Java Backend Engineer (Senior) em Lisboa, Portugal

What if the only thing standing between a donor’s funding and the success of adolescent girls was a smarter way to verify impact? We’re building Imara Impact , a new line of business at Tiko designed to revolutionise outcomes‑based financing. We need a Java Engineer to build the engine that turns data from the field into the confidence donors need to change lives.

Tiko is an African nonprofit committed to strengthening the potential and resilience of adolescent girls across Africa. We address the “Triple Threat” of unintended pregnancy, HIV infection, and sexual and gender‑based violence by building local health ecosystems that provide stigma‑free, no‑cost, quality‑assured services.

We operate in six African countries (Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Burkina Faso, South Africa, and Nigeria) and have additional offices in Portugal, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.

About Imara Impact

Imara Impact is a transformative initiative incubated by Tiko. Our mission is to move significant capital into urgent causes affecting women and girls by solving a massive global problem: Outcome‑Based Financing is currently too slow, too expensive, and too complex. We are building a tech‑enabled, end‑to‑end solution that reduces complexity and utilizes AI‑driven verification to make outcome funding affordable, transparent, and accessible for governments, foundations, and individual donors alike.

Key Engineering Pillars

• Financial Infrastructure for Outcomes: developing a “single‑contract” FinTech solution that aligns with government procurement needs while allowing flexible reallocation of capital across geographies.
• AI‑Driven Verification & Fraud Prevention: using AI and the proven Tiko platform to automate data collection and verify real‑world impact.
• Ecosystem‑Scale Architecture: building a platform designed to serve the entire sector, beyond Tiko.
• Data Integrity for Social Good: managing sensitive health and educational data with the highest security standards.

The Job

We are seeking a Java Backend Engineer to play a vital role in the evolution of Tiko's digital ecosystem. In this position, you will build and maintain the Imara Impact software, ensuring that the backend is scalable, reliable, and secure.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and develop new features on the software platform, applying software engineering principles to design, development, maintenance, testing, and evaluation.
• Ensure that software you develop is secure and protects personal data.
• Actively participate in meetings and projects, coordinate with team members, and continue to develop professionally.
• Document your work clearly for future use by others.
• Participate in agile ceremonies and practices.

About You

You have in‑depth experience building software with Java from the ground up, are a logical thinker and natural problem solver, and want to use your technical skillset to make an impact.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 6 years of experience with Java backend tools and frameworks, including Spring.
• Focus on writing high‑quality, scalable code.
• Experience with microservices and AWS is highly preferred.
• Excellent English skills, both spoken and written.
• Currently based in Portugal, South Africa, or Kenya.

Benefits

• Competitive salary range:
  • South Africa: R72,734 – R121,223 per month
  • Portugal: €3,025 – €5,041 per month
  • Kenya: Ksh354,096 – Ksh590,160 per month
• Benefits and allowance tailored to your location.
• Flexible work arrangements, including remote or hybrid options.
• Personal development budget of €500 per year.
• Unlimited holiday days (coordinate with team).
• The opportunity to shape a growing, impactful product.
• A culture built on trust and minimal micromanagement.

Equal Opportunity Statement

We welcome candidates based in South Africa, Kenya, and Portugal.