Senior Backend Engineer (Microservices & APIs)

Placements24; Bloemfontein; On-site; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,400,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Professional development

Modern tech stack exposure

Team events

Pension plan

Annual performance bonus

Job summary

WhatJobs Direct in Bloemfontein, Free State, seeks a Senior Backend Engineer to design, develop and maintain scalable backend systems and APIs within a microservices architecture.

You will work with cross-functional teams to deliver robust software, ensure data security, and contribute to architectural direction in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in CS, Engineering or equivalent.
• Proven backend engineer with delivered projects.
• Proficiency in Java, Python, Node.js, C#, or Go.
• Experience designing RESTful APIs and microservices.
• Experience with relational and NoSQL databases.
• Familiarity with cloud platforms and Git.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and implement high-performance, scalable backend services and APIs.
• Build and maintain microservices architecture, ensuring loose coupling and independent deployability.
• Write clean, efficient, well-documented, and testable code.
• Collaborate with front-end developers to integrate server-side logic.
• Design and optimize database schemas for relational and NoSQL databases.
• Implement security best practices and data protection measures.
• Troubleshoot, debug, and resolve backend system issues.
• Participate in code reviews and provide constructive feedback to team members.
• Contribute to architectural discussions and technology selection.
• Stay updated with the latest backend development trends and technologies.

Skills

Backend engineering

RESTful APIs

Microservices

Cloud platforms

Git

Problem solving

Analytical skills

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/Engineering

Tools

PostgreSQL

MySQL

MongoDB

Redis

AWS

Azure

GCP

Job description

About the Role

Our client, WhatJobs Direct, is seeking a talented Senior Backend Engineer to join their growing team in **Bloemfontein, Free State**. This role focuses on the design, development, and maintenance of robust, scalable backend systems and APIs, particularly within a microservices architecture. You will be a key contributor to building high-quality, performant software solutions that power critical business functions. The ideal candidate possesses strong programming skills, a deep understanding of distributed systems, and a passion for creating efficient and maintainable code. You will collaborate closely with front-end developers, product managers, and other engineers to deliver seamless user experiences and robust functionalities. This is an exciting opportunity to work on challenging technical problems and contribute to the evolution of our client's technology stack in **Bloemfontein, Free State**. We foster a collaborative environment that encourages innovation and professional growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and implement high-performance, scalable backend services and APIs.
• Build and maintain microservices architecture, ensuring loose coupling and independent deployability.
• Write clean, efficient, well-documented, and testable code.
• Collaborate with front-end developers to integrate user-facing elements with server-side logic.
• Design and optimize database schemas and queries for relational and NoSQL databases.
• Implement security best practices and data protection measures.
• Troubleshoot, debug, and resolve backend system issues.
• Participate in code reviews and provide constructive feedback to team members.
• Contribute to architectural discussions and technology selection.
• Stay updated with the latest backend development trends and technologies.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• Proven experience as a Backend Engineer, with a strong portfolio of delivered projects.
• Proficiency in one or more backend programming languages (e.g., Java, Python, Node.js, C#, Go).
• Extensive experience designing and developing RESTful APIs.
• Strong understanding of microservices design patterns and best practices.
• Experience with relational databases (e.g., PostgreSQL, MySQL) and/or NoSQL databases (e.g., MongoDB, Redis).
• Familiarity with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) is a plus.
• Experience with version control systems (e.g., Git).
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and debugging skills.
• Strong communication and teamwork abilities for collaboration in **Bloemfontein, Free State**.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• Opportunities for professional development and skill enhancement.
• Exposure to modern technology stacks.
• Collaborative and supportive work environment.
• Defined career progression path.
• Company-sponsored training programs.
• Regular team events and social activities.
• Pension fund contribution.
• Annual performance bonus.