Developer II

Clicks Group; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Clicks Group in Cape Town is seeking an Intermediate Backend Service Developer to design, build, test, and maintain RESTful services and microservices in a containerised environment, with strong .NET and C# focus. You’ll work with architects, analysts, testers, DevOps, and other developers to deliver reliable, scalable services.

The role emphasizes secure API design, CI/CD participation, automated testing, and documentation, with opportunities to progress toward senior backend leadership and

Qualifications

• 4–7 years of software development experience with a focus on backend or service development.
• At least 3 years building backend services using .NET and C#.
• Experience designing, building, testing, and supporting RESTful APIs in development and production.
• Experience integrating services with relational databases and internal/third‑party systems.
• Practical exposure to containerised development using Docker.
• Experience with source control, code reviews, automated testing, and CI/CD pipelines.
• Experience in an Agile delivery environment and collaboration across disciplines.
• Exposure to cloud platforms and container orchestration is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Develop, test, deploy, and maintain RESTful services and APIs using .NET/C#.
• Build microservices supporting defined business capabilities in distributed environments.
• Translate requirements into detailed designs and working software.
• Create containerised services with Docker and approved platforms.
• Develop integrations with internal/external systems via APIs and databases.
• Apply design patterns, secure development practices, and API standards.
• Implement authentication, authorization, input validation, error handling, logging.
• Create automated unit/integration tests and support QA and performance testing.
• Participate in peer code reviews and incorporate feedback.
• Diagnose defects and production incidents, contributing to root causes.
• Contribute to CI/CD pipelines, release automation, and deployment activities.
• Produce technical docs, API definitions, and runbooks.
• Participate in Agile ceremonies and provide delivery estimates and risk signals.
• Mentor junior developers with knowledge sharing and guidance.

Skills

Backend service development

REST API development

Microservices development

Software design

Code quality

Database development

Containerised development

Automated testing

Troubleshooting

DevOps collaboration

CI/CD

Communication

Planning and organizing

Cloud exposure

Education

Bachelor's degree or diploma in Computer Science/Software Engineering

Tools

.NET

Docker

Kubernetes

ASP.NET Core

Git

CI/CD tooling

Terraform

Job description

To design, develop, test, deploy, and maintain backend services that support enterprise applications and digital platforms. The role focuses on building secure RESTful web services and microservices in a containerised environment, with a strong emphasis on .NET and C#. The Intermediate Backend Service Developer works independently on well-defined delivery outcomes and collaborates with architects, technical leads, analysts, testers, DevOps engineers, and other developers to deliver reliable, scalable, and maintainable services.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, test, deploy, and maintain RESTful web services and APIs using .NET, C#, and related technologies.
• Develop microservices that support defined business capabilities within distributed application environments.
• Translate functional and non-functional requirements into detailed technical designs and working software.
• Build, package, and support containerised services using Docker and approved container platforms.
• Develop integrations with internal and external systems using APIs, databases, and asynchronous messaging where applicable.
• Apply agreed software design patterns, coding standards, secure development practices, and API standards.
• Implement appropriate authentication, authorisation, input validation, error handling, logging, and auditability.
• Create automated unit and integration tests and support quality assurance, performance testing, and defect resolution.
• Participate in peer code reviews and incorporate feedback to improve software quality and maintainability.
• Diagnose and resolve defects and production incidents, contributing to root-cause analysis and preventative improvements.
• Contribute to CI/CD pipelines, release automation, configuration management, and deployment activities.
• Produce and maintain technical documentation, API definitions, support guides, and operational runbooks.
• Participate in Agile ceremonies and provide realistic estimates, delivery updates, and early escalation of risks or dependencies.
• Support junior developers through knowledge sharing and practical technical guidance when required.

Job Related Knowledge

• Strong working knowledge of C#, .NET, ASP.NET Core, and object-oriented programming principles.
• Practical knowledge of REST API design, HTTP methods, status codes, versioning, pagination, validation, and error-handling conventions.
• Working knowledge of microservices architecture, service boundaries, stateless design, resilience, and distributed-system considerations.
• Containerisation concepts and practical use of Docker, including images, registries, configuration, and runtime diagnostics.
• Relational database concepts, SQL development, transactions, indexing, and data-access approaches such as Entity Framework Core.
• API security concepts including OAuth 2.0, OpenID Connect, JSON Web Tokens, authentication, authorisation, and secure secret handling.
• Software design principles and patterns, including SOLID, dependency injection, separation of concerns, and maintainable code practices.
• Automated testing principles, including unit, integration, contract, and API testing.
• Source control and collaborative development practices using Git and pull-request workflows.
• CI/CD concepts, automated build and deployment pipelines, environment configuration, and release controls.
• Observability fundamentals including structured logging, metrics, tracing, alerting, and correlation identifiers.
• Agile software delivery and the software development lifecycle.
• OpenAPI/Swagger specifications and technical documentation practices.

Job Experience

• 4 to 7 years of software development experience, with substantial focus on backend or service development.
• At least 3 years of practical experience developing backend services using .NET and C#.
• Experience designing, building, testing, and supporting RESTful APIs in development and production environments.
• Experience developing services that integrate with relational databases and internal or third-party systems.
• Practical exposure to containerised application development using Docker.
• Experience working with source control, code reviews, automated testing, and CI/CD pipelines.
• Experience working within an Agile delivery team and collaborating across analysis, development, testing, architecture, and operations disciplines.
• Exposure to cloud platforms, container orchestration, messaging, or event-driven solutions is advantageous.

Education

• Bachelor's degree or diploma in Computer Science, Information Systems, Software Engineering, or a related discipline, or equivalent relevant experience.

Preferred

• Relevant Microsoft .NET or cloud certification.
• Certification or formal training in Docker, Kubernetes, secure development, or API design is advantageous.

Job Related Competencies

• Backend service development
• REST API and microservices development
• Software design and code quality
• Database development and data access
• Containerised application development
• Automated testing
• Troubleshooting and root-cause analysis
• DevOps and CI/CD collaboration
• Analytical thinking and problem solving
• Attention to detail and quality orientation
• Accountability and delivery focus
• Collaboration and knowledge sharing
• Clear written and verbal communication
• Planning and organising
• Adaptability and continuous learning
• Customer and business awareness
• Kubernetes or an equivalent container-orchestration platform.
• Azure, AWS, or another enterprise cloud platform.
• Event-driven architecture and messaging technologies such as Kafka, RabbitMQ, or Azure Service Bus.
• API gateways and API management platforms.
• NoSQL databases and distributed caching technologies.
• Infrastructure as Code, such as Terraform or Bicep.
• DevSecOps practices, dependency scanning, and automated security testing.
• Application performance monitoring and observability platforms.

This role provides a development path toward Senior Backend Service Developer, Backend Technical Lead, or related specialist roles. Progression is supported through increasing ownership of complex services, deeper involvement in solution design, contribution to engineering standards, production support leadership, and mentoring of less-experienced developers.