Principal Software Engineer - Backend Systems

Placements24; Randburg; Hybrid; ZAR 1,000,000 - 2,000,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Fully remote work with flexible hours

Health, dental, vision insurance

Professional development budget

Home office stipend and equipment

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a highly experienced Principal Software Engineer to join our remote engineering team. You will lead backend services design, architect scalable systems, and mentor engineers while driving architectural decisions to shape our product roadmap.

The role requires deep backend expertise across Java, Python, Go, or Node.js, with strong experience in distributed systems, microservices, and cloud platforms.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum of 7 years of professional software development experience with a backend focus.
• Proven expertise in designing large-scale distributed systems and microservices architectures.
• Proficiency in one or more backend languages (Java, Python, Go, C#, Node.js).
• Experience with relational and NoSQL databases (PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, Cassandra).
• Strong knowledge of cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and containers (Docker, Kubernetes).
• Experience with message queues (Kafka, RabbitMQ) and caching (Redis, Memcached).
• Solid understanding of software design patterns, data structures, and algorithms.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and communication skills.
• Outstanding remote collaboration abilities.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain scalable, reliable backend services and APIs.
• Lead architectural design and implementation of backend systems aligned with technical strategy.
• Write clean, well-documented code in Java, Python, Go, or Node.js.
• Optimize performance, identify bottlenecks, and ensure scalability and reliability.
• Collaborate with frontend engineers, product managers, and stakeholders to define requirements.
• Promote best practices in code reviews, testing strategies, and CI/CD pipelines.
• Mentor junior and mid-level engineers to foster growth and high performance.
• Troubleshoot and resolve production issues and outages.
• Stay updated on emerging technologies and advise on adoption where appropriate.
• Contribute to technical documentation and system design discussions.

Skills

Backend design

Distributed systems

Microservices

Code quality

Remote collaboration

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science or Software Engineering

Tools

Java

Python

Go

C#

Node.js

PostgreSQL

MySQL

MongoDB

Cassandra

AWS

Azure

GCP

Docker

Kubernetes

Kafka

RabbitMQ

Redis

Memcached

Job description

About the Role

Our client is a rapidly growing technology company renowned for its innovative software solutions. We are looking for a highly experienced Principal Software Engineer to join our talented engineering team, working remotely. This senior role requires a deep understanding of backend systems architecture, distributed computing, and scalable software design. You will lead the development of critical backend services, mentor junior engineers, and contribute to architectural decisions that shape our product's future. As a remote-first organization, we value flexibility and collaboration, providing an environment where you can thrive and make a significant impact without geographical constraints.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain highly scalable, reliable, and performant backend services and APIs.
• Lead the architectural design and implementation of new backend systems and features, ensuring alignment with overall technical strategy.
• Write clean, efficient, well-documented, and maintainable code in languages such as Java, Python, Go, or Node.js.
• Optimize application performance, identify bottlenecks, and implement solutions for scalability and reliability.
• Collaborate with frontend engineers, product managers, and other stakeholders to define requirements and deliver robust solutions.
• Champion best practices in software development, including code reviews, testing strategies (unit, integration, E2E), and CI/CD pipelines.
• Mentor and guide junior and mid-level software engineers, fostering their technical growth and promoting a high-performance engineering culture.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex technical issues in production environments.
• Stay abreast of emerging technologies and industry trends, evaluating and advocating for their adoption where appropriate.
• Contribute to technical documentation, system design discussions, and strategic planning.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum of 7 years of professional experience in software development, with a strong focus on backend systems.
• Proven expertise in designing and building large-scale distributed systems and microservices architectures.
• Proficiency in one or more backend programming languages (e.g., Java, Python, Go, C#, Node.js).
• Extensive experience with relational and NoSQL databases (e.g., PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, Cassandra).
• Solid understanding of cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and containerization technologies (Docker, Kubernetes).
• Experience with message queues (e.g., Kafka, RabbitMQ) and caching mechanisms (e.g., Redis, Memcached).
• Strong grasp of software design patterns, data structures, and algorithms.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and debugging skills.
• Outstanding communication and collaboration abilities, essential for effective remote teamwork.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and stock options package.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Fully remote work arrangement with flexible hours.
• Generous budget for professional development, including courses, conferences, and certifications.
• Opportunity to work on challenging and innovative projects with a talented team.
• Home office setup stipend and equipment allowance.
• Generous paid time off and company holidays.
• 401k or equivalent retirement savings plan with company matching.