Senior Backend Engineer - AI Platforms

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

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Medical, dental, vision coverage

Generous annual leave

Development opportunities

Access to cutting-edge technology

Hybrid work model

Job summary

Placements24 in Stellenbosch, Western Cape, is seeking a Senior Backend Engineer to design, build and scale robust backend services and data pipelines for AI platforms. You will shape APIs, drive reliability, and collaborate with AI/ML teams in a hybrid work setup.

You should have 5+ years in backend development, proficiency with Python/Go/Java/Node.js, RESTful APIs, and cloud/container tech (Docker, Kubernetes, AWS/Azure/GCP).

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field.
• 5+ years of professional backend software development experience.
• Strong proficiency in one or more backend languages (Python, Go, Java, Node.js).
• Experience with RESTful APIs and microservices architecture.
• Solid SQL and NoSQL database experience; cloud platforms and containers.
• Familiarity with AI/ML concepts and CI/CD, testing, and monitoring.
• Excellent problem-solving and collaboration skills for hybrid teams.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain scalable backend services and APIs for AI applications.
• Build and optimize data pipelines for training and serving ML models.
• Collaborate with AI/ML engineers, data scientists, and frontend developers.
• Implement authentication, authorization, and security measures.
• Ensure high availability, performance, and reliability of systems.
• Write clean, maintainable, well-tested code and participate in code reviews.
• Stay updated with backend technologies, cloud infrastructure, and best practices.
• Contribute to architectural evolution of the platform.

Skills

Backend development

RESTful APIs

Microservices

Distributed systems

CI/CD

Testing & monitoring

Hybrid collaboration

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/Engineering

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

AWS

Azure

GCP

Job description

About the Role

Our client is a leader in developing cutting-edge AI solutions and is seeking an experienced Senior Backend Engineer to join their expanding team. This role is pivotal in building and scaling the robust backend infrastructure that powers their advanced AI platforms. You will be responsible for designing, developing, and deploying high-performance, reliable backend services, APIs, and data pipelines that support machine learning models and applications. The ideal candidate possesses a strong foundation in software engineering principles, a deep understanding of distributed systems, and experience working with AI/ML systems. This position offers a significant opportunity to contribute to highly scalable and impactful AI products within a collaborative and forward-thinking environment. The role is based in Stellenbosch, Western Cape , and offers a flexible hybrid work arrangement, allowing for both in-office collaboration and remote flexibility. You will play a key role in ensuring the technical excellence and operational stability of our client's core AI services.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain scalable and resilient backend services and APIs for AI applications.
• Build and optimize data pipelines for training and serving machine learning models.
• Collaborate with AI/ML engineers, data scientists, and frontend developers to deliver integrated solutions.
• Implement robust authentication, authorization, and security measures.
• Ensure high availability, performance, and reliability of backend systems.
• Write clean, maintainable, and well-tested code.
• Participate in code reviews and contribute to technical design discussions.
• Troubleshoot and resolve issues in production environments.
• Stay updated with backend technologies, cloud infrastructure, and best practices.
• Contribute to the architectural evolution of the platform.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 5+ years of professional experience in backend software development.
• Strong proficiency in one or more backend languages (e.g., Python, Go, Java, Node.js).
• Experience designing and building RESTful APIs and microservices.
• Solid understanding of database technologies (SQL and NoSQL).
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP) and containerization technologies (Docker, Kubernetes).
• Familiarity with AI/ML concepts and experience integrating with ML models is a significant advantage.
• Strong understanding of software development best practices, including CI/CD, testing, and monitoring.
• Excellent problem-solving and debugging skills.
• Effective communication and collaboration skills, capable of working in a hybrid team.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and bonus structure.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Generous annual leave and paid holidays.
• Opportunities for professional development, training, and conference attendance.
• Access to cutting-edge technology and development tools.
• Hybrid work model offering flexibility.
• Collaborative and innovative work culture.
• Career growth opportunities within a leading AI company.