Junior Backend Developer

Signa Opportunity; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 250 000 - 350 000; Full time

Job summary

A technology company is seeking a junior backend developer in Johannesburg, South Africa. This role involves building new client-focused product features and maintaining existing systems. Successful candidates will possess a degree in a technical field and relevant programming skills. The ideal applicant will be a South African unemployed youth aged between 18-34, with knowledge in backend languages and a keen interest in technology. Training and opportunities for development are provided.

Qualifications

• South African unemployed youth between the ages of 18 and 34.
• Must not have participated on the YES programme before.
• Demonstrable interests in technology evidenced by personal projects or contributions.

Responsibilities

• Build end-to-end features across verification of APIs and the client portal.
• Assist with defining, publishing, and maintaining API contracts.
• Help build and maintain supplier connectors with retries and back-off features.
• Model and migrate MySQL schemas for requests, results, pricing, and billing events.
• Participate in CI/CD and deployment workflows.
• Support infrastructure configuration.
• Follow security and compliance guidelines.
• Write tests (unit tests and integration tests) and fix bugs.
• Maintain documentation for APIs and features.
• Help respond to incidents.

Skills

Backend language knowledge (Java, C#, SQL, Node.js, Python)

Familiarity with JavaScript, React

Basic understanding of databases

Familiarity with web fundamentals (HTML5, CSS3, HTTP/TLS)

Familiarity with DevOps practices (Git, CI/CD)

Basic Linux administration

Drive and curiosity

Education

Bachelors degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Physics or other technical field

Matric Certificate

Job description

About the Role

A junior backend developers main objective will be to build new client-focused product features, maintain existing products and features, and assist with reporting. They will work closely with IT team members and report to the Head of IT. They will also play an important role in shaping future product development along with the Head of IT, Head of Product, and CEO.

Responsibilities

• Build end-to-end features across verification of APIs and the client portal.
• Assist with defining, publishing, and maintaining API contracts and SDK snippets.
• Help build and maintain supplier connectors (REST/SOAP, queues, webhooks) with retries, back-off, idempotency, and rate limits.
• Model and migrate MySQL schemas for requests, results, pricing, and billing events.
• Participate in CI/CD and deployment workflows
• Support infrastructure configuration
• Follow security and compliance guidelines
• Write tests (unit test and integration tests), investigate issue, and fix bugs.
• Maintain documentation for APIs, features, and internal processes as worked on.
• Help respond to incidents

Requirements

• South African unemployed youth between the ages of 18 and 34.
• Must not have participated on the YES programme before.
• Matric Certificate (with results).
• Bachelors degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Physics or other technical field.
• Working knowledge of at least one backend language (e.g. Java, C#/.NET, SQL, Node.js, Python).
• Familiarity with JavaScript, React or other frontend languages and frameworks.
• Basic understanding of databases: SQL, schema design, indexing, query tuning, backup/restore.
• Familiarity with web fundamentals: HTML5, CSS3, HTTP/TLS, APIs, caching, CDNs, reverse proxy (Apache/Nginx).
• Familiarity with DevOps practices: Git, CI/CD pipelines, test, code review practices.
• Basic Linux administration practices and shell scripting.
• Demonstrable interests in technology (areas like automation, agentic workflows, scripting, databases, APIs, AI tools) evidenced by personal projects, blog posts, articles, research interests, contributions to open-source projects.
• What matters most: Drive, curiosity, and a desire to build great things.

Please consider your application unsuccessful when you have not heard from the Signa Opportunity team within two weeks of submitting your application.