Senior Software Engineer (Backend - Python/Django)

Placements24; Queenstown; Hybrid; NZD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Impactful agritech projects

Collaborative team in Queenstown

Health and wellness benefits

Generous PTO

Professional development budget

Modern office facilities

Team-building activities

Job summary

Placements24 in Queenstown is seeking a Senior Software Engineer specializing in Python and Django to design, develop, and maintain robust backend systems and APIs. You will collaborate with frontend developers, product managers, and stakeholders to deliver scalable software solutions for the agritech-focused platforms.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years of backend experience with Python and Django, strong database design skills (PostgreSQL/MySQL), and familiarity with cloud platforms and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field or equivalent practical experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of professional backend software development experience.
• Proven expertise in Python and Django.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain scalable backend services and APIs using Python and Django.
• Collaborate with frontend developers to integrate server-side logic.
• Design and optimize database schemas and queries for performance and reliability.
• Write clean, modular, well-documented code.
• Implement security and data protection best practices.
• Develop and maintain automated tests (unit, integration).
• Participate in code reviews and provide constructive feedback.
• Troubleshoot, debug, and upgrade existing systems.
• Contribute to architectural discussions and technology decisions.
• Work with product managers to translate requirements into technical solutions.

Skills

Python

Django

REST APIs

Git

PostgreSQL

MySQL

AWS/Azure/GCP

Docker

Asynchronous programming

HTML/CSS/JS

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field

Tools

Docker

Git

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a dynamic and rapidly growing technology company focused on developing innovative solutions for the agricultural sector, is seeking a highly skilled Senior Software Engineer specializing in Python and Django to join their team in Queenstown, Eastern Cape . This is a critical role where you will design, develop, and maintain robust backend systems and APIs that power our client's cutting-edge platforms. You will collaborate closely with frontend developers, product managers, and other stakeholders to deliver high-quality, scalable, and efficient software solutions. We are looking for a developer with a strong understanding of backend architecture, database design, and best practices in software development. This is an exciting opportunity to make a significant impact on a company that is revolutionizing an essential industry within Eastern Cape .

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain scalable and performant backend services and APIs using Python and Django.
• Collaborate with frontend developers to integrate user-facing elements with server-side logic.
• Design and optimize database schemas and queries for performance and reliability.
• Write clean, modular, maintainable, and well-documented code.
• Implement security and data protection best practices.
• Develop and maintain automated tests (unit, integration) to ensure code quality.
• Participate in code reviews, providing constructive feedback to peers.
• Troubleshoot, debug, and upgrade existing systems.
• Contribute to architectural discussions and technology decisions.
• Work closely with product managers to understand requirements and translate them into technical solutions.
• Stay current with emerging technologies and industry best practices.
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to the team's technical growth.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in backend software development.
• Proven expertise in Python programming and the Django framework.
• Strong understanding of relational database systems (e.g., PostgreSQL, MySQL) and ORMs.
• Experience designing and developing RESTful APIs.
• Proficiency in version control systems, particularly Git.
• Knowledge of frontend technologies (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) is a plus.
• Experience with cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP) is desirable.
• Understanding of software development best practices, including testing and code reviews.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and debugging skills.
• Strong communication and collaboration abilities.
• Experience with asynchronous programming in Python is a plus.
• Familiarity with containerization technologies (Docker) is an advantage.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and performance-based incentives.
• Opportunity to work on impactful projects in the agritech sector.
• Collaborative and supportive team environment in Queenstown .
• Comprehensive health and wellness benefits.
• Generous paid time off and holidays.
• Professional development opportunities and training budgets.
• Modern office facilities.
• Regular team-building activities.
• Direct impact on company growth and innovation.
• Flexible working arrangements.