Lead Software Engineer - Backend Services

Placements24; Paarl; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 2,000,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Performance bonuses

Medical aid

Stock options

Professional development

Job summary

Placements24 in Paarl, Western Cape, seeks a Lead Software Engineer to spearhead backend systems, mentor engineers, and drive architectural excellence in a microservices-driven stack. You will design scalable services, oversee the full SDLC, implement CI/CD, and collaborate with product and frontend teams to deliver high-impact telecommunications software.

Candidates should show 8+ years in software development with 3+ years in a lead role, strong back-end language expertise, and cloud/container

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field.
• Minimum of 8 years of professional software development experience, with at least 3 years in lead or senior role.
• Proven experience designing and building scalable microservices architectures.
• Expertise in at least one major backend language (Java, Go, Python, C#).
• Strong experience with relational databases (PostgreSQL, MySQL) and NoSQL databases (MongoDB, Cassandra).
• Knowledge of API design (RESTful, gRPC) and messaging queues (Kafka, RabbitMQ).
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and containerization (Docker, Kubernetes).
• Excellent leadership and communication skills.
• Experience with Agile, TDD/BDD practices.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of backend engineers.
• Architect and design scalable microservices.
• Oversee SDLC from design to deployment.

Skills

Backend architecture

Mentorship

Distributed systems

Java/Spring Boot

Go

Python/Django

Cloud platforms

Docker & Kubernetes

REST/gRPC

CI/CD

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in CS/Engineering

Tools

PostgreSQL

MySQL

MongoDB

Kafka

RabbitMQ

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a leading innovator in the telecommunications sector, is seeking an experienced and visionary Lead Software Engineer to spearhead the development of their core backend systems. This high-impact role involves leading a team of talented engineers in designing, building, and deploying scalable, high-performance microservices that power critical customer-facing applications. You will be responsible for architectural decisions, ensuring code quality, and driving technical excellence across the backend stack. The ideal candidate possesses a strong background in distributed systems, a passion for mentorship, and a drive to solve complex technical challenges. This is an exceptional opportunity to shape the future of telecommunications technology in Paarl, Western Cape .

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of backend software engineers, fostering a collaborative and high-performance environment.
• Architect and design robust, scalable, and maintainable microservices using modern backend languages and frameworks (e.g., Java/Spring Boot, Go, Python/Django).
• Oversee the entire software development lifecycle, from requirement analysis and design to implementation, testing, and deployment.
• Ensure the performance, quality, and responsiveness of applications by implementing best practices and effective coding standards.
• Drive the adoption of DevOps practices, including CI/CD, containerization (Docker, Kubernetes), and automated testing.
• Collaborate closely with product managers, frontend engineers, and other stakeholders to define technical roadmaps and deliver features.
• Conduct thorough code reviews, identify areas for improvement, and mentor team members on best practices.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex technical issues in production environments.
• Stay current with emerging technologies and propose innovative solutions to enhance the platform.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum of 8 years of professional software development experience, with at least 3 years in a lead or senior engineering role.
• Proven experience in designing and building scalable microservices architectures.
• Expertise in at least one major backend programming language (e.g., Java, Go, Python, C#).
• Strong experience with relational databases (e.g., PostgreSQL, MySQL) and NoSQL databases (e.g., MongoDB, Cassandra).
• In-depth knowledge of API design (RESTful, gRPC) and messaging queues (e.g., Kafka, RabbitMQ).
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and containerization technologies (Docker, Kubernetes) is essential.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Experience with Agile methodologies and TDD/BDD practices.

Benefits

• Our client offers a highly competitive salary package, including performance-based bonuses and potential for stock options.
• The comprehensive benefits include top-tier medical aid, generous retirement contributions, and substantial paid time off.
• Employees have access to continuous professional development opportunities, including specialized training programs, industry certifications, and conference attendance.
• You will work within a dynamic and innovative team, contributing to projects that have a significant impact on the telecommunications landscape.
• Join a company that values technical leadership and invests in its people.