Lead Backend Developer - API Services

Placements24; South Africa; On-site; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical & dental insurance

Retirement fund

Paid leave

Training & conferences

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking an experienced Lead Backend Developer to spearhead the core API services in Tembisa, Gauteng. You will lead a skilled team, design scalable backend systems, and drive the technical vision for flagship products.

This full-time role requires on-site presence to foster agile collaboration and fast delivery. The ideal candidate has 8+ years in backend development, strong leadership, and expertise in Python/Java/Go/Node.js, REST, and database technologies.

Qualifications

• Master's or Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related discipline.
• 8+ years of backend development experience with leadership track record.
• Strong proficiency in at least one modern backend language (Python, Java, Go, Node.js).
• Deep understanding of RESTful API design and database technologies.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a backend team; foster collaboration and high performance.
• Design, develop, and maintain scalable backend services and APIs.
• Architect solutions for data integrity, security, and efficient data management.
• Collaborate with frontend, product, and stakeholders to define requirements and specs.
• Enforce code quality, testing, and deployment best practices.

Skills

Leadership

Backend development

RESTful API design

Cloud platforms

CI/CD

Education

CS/Software Engineering degree

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

PostgreSQL

MySQL

MongoDB

Cassandra

Job description

About the Role

Our client is looking for an experienced and highly motivated Lead Backend Developer to spearhead the development of their core API services in Tembisa, Gauteng. This is a pivotal role where you will lead a talented team of developers, architect robust backend systems, and drive the technical vision for our client's flagship products. You will be instrumental in ensuring the scalability, performance, and reliability of our backend infrastructure. The successful candidate will possess a deep understanding of backend technologies and a passion for building high-quality software. This role requires full-time presence at our Tembisa, Gauteng office to foster close collaboration and agile development practices.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of backend developers, fostering a collaborative and high-performance environment.
• Design, develop, and maintain scalable, reliable, and performant backend services and APIs using languages like Python, Java, or Node.js.
• Architect solutions that ensure data integrity, security, and efficient data management.
• Collaborate with frontend developers, product managers, and other stakeholders to define project requirements and technical specifications.
• Implement best practices in code quality, testing, and deployment, ensuring high standards across the team.
• Optimize application performance and identify areas for improvement.
• Conduct code reviews, provide constructive feedback, and ensure adherence to coding standards.
• Stay abreast of emerging backend technologies and trends, and advocate for their adoption where appropriate.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex backend issues, ensuring minimal disruption to services.
• Contribute to the strategic planning and technical roadmap for backend development.

Requirements

• Master's or Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Extensive experience (8+ years) in backend development, with a proven track record of leading teams and projects.
• Strong proficiency in at least one modern backend programming language (e.g., Python, Java, Go, Node.js).
• Deep understanding of RESTful API design principles and best practices.
• Experience with relational databases (e.g., PostgreSQL, MySQL) and/or NoSQL databases (e.g., MongoDB, Cassandra).
• Familiarity with microservices architecture and associated technologies.
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP) and containerization (Docker, Kubernetes).
• Solid understanding of software development lifecycle, Agile methodologies, and CI/CD practices.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to mentor and inspire a team of engineers.

Benefits

This position comes with a highly competitive salary, comprehensive medical and dental insurance, a generous leave policy, and retirement fund contributions. Our client invests in their employees' growth through ongoing training, workshops, and opportunities to attend industry conferences. Join a vibrant and innovative company culture in Tembisa, Gauteng, where your contributions are valued and your career can flourish. We offer a challenging yet rewarding work environment.