Lead Software Engineer (Backend/Microservices)

Placements24; Sandton; Hybrid; ZAR 1,200,000 - 2,000,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical aid

Provident fund

Performance-based bonuses

Training & certifications

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Lead Software Engineer to lead the design, development, and deployment of scalable backend services and microservices in a fully remote role within South Africa. You will mentor engineers, drive technical strategy, and ensure high-quality, resilient software in a distributed team.

The ideal candidate has 7+ years in backend development, strong experience with Go, Python or Java, and a track record of leading engineering efforts.

Qualifications

• 7+ years in software engineering with backend focus.
• Proven experience leading teams or projects.
• Experience designing scalable microservices architectures.
• Deep knowledge of databases (SQL/NoSQL) and data modeling.
• Cloud experience (AWS/Azure/GCP) and containerization.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and development of scalable backend services and microservices.
• Architect fault-tolerant, distributed systems.
• Mentor engineers and drive technical strategy.
• Set up CI/CD pipelines and automation.
• Ensure security, reliability, and performance of production systems.

Skills

Go

Python

Java

Distributed systems

Microservices

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in CS/Engineering

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

Kafka

RabbitMQ

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a fast-paced technology startup renowned for its innovative solutions, is seeking a highly experienced Lead Software Engineer to join their distributed team. This is a fully remote position, offering the flexibility to work from anywhere in South Africa. You will be responsible for leading the design, development, and deployment of robust backend systems and microservices that power our client's core products. The ideal candidate possesses a deep understanding of scalable architectures, distributed systems, and modern programming languages like Go, Python, or Java. You will mentor a team of talented engineers, drive technical strategy, and ensure the delivery of high-quality, resilient software. We are looking for a technical leader who is passionate about building complex systems, fostering collaboration, and promoting best practices in a remote-first environment. This is an exceptional opportunity to shape the technical direction of a growing company and make a significant impact.

Key Responsibilities

Lead the design and development of scalable, high-performance backend services and microservices. Architect and implement robust, fault-tolerant, and distributed systems. Mentor and guide a team of software engineers, fostering a culture of technical excellence and collaboration. Drive technical decision-making and contribute to the overall software architecture strategy. Write clean, efficient, well-tested, and maintainable code in languages such as Go, Python, or Java. Collaborate closely with product management, front-end engineers, and other stakeholders to deliver features. Ensure the reliability, scalability, and security of production systems. Implement and improve CI/CD pipelines and automation processes. Conduct thorough code reviews and provide constructive feedback to team members. Stay current with emerging technologies and industry best practices in backend development and distributed systems.

Requirements

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience. 7+ years of professional experience in software engineering, with a strong focus on backend development. Proven experience leading engineering teams or projects. Expertise in designing and building scalable microservices architectures. Strong proficiency in one or more backend programming languages (e.g., Go, Python, Java). Deep understanding of database technologies (SQL and NoSQL) and data modeling. Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and containerization (Docker, Kubernetes). Familiarity with message queuing systems (e.g., Kafka, RabbitMQ). Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and architectural design skills. Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to lead and inspire. Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a fully remote, collaborative team environment.

Benefits

This position offers a highly competitive annual salary of ZAR , reflecting your extensive experience and leadership capabilities. As a fully remote role, you will have the ultimate flexibility to work from any location within South Africa. Our client provides a generous benefits package, including comprehensive medical aid, a provident fund, and performance-based bonuses. We are dedicated to your professional growth, offering ample opportunities for training, attending industry conferences, and pursuing advanced certifications. You will be part of an innovative and fast-paced environment, working with a talented and motivated team on cutting-edge projects. Join a company that truly embraces remote work and values technical leadership.