Lead Software Engineer - Backend Systems

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

Benefits offered by this job

Excellent health insurance

Stock options or equity package

Annual professional development budget

Home office stipend

Fully remote with flexible schedule

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking an experienced Lead Software Engineer to drive backend development for a fast-paced SaaS startup. This fully remote role within South Africa requires leading a team, architecting scalable services, and ensuring performance and reliability of backend systems.

The ideal candidate has 7+ years of software development experience, 3+ years in leadership, and strong skills in Python/Java/Go/Node.js, microservices, REST, cloud platforms, Docker, and Kubernetes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or Software Engineering.
• 7+ years of professional software development, with at least 3 years in a lead or senior role.
• Experience designing and building backend systems with Python, Java, Go, or Node.js.
• Strong understanding of microservices, REST APIs, and distributed systems.
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP) and containerization (Docker, Kubernetes).
• Proficiency with databases (PostgreSQL, MongoDB) and caching (Redis).
• Familiarity with CI/CD and DevOps practices.
• Excellent problem-solving, debugging, and communication skills.
• Strong leadership and mentoring abilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of backend engineers.
• Architect scalable, high-performance backend services and APIs.
• Drive technical decisions and establish best practices for code quality and testing.
• Collaborate with product, design, and frontend teams to deliver features end-to-end.
• Ensure scalability, security, and reliability of backend systems.
• Oversee deployment and operations with DevOps collaboration.
• Conduct code reviews and promote technical excellence.
• Identify performance bottlenecks and technical debt.

Skills

Backend architecture

Microservices

REST APIs

Distributed systems

Cloud platforms

CI/CD

DevOps

Leadership

Remote collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/SE

Master's degree preferred

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a fast-paced technology startup focused on developing innovative SaaS solutions, is seeking a talented and experienced Lead Software Engineer to spearhead their backend systems development. This role is fully remote, offering the opportunity to work from anywhere within South Africa and contribute to a product that is revolutionizing the industry. You will lead a team of talented engineers, architect robust backend services, and ensure the scalability, performance, and reliability of our platform. The ideal candidate is a strong technical leader with a passion for clean code, modern architecture, and building high-quality software. You will play a pivotal role in shaping the technical direction and culture of our engineering team in a remote-first setting.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and inspire a team of backend software engineers.
• Architect, design, and implement scalable, high-performance, and reliable backend services and APIs.
• Drive technical decisions and establish best practices for software development, code quality, and testing.
• Collaborate with product managers, designers, and frontend engineers to deliver features end-to-end.
• Ensure the scalability, maintainability, and security of the backend infrastructure.
• Oversee the deployment and operational aspects of backend systems, working closely with DevOps.
• Conduct code reviews, provide constructive feedback, and promote a culture of technical excellence.
• Identify and resolve performance bottlenecks and technical debt.
• Stay abreast of emerging technologies and industry trends, evaluating their potential application.
• Contribute to the overall technical strategy and roadmap of the company.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field; Master's degree is a plus.
• Minimum of 7 years of professional software development experience, with at least 3 years in a lead or senior engineering role.
• Proven experience in designing and building complex backend systems using languages such as Python, Java, Go, or Node.js.
• Strong understanding of microservices architecture, RESTful APIs, and distributed systems.
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP) and containerization technologies (Docker, Kubernetes).
• Proficiency in database technologies (e.g., PostgreSQL, MongoDB) and caching mechanisms (e.g., Redis).
• Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and DevOps practices.
• Excellent problem-solving, debugging, and analytical skills.
• Strong leadership, communication, and mentoring abilities.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative, and remote team environment.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary commensurate with experience and leadership responsibilities.
• Fully remote work arrangement, offering flexibility and work-life balance.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance coverage.
• Generous stock options or equity package.
• Annual professional development budget for conferences, courses, and certifications.
• Opportunity to work on cutting-edge technology and shape a disruptive product.
• Collaborative and supportive team culture that values individual contributions.
• Company-provided equipment and a home office stipend.
• Regular virtual team-building events and social activities.
• The chance to make a significant impact on a growing tech company from anywhere in South Africa .