Backend Engineer

Luno; Wes-Kaap; Hybrid; ZAR 45 000 - 60 000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative crypto platform seeks a Backend Developer to join a team focusing on secure custody of digital assets. You will design and implement services integrating with blockchain infrastructures while ensuring high reliability and security of customer assets. Ideal candidates should have a strong background in computer science, extensive programming experience, and a mindset for continuous improvement. This role offers both remote working options and a collaborative environment within a supportive team culture.

Benefits

Remote but reachable work policy

Option to buy and sell up to 5 days leave

Private medical insurance

Access to learning platforms

6 months primary caregiver leave

Paw-ternity leave

Annual Inspiration Day

Qualifications

• Experience in crypto, fintech, or complex, high-trust domains preferred.
• Proven experience leading development efforts and guiding teams.
• Extensive programming experience in Backend technologies.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain secure microservices for custody operations.
• Design services that integrate with blockchains.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams on new capabilities.

Skills

Algorithms

Data structures

Software design

Backend technologies

Continuous improvement mindset

Education

BSc/MSc/PhD in computer science or equivalent

Tools

Go(lang)

Kubernetes

Docker

MySQL

Redis

Job description

About us

Luno is the crypto investment app you can rely on, enabling you to buy, store and explore crypto securely. We’re committed to putting the power of cryptocurrency in everyone's hands sensibly and responsibly. Since 2013, we’ve helped millions of people around the world invest safely in crypto. We do this by cutting through the hype and supporting customers at every step of the way. All products and cryptocurrencies on our platform must first meet stringent legal, risk and technical security standards. Transparency is key for us. Luno stores all crypto on a 1:1 basis and we have rigorous processes in place so you can be confident your investment is secure. We’re available in more than 40 countries around the world and we work closely with respective regulators in all of these markets to be fully compliant, as we believe this is the best way to help everyone, everywhere, invest safely.

The role in a nutshell

You’ll be joining a team focused on the secure custody of customers’ digital assets and the blockchain integrations that make those assets available on our platform. Custody is the foundational layer of a crypto exchange: it enables us to source, store, secure, and operationally manage digital assets so customers can buy, sell, send, receive, or otherwise use them. This pod designs and maintains the systems that make this possible, ensuring Luno can safely hold assets and flexibly support a wide range of blockchain-driven functionality.

Because digital assets live on blockchains, this pod is also responsible for building and operating the integrations that allow Luno to interact reliably with those networks. The systems you contribute to are mission‑critical—everything else at Luno depends on them being secure, efficient, and resilient. Your work directly underpins the reliability of our platform, the safety of customer funds, and the core infrastructure used by millions of customers worldwide.

Your mission will be

• Build and maintain secure, distributed microservices that support custody operations for millions of customers globally.
• Design and implement services and tooling that integrate with blockchains and custody infrastructure.
• Contribute to the architecture and security of systems that handle key management, transaction orchestration, and blockchain communication.
• Collaborate closely with cross‑functional teams to define, design, and deliver new custody‑related capabilities.
• Write testable, maintainable, and robust code that supports high‑reliability systems.
• Investigate and resolve issues, continuously improving the performance and resilience of custody and blockchain‑related services.
• Work on features that directly influence customer asset safety, operational reliability, and Luno’s core crypto infrastructure.

A little about you

• Background in computer science in areas such as algorithms, data structures, and software design.
• Experience building systems in crypto, fintech, or similarly complex, high‑trust domains preferred.
• Proven experience leading development efforts and guiding engineering teams through end‑to‑end project delivery.
• Extensive programming experience in Backend based technologies. Go(lang) is preferable.
• A continuous improvement mindset.
• BSc/MSc/PhD in computer science or other technical discipline, or equivalent working experience.
• To be friendly, transparent, articulate and driven to succeed.

What stack we work on

• Kotlin, Swift & Angular
• Go(lang), gRPC
• Kubernetes (EKS), Docker
• CloudFlare, CloudFront, nginx
• MySQL (RDS), Redis (ElastiCache), etc
• Prometheus, Grafana, CloudWatch Jenkins

Life at Luno

• Remote but reachable work policy gives you the freedom to choose between working from home or the office.
• Plus the option to buy and sell up to 5 days leave
• Improve body and mind, with excellent private medical insurance
• Access to Learnably and our additional learning platforms for your personal and professional development
• 6 months primary care‑giver leave
• Paw‑ternity leave for your furry friend
• Annual Inspiration Day in addition to your annual leave which increases based on your length of service!
• A collaborative, friendly work community, with regular social events and virtual cooking, dancing, drawing and house planting classes hosted by our Lunauts
• 0 fees up to a certain amount with Luno from the day you start.*
• Offer only available on Luno Instant Buy, not Luno Exchange

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.