Lead Software Engineer (Backend - Java)

Placements24; Vereeniging; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,400,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work

Health insurance

Career growth

Office in Vereeniging

Job summary

Placements24 in Vereeniging, Gauteng, seeks an experienced Lead Software Engineer (Backend) with a strong Java focus to design, build, and deploy scalable backend systems for fintech applications. You will guide a team of engineers, set coding standards, and shape the technical roadmap in a hybrid work environment.

The role requires leading backend services, mentoring engineers, and driving architectural decisions while collaborating with product and frontend teams to deliver robust financial

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field.
• 7+ years backend software development experience.
• Extensive Java and Spring Boot experience.
• Proven leadership and mentoring of engineering teams.
• Strong knowledge of microservices, RESTful APIs, and design patterns.
• Relational and NoSQL database experience; SQL proficiency.
• Cloud platforms and containerization experience (Docker, Kubernetes).
• Experience with CI/CD and agile methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, development, and maintenance of backend services using Java/Spring Boot.
• Mentor engineers and drive technical excellence across the team.
• Guide architectural decisions for scalable, reliable systems.
• Write clean, tested code and promote best practices.
• Collaborate with product, frontend, and stakeholders to define requirements.
• Implement and optimize SQL/NoSQL databases and data integrity.
• Champion CI/CD, automated testing, and deployment pipelines.
• Resolve production issues and improve development processes.

Skills

Java

Leadership

Mentoring

Microservices

REST APIs

CI/CD

Agile/Scrum

Cloud (AWS, Azure, GCP)

Docker

Kubernetes

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science/Software Engineering

Master’s degree (nice to have)

Tools

Spring Boot

Docker

Kubernetes

AWS/Azure/GCP

PostgreSQL/MySQL

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a prominent leader in the financial technology sector, is seeking an experienced and motivated Lead Software Engineer with a strong backend focus on Java to join their team in **Vereeniging, Gauteng**. This leadership position involves designing, developing, and deploying scalable, high-performance backend systems that power critical financial applications. You will guide a team of talented engineers, foster best practices, and contribute to architectural decisions. This hybrid role offers a dynamic work environment, balancing the collaborative energy of the office with the flexibility of remote work. Join us in **Vereeniging, Gauteng**, to shape the future of financial technology and lead impactful projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and maintenance of robust, scalable, and high-performance backend services using Java and related frameworks (e.g., Spring Boot).
• Mentor and guide a team of software engineers, providing technical leadership and fostering a collaborative development environment.
• Drive architectural decisions, ensuring systems are designed for scalability, reliability, and maintainability.
• Write clean, efficient, well-documented, and testable code.
• Collaborate with product managers, front-end developers, and other stakeholders to define technical requirements and deliver solutions.
• Implement and manage database solutions (SQL and NoSQL), optimizing for performance and data integrity.
• Champion best practices in software development, including code reviews, testing strategies (unit, integration, E2E), and CI/CD pipelines.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex production issues, ensuring minimal downtime.
• Stay updated with emerging technologies and industry trends to drive innovation.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of development processes and tools.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field; Master's degree is a plus.
• 7+ years of professional experience in backend software development.
• Extensive experience with Java and the Spring Boot framework.
• Proven experience leading software engineering teams and mentoring engineers.
• Strong understanding of microservices architecture, RESTful APIs, and design patterns.
• Proficiency with relational databases (e.g., PostgreSQL, MySQL) and SQL.
• Experience with NoSQL databases (e.g., MongoDB, Cassandra) is beneficial.
• Familiarity with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and containerization technologies (Docker, Kubernetes).
• Experience with CI/CD tools and practices.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and communication skills.
• Agile/Scrum development methodology experience.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and performance-based incentives.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Opportunities for professional growth, leadership development, and advanced training.
• Hybrid work arrangement for optimal work-life balance.
• Modern office facilities in **Vereeniging, Gauteng**.
• Generous paid time off and company holidays.
• Retirement savings plan with employer matching.
• Access to cutting-edge technologies and challenging projects in FinTech.
• Collaborative and supportive team culture.