Back End Developer

Skywaves Rise; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 600 000 - 800 000; Full time

Job summary

A dynamic tech company in Johannesburg is seeking an experienced Software Engineer to lead cloud migration and manage engineering teams. The ideal candidate has at least 4 years of experience in software engineering, strong backend development skills in Java, and expertise in leading high-growth teams. This contract position involves mentoring junior engineers, designing APIs, and implementing CI/CD practices. Competitive compensation based on experience.

Qualifications

• 4+ years in software engineering, including backend and mobile systems.
• Experience leading engineering teams in high-growth environments.
• Strong background in Java, especially Spring Boot.

Responsibilities

• Lead cloud migration efforts and manage engineering teams.
• Design and optimize RESTful APIs and integrate third-party services.
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to team development.

Skills

Software engineering experience

Cloud migration

Leadership in engineering teams

React Native

Backend development in Java

Azure services

Containerization (Docker, Kubernetes)

CI/CD pipelines

Agile / Scrum practices

Job description

Responsibilities4+ years of software engineering experience, including backend and mobile systemsProven track record in leading large-scale cloud migration and modernization effortsExperience managing distributed teams and delivering under high-velocity conditionsPrior involvement in DR setup, platform stabilization, or infrastructure takeover is a plus4+ years of professional software development experience, with 3+ years leading engineering teams or squads in high-growth, high-availability environmentsProven leadership in building and scaling cross-platform mobile applications using React Native, with in-depth knowledge of performance profiling, OTA updates, and native module integrationStrong backend development background in Java (Spring Boot), with experience designing and optimizing RESTful APIs, integrating third‑party services, and handling secure authentication flows (e.g., OAuth2, JWT)Played a technical leadership role in on‑prem to Azure migrations, including DR‑first architecture, blue‑green deployment strategies, and phased traffic cutoversHands‑on experience architecting cloud‑native systems using Azure services such as AKS, App Services, Azure PostgreSQL / MySQL, Redis Cache, Azure Front Door, and Application GatewaySkilled in containerization (Docker, Kubernetes), API gateway implementation, and service modularization to break down legacy monoliths into distributed servicesLed engineering teams through the design and implementation of CI / CD pipelines, infrastructure‑as‑code and deployment workflowsFamiliar with observability and incident response tooling (e.g., Azure Monitor, App Insights, Sentry, Datadog) to improve reliability, traceability, and debugging of complex systemsSuccessfully introduced engineering governance practices, including code reviews, linting, automated quality gates, and documentation standardsProven ability to drive engineering productivity, manage backlogs, reduce technical debt, and prioritize engineering effort based on business value and riskExperience coordinating with DevOps, QA, Security, and Product teams to align technical delivery with business objectives and user experience goalsDeep understanding of Agile / Scrum practices, with experience in sprint planning, estimation, story breakdown, and iterative deliveryMentored junior and mid‑level engineers, developed onboarding plans, and contributed to hiring, skill assessments, and capability development frameworksExposure to analytics, feature flag systems, crash monitoring, and telemetry for continuous improvement of app experience and backend reliabilitySeniority levelMid‑Senior levelEmployment typeContractIndustryIT Services and IT Consulting