API Product Owner

Equity Bank, one of Africa’s leading financial institutions, is seeking an experienced and strategic API Product Owner to join its growing digital technology division. This key role bridges business and technical teams to drive the development and lifecycle management of the bank’s API products—powering the next wave of innovation in financial services.

Key Job Information

• Position: API Product Owner
• Location: Nairobi, Kenya
• Employment Type: Full-Time
• Experience Level: Senior (5+ years)
• Salary Range: Competitive and aligned with industry benchmarks

About Equity Bank

Equity Bank is a regional leader in digital banking and financial inclusion, operating in six countries and serving over 17 million customers. With a mission to transform lives and livelihoods, the bank continuously invests in cutting-edge technology to create inclusive, customer-centered financial solutions.

Equity Bank has positioned itself as a digital-first institution, with robust platforms and open banking initiatives driving innovation. Its APIs serve as the backbone for fintech partnerships, ecosystem integrations, and internal efficiency. By joining the bank’s technology division, you’ll become part of a purpose-driven, innovation-led environment with real impact on financial ecosystems across Africa.

Job Description

The API Product Owner will take ownership of Equity Bank’s suite of API products across their entire lifecycle—from ideation, design, and development to release, optimization, and deprecation. The role involves working across business units, engineering, and partner ecosystems to ensure Equity’s API offerings are scalable, reliable, and developer-friendly.

This is a strategic role at the intersection of product leadership, technical implementation, and digital innovation. You will drive roadmap decisions, prioritize features, manage agile squads, and influence the bank’s broader API strategy while ensuring alignment with governance and compliance standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Full API Product Ownership: Lead end-to-end API implementation, including scoping, design, development, testing, and go-live.
• Backlog Management: Maintain and prioritize a well-groomed product backlog, ensuring delivery squads build features that deliver value quickly and efficiently.
• Lifecycle Management: Own every stage of the API lifecycle—design, deployment, versioning, scaling, maintenance, and retirement.
• Release Planning: Develop structured rollout plans, including internal QA, beta releases with strategic partners, and phased launches.
• API Optimization: Monitor performance, reliability, and usage metrics to inform continuous improvement and product evolution.
• Backward Compatibility: Define and enforce policies to ensure seamless integration for existing users through version control and change management.
• Deprecation Management: Execute structured deprecation plans with clear communication, migration support, and minimal business disruption.
• Developer Experience: Collaborate with documentation and developer relations teams to ensure onboarding materials, tutorials, and portals are up-to-date and developer-centric.
• Analytics & Insights: Use data from analytics platforms, customer feedback, and operational dashboards to drive product decisions and roadmap planning.

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in software development, systems integration, or technical product roles.
• At least 2–3 years of proven success as a Product Owner or Product Manager in API-driven or digital platform environments.
• Solid experience managing cross-functional agile squads and translating business needs into user stories and technical deliverables.
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related field.

Technical Skills

• Deep understanding of RESTful API design principles, OpenAPI/Swagger specifications, and developer ecosystem standards.
• Hands-on knowledge of API gateways and management platforms such as Apigee, WSO2, Kong, Mulesoft, or Postman.
• Familiarity with DevOps, CI/CD pipelines, microservices, and cloud-native platforms like AWS, Azure, or GCP.
• Proficiency in Agile/Scrum methodologies, backlog grooming, user story writing, and sprint planning.
• Strong communication, stakeholder management, and prioritization skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience engaging both internal and external developer communities and managing partner integrations.
• Knowledge of API monetization strategies and the broader API economy.
• Understanding of API-first digital transformation within the banking and fintech sectors.

Benefits and Compensation

Equity Bank offers an attractive compensation package and numerous career development benefits, including:

• Market-competitive salary with bonus opportunities
• Comprehensive medical insurance for employees and dependents
• Pension and retirement savings plan
• Flexible working environment with opportunities for remote collaboration
• Professional development, mentorship programs, and access to technical certifications
• Engagement in high-impact fintech projects and innovations
• Supportive team culture committed to excellence, diversity, and collaboration

How to Apply

If you’re a visionary product leader looking for API Product Owner jobs in Kenya or are exploring career opportunities at Equity Bank, click the “Apply Now” button below. Submit your CV and a cover letter highlighting your experience in API platforms, agile product delivery, and digital innovation.

This is a rare opportunity to join a mission-driven organization shaping the future of banking across Africa through APIs and platform thinking. Bring your technical leadership to a place where it truly matters—apply now.