Lead Backend Engineer (Microservices)

Placements24; Mbombela (Nelspruit); Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,700,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Health benefits

Professional development budget

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking an experienced Lead Backend Engineer to join a fully remote engineering team. You will lead a backend team, architect microservices, and shape the technical strategy for scalable cloud-based solutions.

The ideal candidate has 6+ years of backend development, at least 2 years in leadership, and strong skills in Go/Java/Python/Node.js, Docker, Kubernetes, and cloud platforms (AWS/Azure/GCP). Remote work offers flexibility and impact.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering or related field.
• 6+ years backend development with 2+ years in leadership.
• Experience designing microservices architectures.
• Proficiency in Go, Java, Python or Node.js.
• Strong containerization with Docker and orchestration with Kubernetes.
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS/Azure/GCP) and managed services.
• Expertise in RESTful APIs and databases (PostgreSQL, MongoDB) and caching (Redis).

Responsibilities

• Lead design, development, and deployment of scalable microservices.
• Mentor backend engineers and foster technical excellence.
• Architect and develop high-performance APIs and backend services.
• Oversee service integration and inter-service communication.
• Enforce code quality, testing, CI/CD, and monitoring in a distributed system.
• Collaborate with frontend, product managers, and stakeholders on requirements.
• Ensure security, reliability, and scalability of backend systems.
• Troubleshoot production issues and stay updated on tech trends.

Skills

Distributed systems

Leadership

RESTful APIs

Backend development

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field

Tools

Go

Java

Python

Node.js

Docker

Kubernetes

AWS

Azure

GCP

PostgreSQL

MongoDB

Redis

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a rapidly growing SaaS company, is seeking an experienced Lead Backend Engineer with expertise in microservices architecture to join their fully remote engineering team. This is an exceptional opportunity to architect, build, and scale the backend systems that power innovative cloud-based solutions. You will lead a team of talented backend engineers, drive technical strategy, and ensure the delivery of high-performance, resilient, and secure services. The ideal candidate possesses a deep understanding of distributed systems, a passion for building scalable infrastructure, and proven leadership skills within a remote-first environment. Join a forward-thinking company that values technical excellence and offers the flexibility to work from anywhere.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and implementation of robust and scalable microservices architecture.
• Mentor and guide a team of backend engineers, fostering a culture of technical excellence and collaboration.
• Architect and develop high-performance APIs and backend services using modern programming languages and frameworks.
• Oversee the integration of various services and ensure seamless communication between them.
• Implement best practices for code quality, testing, CI/CD, and monitoring within a distributed system.
• Collaborate with frontend developers, product managers, and other stakeholders to define requirements and technical solutions.
• Ensure the security, reliability, and scalability of backend systems.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex technical issues in production environments.
• Stay abreast of emerging technologies and industry trends in backend development and microservices.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Minimum of 6 years of professional backend development experience, with at least 2 years in a technical leadership role.
• Proven experience designing and implementing microservices-based architectures.
• Proficiency in one or more backend languages such as Go, Java, Python, or Node.js.
• Strong understanding of containerization technologies (Docker) and orchestration platforms (Kubernetes).
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and their managed services.
• Expertise in building and consuming RESTful APIs.
• Solid understanding of database technologies (e.g., PostgreSQL, MongoDB) and caching mechanisms (e.g., Redis).
• Excellent problem-solving, communication, and leadership skills, with experience managing remote teams.

Benefits

This fully remote position offers a highly competitive salary, comprehensive health benefits, stock options, and a generous professional development budget. Our client provides a dynamic and collaborative virtual work environment, empowering engineers to make a significant impact. Enjoy the ultimate flexibility and autonomy while contributing to the development of cutting-edge SaaS products.