Research & Development Software Engineer: Innovation

Clickatell; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Aid contribution

Pension fund contribution

Quarterly performance incentive bonus

Risk benefit company contributions

Reimbursable communications allowance

Half-day off on your birthday

5 personal days leave a year

Remote Working (restricted)

Home office setup

Job summary

Clickatell is seeking an experienced Research and Development Engineer: Innovation (Intermediate) to drive new features for our AI-driven SaaS platform. You will own complex stories, prototype concepts, and mentor junior engineers while collaborating with software developers, designers, and product managers.

You will navigate ambiguity, deliver modular solutions, and contribute to the long‑term architecture of our systems with a focus on quality, security, and performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in CS, Engineering or related field.
• Minimum 4 years of experience delivering independent solutions.
• Strong programming skills in Python, Java or C++.
• Interest in emerging technologies and cloud/SaaS.

Responsibilities

• Research industry trends and identify opportunities for innovation.
• Brainstorm, prototype and validate new ideas for SaaS products.
• Develop proof‑of‑concepts to test innovations.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to implement projects.
• Document findings and development processes for traceability.
• Mentor junior engineers and graduates on tasks and code reviews.
• Own complex stories from requirements to integrated features.

Skills

Python

Java

C++

SaaS/Cloud

Mentoring

Independent problem solving

Communication

AI basics

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field

Job description

We Are Innovators & Category Creators

Clickatell, founded in Cape Town in 2000, was the first company to connect businesses with consumers via SMS using just four lines of code. Today, it powers AI-driven chat commerce for leading global brands across industries like banking, retail, telecoms, and healthcare. Over 25 years, Clickatell has led multiple industry firsts through its award-winning AI Chat Commerce Platform, enabling brands to connect, interact, and transact with customers seamlessly.

The Role

As a Research and Development Engineer: Innovation (Intermediate), you are a key driver of our R&D initiatives, responsible for taking ownership of complex features and technical challenges. You will collaborate with engineers and researchers to design and implement innovative solutions that enhance our SaaS platform. This role marks a transition into an "Independent Solver," where you are expected to navigate ambiguity and lead small "Tactical Pods" or projects from ideation to execution. You play a vital role in mentoring junior talent and graduates, ensuring our innovation efforts are modular, scalable, and aligned with the "Big Picture" of our systems architecture.

We Do The Right Things

Responsibilities of the Role

• Research and Analysis: Conduct in-depth research on industry trends, emerging technologies, and competitor products to identify opportunities for innovation.
• Idea Generation: Brainstorm, conceptualize, and propose innovative ideas and solutions that can improve our SaaS products.
• Prototyping: Develop proof-of-concept prototypes to test and validate new ideas, leveraging your technical skills.
• Collaborative Innovation: Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including software developers, designers, and product managers, to bring innovation projects to life.
• Documentation: Document research findings, design concepts, and development processes to maintain a clear and organized record of innovation efforts.
• Testing and Validation: Assist in testing and validation of new features, ensuring they meet the highest quality standards.
• Continuous Learning: Stay up-to-date with the latest technologies and best practices to contribute to a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.
• Independent Solutioning: Take ownership of complex "Stories" and navigate ambiguity by figuring out how to build a solution from high-level requirements with minimal oversight.
• Feature Ownership & Integration: Manage the end-to-end development of specific features, ensuring that code is not only functional but modular, data-driven, and seamlessly integrates into the broader SaaS architecture.
• Technical Quality Assurance: Perform rigorous peer reviews and self-testing to ensure all delivered code is "Day 2" ready—meaning it is extendable, secure, and maintains system performance as it moves toward production readiness.
• Active Mentorship: Support the growth of Junior Engineers and Graduates by providing technical guidance on their tasks, performing constructive code reviews, and helping them navigate the department's "Way of Work."

We Are On A Learning Journey

Requirements of the Role

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum of 4 years of experience with a track record of "figuring out how to build it" and working alone.
• Strong programming skills in languages such as Python, Java, or C++.
• A passion for innovation and a keen interest in emerging technologies.
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical abilities.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively in a team.
• Demonstrates Eagerness to learn, adapt, and take on new challenges.
• Knowledge of SaaS and cloud computing is essential.
• Experience taking ownership of a full "Story" from initial requirement to a functional, integrated feature.
• Ability to provide constructive code reviews and technical support to Junior engineers and Graduates.
• Good AI understanding and daily use in a responsible way.

A Bit About You

Behavioral competency requirements of a Highflyer:

• Team Player: Self-directed and dedicated team player who positively engages with the team to solve.
• Optimizing Processes: Optimally utilizes the tools and resources available to maximizes output. Conducts day-to-day operations using best practice to achieve effectiveness and accuracy. Continuously reviews and makes recommendations for process improvements.
• Expert Thinker: Equipped with specialist knowledge and makes recommendations that are practical, smart and ready to implement. Remains up-to-date in the industry and offers technical advice, and support to own team and others.
• Effective Problem-Solver: Resourceful, persistent, and creative when solving problems. Able to be analytical and follow a logical process to make decisions. Finds the balance between a good and quick decision through experience and knowledge. Able to present and explain thinking and the resulting decision.
• Connecting Collaboratively: Actively connects to bring cohesion and deliver excellence. Sees the value in working closely with different specialities and teams to ensure all operations are aligned to meet the required objectives.
• Maximizing Awareness: Recognizes emotions and how it affects behavior and relationships. Self-aware and picks up on emotional cues in situations. Self-manages and empowered to show initiative, follow through on commitments, and work well in a team. Listens, reflects, and responds effectively to constructive criticism.
• Enabling Strategy: Implements the action plans in order to produce practical outputs while considering the implication, and consequences for the organization and our customers.
• Action Orientated Mindset: Know-how to skilfully approach technical activities to deliver value. Eager to deliver new or improved solutions to drive the organization forward. Focused on what needs to be done and ensures follow-through on all commitments.
• Embracing Change: Invites change and stays focused and resilient, and chooses responses that are positive when feeling uncertain. Remains flexible, adaptable, and open to opportunities to be innovative. Uses failure as an opportunity to learn and grows. Thinks ahead, anticipates, and acts.
• Driving Delivery: Goal-oriented and monitors processes and systems to ensure tracking towards goals despite challenging and stressful situations. Sets high standards for quality and performance and provides metrics to show improvements as well as real-time variance for effective tracking.

Why You Should Join

Perks of the Role

• Medical Aid contribution
• Pension fund contribution
• Quarterly performance incentive bonus
• Risk benefit company contributions
• Reimbursable communications allowance for internet and mobile phone bills
• Half-day off on your birthday
• 5 personal days leave a year, over and above your annual leave
• Remote Working (our offices are currently open for essential use only due to COVID-19)
• Home office set-up with laptop, monitor and other related items.

Stronger Together

At Clickatell, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging is at the core of who we are - from how we build our product platforms to how we build our workforce. We believe that we are stronger together and by leveraging the power of diversity and inclusion, we are able to generate innovative ideas to revolutionize the way the world uses chat technology. We create common ground - Our platform is for all, and so is our workplace. Everyone is welcome at Clickatell and our employees feel psychologically safe and empowered to show up with their authentic selves at work.