Remote Senior Backend Engineer

Placements24; Stellenbosch; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote work

Home office stipend

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Remote Senior Backend Engineer in South Africa to design, develop, and scale server-side logic for our client’s SaaS products. You will build robust APIs, collaborate asynchronously with a distributed team, and own critical backend components in a remote-first environment.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years of backend experience, proficiency in Python/Node.js/Go/Java, and strong API design skills (REST/GraphQL).

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in CS/Software Engineering or related field.
• 5+ years of professional backend development experience.
• Proficiency in one or more backend languages such as Python, Node.js, Go, or Java.
• Strong experience designing RESTful and GraphQL APIs.
• Experience with relational and NoSQL databases.
• Familiarity with cloud platforms and containerization (AWS/GCP/Azure, Docker).
• Experience with messaging systems (RabbitMQ, Kafka) is a plus.
• Excellent communication for remote collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and deploy scalable backend services and APIs.
• Write clean, maintainable, and well-tested code using modern backend languages/frameworks.
• Collaborate asynchronously with remote teammates across time zones to ship features.
• Optimize applications for speed, scalability, and reliability.
• Manage database schemas and ensure data integrity and performance.
• Implement security measures and data protection strategies.
• Participate in code reviews and provide constructive feedback.
• Troubleshoot production issues and resolve them promptly.
• Contribute to backend architecture discussions and decisions.
• Stay updated with latest backend technologies and best practices.

Skills

Backend languages

REST/GraphQL APIs

Distributed systems

Remote work experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field

Tools

Docker

AWS/GCP/Azure

PostgreSQL/MySQL

Redis

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a leading innovator in the SaaS industry, is actively seeking a talented and motivated Remote Senior Backend Engineer to join their distributed team. This position is fully remote, allowing you to work from anywhere within South Africa. You will be instrumental in designing, developing, and maintaining the server-side logic of our client's cutting-edge applications. The focus will be on building scalable, reliable, and high-performance APIs and services that power their innovative product suite. This is an exceptional opportunity for an experienced engineer who thrives in a remote-first environment, values autonomy, and is passionate about creating robust backend systems. You'll collaborate closely with front-end developers, product managers, and other engineers in a virtual setting, contributing significantly to the product's evolution.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and deploy scalable and efficient backend services and APIs.
• Write clean, maintainable, and well-tested code using modern backend languages and frameworks.
• Collaborate asynchronously with remote team members across different time zones to define, design, and ship new features.
• Optimize applications for maximum speed, scalability, and reliability.
• Manage database schemas and interactions, ensuring data integrity and performance.
• Implement robust security measures and data protection strategies.
• Participate in code reviews, offering constructive feedback to peers.
• Troubleshoot, debug, and resolve production issues in a timely manner.
• Contribute to architectural discussions and decisions for backend systems.
• Stay abreast of the latest backend technologies and best practices.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• 5+ years of professional backend development experience.
• Proficiency in one or more backend programming languages such as Python, Node.js, Go, or Java.
• Strong experience with API design principles (RESTful, GraphQL).
• Experience with relational databases (e.g., PostgreSQL, MySQL) and/or NoSQL databases (e.g., MongoDB, Cassandra).
• Familiarity with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and containerization technologies (Docker).
• Experience with message queues (e.g., RabbitMQ, Kafka) is a plus.
• Excellent understanding of software development principles and best practices.
• Proven ability to work independently and effectively in a remote, asynchronous environment.
• Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills for remote collaboration.

Benefits

Our client offers a highly competitive salary and a comprehensive remote benefits package designed for distributed teams. This includes a generous annual salary, contributions towards home office setup, and flexible working hours. We foster a culture that prioritizes work-life balance and employee well-being. You will have the opportunity to work with a talented and diverse global team from the comfort of your own home, with ample opportunities for professional development, skill enhancement, and career progression. Join an innovative company that embraces remote work and values your contributions to building exceptional software.