary for support and assistance. Takes initiative to effectively breakdown, prioritize and implement tasks tactically. Takes initiative to improve on design and strategic impact on the areas of responsibility in collaboration with feature stakeholders.

• Follow Through/Scrappiness/Grit/Availability - Sees tasks through to completion, focusing on quality and completeness rather than speed of execution. "Does what it takes" to marshal resources and support to drive tasks to completion efficiently.

• Mastery/Depth of Understanding - Is able to develop a sufficient understanding of the task at hand to execute it effectively. Develops strong, self-sufficient knowledge of a specific area of the system. Understands core system framework enough to be able to use them with minimal supervision. Capable of providing on-call support for areas of the system that they are familiar with. Understands company process and methodology well.

• Business Impact Awareness, Pragmatism - Takes direction effectively to implement tasks per instruction from managers. May make independent sensible design decisions that optimize business value of work. Avoids focusing on unimportant details and excessive bikeshedding.

• Vision & Strategic Perspective - Is able to understand the vision and strategic goals of the organization. Understands current business strategic goals and incorporates them in design and development decisions in an effective way. Demands an understanding of strategic motivations for their work

• Collaboration – Works well in a team environment composed of multiple product development skills. Is courteous, tactful and diplomatic. Responds positively to request for help from internal and external partners. Does his/her share of tasks. Takes on additional work, when asked, to help a colleague out. Keeps people informed of progress on key tasks.

• Ownership & Results Orientation – Demonstrates self-motivation and initiative taking in personal and professional level. Is comfortable with rapid change and is willing to take ownership to deliver results in a high-pressure product development environment. Takes decisive and accurate action to deliver value. Accepts responsibility for outcomes even when elements are not within his/her control, providing a balanced and objective explanation. Supports and encourages others to adopt a constructive attitude to the successful completion of work responsibilities. Share own successes and praise others for motivation. Motivates colleagues through their own enthusiasm and willingness to learn.

• Integrity – Is honest without fail. Treats everyone with respect. Expresses an interest in the way people behave, recognizing the importance of attitudes and motives. Acknowledges the good work of others. Pays close attention to the needs of others.

• Policy Adherence - Keeps up to date with rules and regulations. Applies policies, processes and procedures to daily working. Identifies and proposes solutions for improvements to ways of working.

• Communication – Shares technical and product-specific knowledge with team and company through 1x1 conversations, presentations, and support. Expresses ideas or facts clearly. Good written and verbal communication skills. Promotes two-way communication with others through correct interpretation of messages and appropriate responses. Communicates in a non-threatening way. Shows empathy.

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We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity inclusion. We do not discriminate on grounds of colour, race, nationality, religion, age, ethnic origin, disability, gender, marital status, or sexual orientation in our employment practices.