Remote Lead Backend Engineer

Placements24; Pretoria; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Health insurance

Remote work from anywhere in SA

Conference attendance & training

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Lead Backend Engineer to join a fully remote engineering team in South Africa. You will shape the architectural direction of the core platform and mentor a team of backend developers to deliver scalable services and robust APIs.

The ideal candidate has 7+ years of backend experience with a proven lead record, strong knowledge of modern languages (Python, Node.js, Java, Go), and experience with relational/NoSQL databases.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in CS, Software Engineering, or equivalent experience.
• 7+ years in backend development with at least 2 in a lead role.
• Expertise in Python, Node.js, Java, Go, or Ruby.
• Solid experience with relational and/or NoSQL databases.
• Proven experience designing and consuming RESTful APIs.
• Familiarity with microservices and cloud platforms (AWS/Azure/GCP).
• Strong leadership and communication skills for remote teams.
• Ability to thrive in a fully remote, distributed team.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and maintenance of scalable, reliable backend services and APIs.
• Architect and implement robust data models and database solutions.
• Mentor and guide a team of backend engineers, fostering best practices and code quality.
• Collaborate with frontend developers, product managers, and stakeholders to deliver features.
• Write high-quality, well-tested, maintainable code using modern backend languages and frameworks.
• Conduct thorough code reviews and provide feedback to team members.
• Optimize application performance and identify areas for improvement.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex technical issues in production environments.
• Contribute to architectural decisions and technology roadmap planning.
• Stay abreast of the latest backend technologies and industry trends.

Skills

Leadership

Python

Node.js

Java

Go

REST APIs

Cloud platforms

Distributed systems

Remote collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS / Software Engineering or equivalent

Tools

PostgreSQL

MySQL

MongoDB

Redis

Job description

About the Role

Our client is actively seeking a talented and experienced Lead Backend Engineer to join their fully remote engineering team. This is a fantastic opportunity to shape the architectural direction of our client's core platform and lead a team of skilled backend developers. You will play a crucial role in designing, building, and scaling high-performance backend systems that power innovative applications. As a remote-first position, this role offers exceptional flexibility and the chance to collaborate with a diverse, globally distributed team. We are looking for a technical leader with a passion for clean code, robust architecture, and mentoring others to excel in their craft.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and maintenance of scalable, reliable, and secure backend services and APIs.
• Architect and implement robust data models and database solutions.
• Mentor and guide a team of backend engineers, fostering best practices and code quality.
• Collaborate with front-end developers, product managers, and other stakeholders to define and deliver new features.
• Write high-quality, well-tested, and maintainable code using modern backend languages and frameworks.
• Conduct thorough code reviews, providing constructive feedback to team members.
• Optimize application performance and identify areas for improvement.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex technical issues in production environments.
• Contribute to architectural decisions and technology roadmap planning.
• Stay abreast of the latest backend technologies and industry trends.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• 7+ years of experience in backend development, with at least 2 years in a lead or senior role.
• Expertise in one or more backend languages such as Python (Django/Flask), Node.js, Java (Spring Boot), Go, or Ruby.
• Strong experience designing and working with relational databases (e.g., PostgreSQL, MySQL) and/or NoSQL databases (e.g., MongoDB, Redis).
• Proven experience designing and consuming RESTful APIs.
• Familiarity with microservices architecture and related patterns.
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and related services.
• Understanding of testing methodologies and frameworks.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to thrive in a fully remote, collaborative team environment.

Benefits

• Our client offers a competitive salary, comprehensive health insurance, a generous vacation policy, and opportunities for professional growth and development, including conference attendance and training budgets.
• This is a fully remote position, allowing you to work from anywhere in South Africa.
• You’ll be part of a supportive and innovative team, working on exciting projects with cutting-edge technologies.
• We value work-life balance and provide the resources needed to succeed in a remote setting.
• Enjoy the freedom and flexibility of a remote role with a company that invests in its employees’ careers.