Lead Software Engineer - Backend

Placements24; Johannesburg; Hybrid; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical aid

Retirement contributions

Hybrid work model

Professional development

Conference attendance

Job summary

Placements24 in Gauteng seeks a Lead Software Engineer (backend) to guide a talented team, architect scalable systems, and shape technical direction across core products. This hybrid role blends hands-on coding with mentorship and strategic planning.

You will drive engineering excellence, implement robust APIs, and collaborate with product and frontend teams. The ideal candidate has 8+ years in software dev, 3+ in leadership, and a passion for building high-performance cloud-native services.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of professional software development experience.
• 3+ years in a leadership or mentoring role.
• Experience designing and building backend services with Python, Java, Node.js or Go.
• Strong knowledge of relational and NoSQL databases (PostgreSQL/MySQL; MongoDB/Cassandra).
• Solid grasp of microservices, RESTful APIs, and cloud platforms (AWS/Azure/GCP).
• Experience with containerization and orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes).
• Familiar with CI/CD, testing practices, and Git.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and manage a team of backend software engineers, fostering technical excellence and continuous improvement.
• Architect and implement scalable, high-performance backend systems and APIs.
• Collaborate with product managers, frontend engineers, and stakeholders to define requirements and deliver features.
• Drive technical decision-making, coding standards, and code quality through reviews and testing.
• Optimize performance, resolve bottlenecks, and ensure data security and integrity.
• Contribute to the technical strategy and roadmap; oversee production deployments and monitoring.

Skills

Python

Java

Node.js

Go

PostgreSQL

MySQL

MongoDB

Cassandra

Microservices

RESTful APIs

AWS

Azure

GCP

Docker

Kubernetes

CI/CD

Git

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science/Software Engineering

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a rapidly growing tech firm in Randburg, Gauteng , is looking for an experienced Lead Software Engineer with a specialization in backend development. This is a key leadership role where you will guide a team of talented engineers, architect robust and scalable solutions, and drive the technical direction of our core products. The ideal candidate possesses a deep understanding of backend technologies, a passion for building high-performance systems, and proven experience in leading engineering teams. You will be instrumental in shaping our engineering culture, mentoring junior developers, and ensuring the delivery of high-quality, reliable software. This hybrid role offers the flexibility to work both remotely and from our modern Randburg office, fostering collaboration and innovation. We are committed to building cutting-edge technology and are seeking a leader who can inspire and empower their team to achieve ambitious goals in the competitive Gauteng tech scene.

Key Responsibilities

Lead, mentor, and manage a team of backend software engineers, fostering a culture of technical excellence and continuous improvement. Architect, design, and implement scalable, high-performance, and reliable backend systems and APIs using modern technologies. Collaborate closely with product managers, frontend engineers, and other stakeholders to define requirements and deliver features. Drive technical decision-making, establish coding standards, and ensure code quality through rigorous code reviews and testing. Optimize application performance, identify and resolve bottlenecks, and ensure the security and integrity of data. Contribute to the overall technical strategy and roadmap of the company. Oversee the deployment, monitoring, and maintenance of backend services in production environments. Evaluate and introduce new technologies and tools to enhance development efficiency and system capabilities. Troubleshoot and resolve complex technical issues across the backend stack. Participate in agile development processes, including sprint planning, stand-ups, and retrospectives.

Requirements

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related technical field. A minimum of 8 years of professional software development experience, with at least 3 years in a leadership or mentoring role. Extensive experience in designing and developing backend services using languages such as Python, Java, Node.js, Go, or similar. Proficiency with relational databases (e.g., PostgreSQL, MySQL) and/or NoSQL databases (e.g., MongoDB, Cassandra). Strong understanding of microservices architecture, RESTful APIs, and cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP). Experience with containerization technologies like Docker and orchestration tools like Kubernetes. Solid understanding of software development best practices, including CI/CD, testing methodologies, and version control (Git). Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and debugging skills. Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to inspire and guide a team. Must be legally authorized to work in South Africa.

Benefits

Our client offers a highly competitive salary, performance-based bonuses, and a comprehensive benefits package, including medical aid and retirement contributions. This hybrid role provides the flexibility of remote work combined with collaborative office time in Randburg . Employees benefit from opportunities for professional development, attending conferences, and working with cutting-edge technologies. Join a dynamic team shaping the future of technology in Gauteng .