Lead Backend Software Engineer

Placements24; Pietermaritzburg; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully remote work arrangement

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Professional development budget

Stock options or equity

Retirement plan with company match

Home office setup allowance

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Lead Backend Software Engineer to join a fully remote engineering team. You will design, develop, and deploy scalable backend services, lead architecture decisions, and mentor junior engineers to drive best practices in a distributed system environment.

The role emphasizes ownership, high-performance systems, and collaboration with product managers across a remote-first organization.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering or related field or equivalent practical experience.
• Minimum 7 years of professional backend development experience, with at least 2 years in a lead/senior role.
• Proven experience designing and building microservices architectures.
• Proficiency in Python, Java, Go, Node.js, or C#.
• Strong knowledge of RESTful API design and relational/noSQL databases.
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS/Azure/GCP) and containerization (Docker/Kubernetes).
• Git proficiency and excellent problem-solving, analytical and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain scalable backend services and APIs.
• Lead technical design and architecture of features and components.
• Mentor junior backend engineers and provide technical leadership.
• Collaborate with frontend, product managers, and stakeholders to implement features.
• Write clean, well-documented code following best practices.
• Manage database solutions ensuring data integrity and performance.
• Optimize for speed, scalability, and security.
• Troubleshoot production issues and perform code reviews.
• Stay updated with emerging backend technologies.
• Contribute to improvements in development processes and standards.

Skills

Leadership

Backend development

Problem-solving

Remote collaboration

Mentorship

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS or related field

Master's degree (advantage)

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

AWS

Git

PostgreSQL/MySQL

MongoDB/Cassandra

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a rapidly growing tech innovator, is seeking a highly skilled and motivated Lead Backend Software Engineer to join their fully remote engineering team. This is a unique opportunity to take on a leadership role in designing, developing, and deploying scalable and robust backend systems that power our cutting-edge products. As a remote-first company, we are committed to fostering a collaborative and productive virtual work environment where talent can thrive without geographical limitations. You will be instrumental in defining technical architecture, mentoring junior engineers, and driving best practices in software development. We are looking for a visionary engineer who is passionate about building high-performance, reliable applications and is adept at tackling complex technical challenges. This role requires a deep understanding of distributed systems, microservices architecture, and database management. The ideal candidate will possess exceptional problem-solving skills, a strong sense of ownership, and the ability to lead by example. Embrace the freedom and flexibility of a remote role while contributing significantly to our technological advancements. Your expertise will be crucial in shaping the future of our platform and ensuring its scalability and maintainability for years to come. We encourage applications from experienced professionals eager to make a significant impact in a fully remote setting.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain high-performance, scalable, and reliable backend services and APIs.
• Lead the technical design and architecture of new features and system components.
• Mentor and guide junior backend engineers, providing technical leadership and support.
• Collaborate with front-end developers, product managers, and other stakeholders to define and implement features.
• Write clean, well-documented, and maintainable code following industry best practices.
• Implement and manage database solutions, ensuring data integrity and performance.
• Optimize applications for maximum speed, scalability, and security.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex technical issues in production environments.
• Conduct code reviews and provide constructive feedback to team members.
• Stay abreast of emerging technologies and trends in backend development.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Minimum of 7 years of professional experience in backend software development, with at least 2 years in a lead or senior role.
• Proven experience designing and building microservices architectures.
• Expertise in one or more programming languages such as Python, Java, Go, Node.js, or C#.
• Strong understanding of RESTful API design principles and best practices.
• Extensive experience with relational databases (e.g., PostgreSQL, MySQL) and/or NoSQL databases (e.g., MongoDB, Cassandra).
• Familiarity with cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, or GCP.
• Experience with containerization technologies like Docker and Kubernetes.
• Proficiency in version control systems, particularly Git.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and debugging skills.
• Strong communication and leadership abilities, suitable for a remote team environment.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and performance-based bonuses.
• Fully remote work arrangement, offering unparalleled flexibility.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous paid time off and holidays.
• Professional development budget and opportunities for growth.
• Stock options or equity in a rapidly growing company.
• 401(k) or equivalent retirement plan with company match.
• Home office setup allowance.
• Collaborative and supportive remote team culture.
• Opportunity to work on challenging and impactful projects.