Remote Principal Software Engineer

Placements24; Cape Town; Hybrid; ZAR 1,000,000 - 2,000,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Fully remote work with flexible hours

Professional development budget

Health insurance

Generous annual leave

Stock options or bonuses

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Principal Software Engineer for a fully remote role in South Africa. You will design, develop, and deploy scalable software, lead architectural decisions, and drive technical excellence across the team.

In this senior position, you will mentor engineers, collaborate with product and design, and promote best practices in CI/CD, testing, and code reviews. A strong background in distributed systems and cloud platforms is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field.
• 8+ years of professional software development experience.
• Proven experience with Python, Java, Go or C++.
• Deep knowledge of distributed systems, cloud computing, and microservices.
• Experience leading technical projects and mentoring engineers.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, test, deploy, maintain, and improve software across the full stack.
• Lead architecture and design of new and complex software systems.
• Write high-quality, maintainable, well-documented code.
• Mentor and guide other engineers; promote knowledge sharing.
• Collaborate with product managers, designers, and engineers to define features.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex technical issues.
• Drive best practices in software development, including code reviews and CI/CD.
• Evaluate and adopt new technologies to improve performance.
• Contribute to strategic technical planning and roadmapping.

Skills

Python

Java

Go

C++

Distributed systems

Cloud platforms

Microservices architecture

Leadership & mentoring

CI/CD

Agile methodologies

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in CS/Engineering

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a dynamic and forward-thinking recruitment consultancy, is actively seeking a highly accomplished Principal Software Engineer to join a cutting-edge technology firm. This role is entirely remote, offering unparalleled flexibility and the opportunity to work from anywhere within South Africa. As a Principal Software Engineer, you will be instrumental in designing, developing, and deploying complex software solutions that drive innovation. You will lead technical discussions, mentor junior engineers, and contribute significantly to architectural decisions. This position is ideal for a seasoned professional who thrives in a collaborative, remote-first environment and is passionate about building scalable and robust software. You will be part of a team that values technical excellence, continuous learning, and a strong sense of ownership. The successful candidate will leverage their expertise to tackle challenging problems and make a tangible impact on product development.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, test, deploy, maintain, and improve software across the full stack.
• Lead the architecture and design of new and complex software systems.
• Write high-quality, maintainable, and well-documented code.
• Mentor and guide other engineers, fostering a culture of technical excellence and knowledge sharing.
• Collaborate with product managers, designers, and other engineers to define and implement features.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex technical issues.
• Drive best practices in software development, including code reviews, testing, and CI/CD.
• Evaluate and adopt new technologies to improve system performance and scalability.
• Contribute to strategic technical planning and roadmapping.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 8+ years of professional software development experience.
• Extensive experience with multiple programming languages (e.g., Python, Java, Go, C++).
• Deep understanding of distributed systems, cloud computing (AWS, Azure, GCP), and microservices architecture.
• Proven experience in leading technical projects and mentoring engineers.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical concepts clearly.
• Experience with agile development methodologies.
• A strong portfolio of successfully delivered software projects.
• Must be based in South Africa and eligible to work remotely.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary commensurate with experience.
• Fully remote working arrangement with flexible hours.
• Opportunity to work on challenging and impactful projects with a leading tech company.
• Access to professional development budget for courses and conferences.
• Comprehensive health insurance coverage.
• Generous annual leave.
• Stock options or performance bonuses may be available.