Remote Lead Backend Engineer - Microservices Architecture

Placements24; George; Hybrid; ZAR 1,200,000 - 2,000,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote work

Home office stipend

Learning & development budget

Career progression

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Lead Backend Engineer to drive the development of a cutting-edge microservices platform. You will lead architecture, mentoring a distributed team, and champion scalable backend systems from anywhere in the world.

You will design robust APIs, optimize performance, and promote DevOps practices across CI/CD pipelines, containers, and cloud services, while aligning with business goals and technical strategy.

Qualifications

• Minimum 8+ years in backend software development.
• 2+ years in a lead or senior architectural role.
• Proven microservices design and implementation experience.
• Strong knowledge of REST and gRPC APIs.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and implementation of backend microservices.
• Mentor engineers and promote best practices in code quality.
• Define architectural patterns and ensure scalable systems.
• Collaborate with product and frontend teams to translate requirements.
• Drive DevOps culture with CI/CD and IaC.

Skills

Backend development

Microservices

Team leadership

Cloud platforms

API design

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/Engineering

Master's degree (advantageous)

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

AWS

GCP

Azure

Kafka

RabbitMQ

Job description

About the Role

Our client is a pioneering technology firm seeking a highly motivated and experienced Lead Backend Engineer to spearhead the development of their cutting-edge microservices platform. This is a fully remote position, offering unparalleled flexibility and the opportunity to work with a globally distributed team. The successful candidate will be instrumental in shaping the future of our client’s software architecture, driving innovation, and ensuring the delivery of scalable, high-performance backend systems. You will play a critical role in guiding architectural decisions, mentoring engineers, and fostering a culture of technical excellence from anywhere in the world, with a focus on supporting our operations in George and beyond.

Key Responsibilities

Lead the design, development, and implementation of complex backend microservices using languages such as Python, Go, or Java. Define and enforce architectural patterns and best practices for microservices development. Mentor and guide a team of talented backend engineers, fostering their professional growth and ensuring code quality. Collaborate with frontend developers, product managers, and other stakeholders to translate business requirements into technical solutions. Optimize application performance, scalability, and reliability. Implement robust testing strategies, including unit, integration, and end-to-end tests. Manage and interact with various database systems (SQL and NoSQL) and caching layers. Champion the adoption of DevOps practices, including CI/CD, infrastructure as code, and monitoring. Troubleshoot and resolve complex technical issues in production environments. Stay current with industry trends and emerging technologies in distributed systems and backend development.

Requirements

Master's or Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent extensive experience. 8+ years of progressive experience in backend software development, with at least 2 years in a lead or senior architectural role. Proven experience designing and implementing microservices architectures. Deep expertise in at least one modern backend programming language (e.g., Python, Go, Java, C#). Strong understanding of containerization technologies (Docker, Kubernetes) and cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure). Experience with message queues (e.g., Kafka, RabbitMQ) and distributed databases. Excellent knowledge of API design principles (RESTful, gRPC). Demonstrated ability to lead and mentor engineering teams. Exceptional problem-solving, analytical, and communication skills. Experience with Agile methodologies and a strong advocate for DevOps culture.

Benefits

This role offers a highly competitive salary, performance-based bonuses, and comprehensive health and wellness benefits. We provide a generous allowance for home office setup and continuous learning stipends for professional development. Our client believes in empowering its remote workforce with the resources and support needed to thrive, offering significant opportunities for career advancement within a fast-paced, innovative environment. While the position is fully remote, it actively supports our presence and growth related to the Western Cape region.