Principal Software Engineer

Placements24; Pretoria; Hybrid; ZAR 1,800,000 - 2,400,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Fully remote

Health insurance

Professional development budget

Conferences and certifications

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a highly skilled Principal Software Engineer to join their fully remote team based in Pretoria. In this senior role, you will architect and develop high-performance systems that power core products, provide technical leadership, and mentor engineers across multiple teams from your home office.

You will drive architectural decisions, establish coding standards, oversee code reviews and testing, collaborate with product management to define roadmaps, and explore new

Qualifications

• Master's or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent industry experience.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in software development, with a proven track record of designing and delivering large-scale systems.
• Expertise in one or more modern programming languages (e.g., Java, C++, Python, Go) and their ecosystems.
• Deep understanding of distributed systems, microservices architecture, and cloud-native technologies.
• Experience with complex system design, performance optimization, and database technologies.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, essential for remote collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and implementation of scalable, resilient, and high-performance software systems and architectures.
• Develop and maintain critical backend services and APIs using best practices in software engineering.
• Drive technical strategy, set coding standards, and ensure the highest quality of software delivery through rigorous code reviews and testing.
• Mentor and guide mid-level and junior engineers, fostering their technical growth and promoting best practices.
• Collaborate with product management and other engineering leaders to define technical roadmaps and identify innovative solutions.

Skills

Leadership

Distributed systems

Backend architecture

Cloud-native

Mentoring

Code reviews

Education

Graduate degree (MS/PhD) in CS/SE

Tools

Java

C++

Python

Go

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking an exceptionally talented and experienced Principal Software Engineer to join their innovative, fully remote team, operating out of Pretoria . In this senior role, you will be responsible for architecting and developing complex, high-performance software systems that form the backbone of our client's core products. You will provide technical leadership, mentor other engineers, and drive architectural decisions across multiple teams. This is a unique opportunity to work on challenging problems, influence technical direction, and contribute to a culture of engineering excellence from the comfort of your home office.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design and implementation of scalable, resilient, and high-performance software systems and architectures.


• Develop and maintain critical backend services and APIs using best practices in software engineering.


• Drive technical strategy, set coding standards, and ensure the highest quality of software delivery through rigorous code reviews and testing.


• Mentor and guide mid-level and junior engineers, fostering their technical growth and promoting best practices.


• Collaborate with product management and other engineering leaders to define technical roadmaps and identify innovative solutions.


• Research and advocate for the adoption of new technologies and methodologies that can improve product quality and development efficiency.

Requirements

• Master's or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent industry experience.


• 10+ years of progressive experience in software development, with a proven track record of designing and delivering large-scale systems.


• Expertise in one or more modern programming languages (e.g., Java, C++, Python, Go) and their ecosystems.


• Deep understanding of distributed systems, microservices architecture, and cloud-native technologies.


• Experience with complex system design, performance optimization, and database technologies.


• Exceptional leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, essential for remote collaboration.

Benefits

• Top-tier compensation package, including competitive salary and stock options.


• Fully remote position with flexibility in working hours.


• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans.


• Generous professional development budget for conferences, courses, and certifications.


• Opportunity to work on technically challenging projects with a team of industry leaders.


• A strong culture of innovation, learning, and mutual respect.