Senior Backend Engineer

Placements24; Durban; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonuses potential

Fully remote

Health, dental, vision insurance

Development budget for courses

Collaborative remote culture

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Backend Engineer to join a remote-first, globally distributed team. You will design and scale server-side logic, APIs, and databases powering core products, mentoring engineers and influencing tech decisions.

The role emphasizes robust, secure backend systems, performance optimization, and collaboration with product managers. Remote-friendly with flexible hours and opportunities for technical growth.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in CS or related field.
• 5+ years of backend development experience.
• Proficiency in at least one modern backend language/framework.
• Strong DB knowledge (PostgreSQL/MySQL) and/or NoSQL (MongoDB).
• Experience with cloud platforms and microservices architecture.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain scalable backend services and APIs.
• Optimize database schemas and queries for performance and reliability.
• Write clean, tested code in Python, Go, or Java.
• Collaborate with frontend teams and product managers to integrate features.
• Monitor performance and ensure high availability; participate in architecture decisions.

Skills

5+ years backend

Language proficiency

Cloud & microservices

Relational/NoSQL DBs

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field

Tools

AWS/Azure/GCP

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking an accomplished Senior Backend Engineer to join their innovative and globally distributed team, operating on a remote-first basis. This role is central to building and scaling the server-side logic, APIs, and databases that power their core products. You will work on challenging technical problems, ensuring the performance, security, and reliability of their platform. As a key member of the engineering department, you will have the opportunity to influence technical decisions, mentor other engineers, and contribute directly to the evolution of their technology stack. This position is ideal for a seasoned professional who thrives in a remote environment and is passionate about creating robust backend systems.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain scalable and efficient backend services and APIs.
• Implement and optimize database schemas and queries for performance and reliability.
• Write clean, well-tested, and maintainable code in languages such as Python , Go , or Java .
• Collaborate with front-end developers and product managers to define and integrate new features.
• Monitor system performance, troubleshoot issues, and implement solutions to ensure high availability.
• Contribute to architectural decisions and technology choices for backend systems.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or a related field, or equivalent work experience.
• 5+ years of professional experience in backend development.
• Strong proficiency in at least one modern backend programming language and framework.
• Deep understanding of relational databases (e.g., PostgreSQL, MySQL) and/or NoSQL databases (e.g., MongoDB).
• Experience with cloud computing platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP) and microservices architecture.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills, especially in a remote team setting.

Benefits

• Attractive salary package with potential for bonuses.
• Fully remote position with flexible working hours.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Professional development budget for courses and conferences.
• Supportive and collaborative remote work culture.