Lead Backend Engineer

Placements24; Polokwane; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Medical aid

Pension fund

Generous annual leave

Professional development

Leadership role in growing company

Job summary

Placements24 in Polokwane, Limpopo is seeking a Lead Backend Engineer to oversee the design and delivery of scalable, high-performance server-side systems. You will guide a team of backend engineers, define technical direction, and ensure reliable software solutions that meet stakeholder needs.

The role requires strong leadership, deep backend expertise, and hands-on collaboration with product, frontend, and operations teams.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of backend experience with 2+ years in leadership.
• Strong REST API design and implementation experience.
• Proficiency with relational and NoSQL databases.
• Experience with cloud platforms and containerization.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and development of scalable backend systems and APIs.
• Architect and implement efficient database solutions with data integrity.
• Collaborate with product managers and frontend engineers to set specs.
• Mentor backend engineers, promote best practices in coding, testing, deployment.
• Oversee code reviews and ensure architectural standards.
• Address performance bottlenecks and optimize backend infrastructure.
• Research new technologies to improve development processes.
• Ensure security and reliability of backend systems.

Skills

Team leadership

Backend development

RESTful APIs

Cloud platforms

Docker/Kubernetes

Databases (SQL/NoSQL)

Software architecture

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/Engineering

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

AWS/Azure/GCP

PostgreSQL/MySQL

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a fast-growing software development company based in Polokwane, Limpopo , is actively seeking an experienced and dynamic Lead Backend Engineer to oversee the development of their robust server-side applications. This is a key leadership role responsible for designing, building, and maintaining scalable, high-performance backend systems. You will guide a team of talented engineers, set technical direction, and ensure the delivery of high-quality, reliable software solutions. The ideal candidate possesses extensive experience in backend development, a strong understanding of software architecture, and excellent leadership capabilities. You will collaborate closely with frontend teams, product managers, and other stakeholders to bring innovative products to life. This is a significant opportunity to shape the technological future of a thriving company in Polokwane .

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design and development of scalable, robust, and high-performance backend systems and APIs.
• Architect and implement efficient database solutions, ensuring data integrity and performance.
• Collaborate with product managers and frontend engineers to define project requirements and technical specifications.
• Mentor and guide a team of backend engineers, fostering best practices in coding, testing, and deployment.
• Oversee code reviews, ensuring code quality, maintainability, and adherence to architectural standards.
• Identify and address technical bottlenecks and performance issues within the backend infrastructure.
• Research and evaluate new technologies and tools to improve development processes and system performance.
• Ensure the security and reliability of backend systems.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in backend development, with at least 2 years in a technical leadership or lead engineer role.
• Expertise in one or more server-side programming languages (e.g., Python, Java, Node.js, Go, C#).
• Strong experience with designing and implementing RESTful APIs.
• Proficiency in relational database systems (e.g., PostgreSQL, MySQL) and/or NoSQL databases.
• Solid understanding of software architecture patterns, microservices, and distributed systems.
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and containerization technologies (Docker, Kubernetes) is highly desirable.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and potential for performance bonuses.
• Comprehensive medical aid and pension fund.
• Generous annual leave and paid public holidays.
• Opportunities for professional development, training, and attending industry events.
• Leadership role in a growing technology company located in Polokwane .
• Exposure to modern technology stacks and development methodologies.
• Positive and collaborative team culture.