Remote Senior Backend Engineer

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

Benefits offered by this job

Remote work flexibility

Equity options

Health insurance

Paid time off

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a seasoned Remote Senior Backend Engineer to join a fully distributed engineering team. Design and build scalable backend systems powering a global user base, shaping architecture, and driving performance and security.

You will work on robust services with Go, Python, Node.js, or Java, collaborate with product and design, and contribute to CI/CD & infrastructure automation in a remote-first environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum 6 years of professional backend development experience.
• Expertise in at least one modern backend language (Go, Python, Node.js, Java).
• Strong experience designing RESTful APIs and microservices.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and deploy robust, scalable backend services and APIs.
• Lead architectural decisions and contribute to technical roadmap.
• Collaborate with front-end engineers, product managers, and designers.
• Optimize performance, identify bottlenecks, and ensure security of systems.
• Develop and manage database schemas and queries (SQL/NoSQL).
• Contribute to CI/CD and infrastructure automation.

Skills

Backend development

RESTful APIs

System design

Agile methodologies

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/Engineering

Tools

Go

Python

Node.js

Java

PostgreSQL

MySQL

MongoDB

Redis

Docker

Kubernetes

AWS

GCP

Azure

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a fast-growing SaaS company revolutionizing project management, is looking for a seasoned Remote Senior Backend Engineer to join their fully distributed engineering team. This role offers the opportunity to design, develop, and maintain scalable and reliable backend systems that power a global user base. You will be instrumental in shaping the architecture, implementing new features, and ensuring the performance and security of our client's platform. This is a remote-first position, providing flexibility and the chance to work with a talented, international team. We are seeking an innovative and proactive engineer who thrives in a collaborative, agile environment and is eager to contribute to a product that impacts millions.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and deploy robust, scalable, and high-performance backend services and APIs.
• Write clean, efficient, and well-documented code using modern backend languages and frameworks (e.g., Go, Python/Django, Node.js, Java/Spring).
• Lead architectural decisions and contribute to the technical roadmap for backend systems.
• Collaborate closely with front-end engineers, product managers, and designers to deliver seamless user experiences.
• Optimize application performance, identify bottlenecks, and implement solutions for scalability and reliability.
• Implement and maintain secure coding practices and data protection measures.
• Develop and manage database schemas and queries (SQL and/or NoSQL).
• Participate in code reviews, mentoring junior engineers and promoting best practices.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex technical issues in production environments.
• Contribute to CI/CD pipelines and infrastructure automation efforts.
• Stay abreast of emerging backend technologies and industry trends.

Requirements

• Minimum of 6 years of professional experience in backend software development.
• Expertise in at least one modern backend programming language (e.g., Go, Python, Node.js, Java).
• Strong experience with designing and building RESTful APIs and microservices.
• Proficiency with relational databases (e.g., PostgreSQL, MySQL) and/or NoSQL databases (e.g., MongoDB, Redis).
• Solid understanding of software architecture patterns, data structures, and algorithms.
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure) and containerization technologies (Docker, Kubernetes) is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with testing frameworks and methodologies.
• Excellent problem-solving, debugging, and analytical skills.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, comfortable working in a remote team environment.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

Benefits

• Fully remote work flexibility, allowing you to work from anywhere in South Africa.
• Highly competitive salary and equity options.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans.
• Generous paid time off and flexible working hours.
• Opportunities for professional development, including access to online courses and conferences.
• Chance to work on a high-impact product with a growing global user base.
• Collaborative and supportive team culture.