Senior Backend Engineer - Microservices (Remote-First)

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

Benefits offered by this job

Full remote work flexibility

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Professional development budget

Career growth opportunities

Team-building activities

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a highly experienced Senior Backend Engineer to join a remote-first engineering team in South Africa. You will design, build, and scale microservices, focusing on robust APIs, data models, and scalable databases.

You will collaborate with frontend, product, and other stakeholders to deliver high-performance software. The role emphasizes distributed systems, cloud platforms (AWS/Azure/GCP), Docker and Kubernetes, and modern languages (Java, Python, Go, Node.js).

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 5+ years of professional backend development experience with microservices.
• Expertise in one or more backend languages (Java, Python, Go, C#, Node.js).
• Experience designing RESTful APIs and microservices.
• Strong knowledge of relational (PostgreSQL, MySQL) and NoSQL (MongoDB, Cassandra) databases.
• Experience with message brokers (Kafka, RabbitMQ).
• Familiarity with Docker and orchestration (Kubernetes).
• Understanding of cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP).
• Proficiency with Git and remote collaboration in distributed teams.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and deploy scalable microservices.
• Write clean, well-documented code in backend languages.
• Design and optimize database schemas for performance and scalability.
• Develop and maintain robust APIs for internal and external use.
• Implement and manage messaging queues and event-driven architectures.
• Ensure reliability, performance, and security of backend systems.
• Collaborate with frontend teams to integrate services with applications.
• Participate in code reviews, architectural discussions, and design sessions.
• Mentor junior backend engineers and promote best practices.
• Troubleshoot complex production issues.

Skills

Backend development

Microservices

RESTful APIs

Distributed systems

Cloud platforms

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS or related field

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

Kafka

Git

PostgreSQL

MongoDB

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking a highly experienced Senior Backend Engineer to join their forward-thinking, remote-first engineering team. This role is ideal for a seasoned developer looking to build and scale robust microservices architectures, working from anywhere in **South Africa**. While our operational hub is in **Benoni, Gauteng**, this position is designed for full remote engagement. You will be a critical contributor to the design, development, and maintenance of our backend systems, focusing on creating resilient, scalable, and high-performance microservices. You will collaborate with frontend engineers, product managers, and other stakeholders to deliver exceptional digital products. We are looking for individuals with a deep understanding of distributed systems, database technologies, and modern backend programming languages. Our client fosters a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning, providing a supportive environment for remote professionals. This is a fantastic opportunity to shape the technical direction of key services and mentor junior engineers within a globally distributed team. Embrace the future of work with a truly remote-first approach.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and deploy scalable and maintainable microservices.
• Write clean, efficient, and well-documented code in a suitable backend language (e.g., Java, Python, Go, Node.js).
• Design and optimize database schemas and queries for performance and scalability (SQL and NoSQL).
• Develop and maintain robust APIs for internal and external consumption.
• Implement and manage messaging queues and event-driven architectures.
• Ensure the reliability, performance, and security of backend systems.
• Collaborate with frontend developers to integrate backend services with user-facing applications.
• Participate in code reviews, architectural discussions, and technical design sessions.
• Mentor and guide junior backend engineers, fostering best practices.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex technical issues in production environments.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 5+ years of professional experience in backend development, with a strong focus on microservices architecture.
• Expertise in one or more backend programming languages (e.g., Java, Python, Go, C#, Node.js).
• Proven experience designing and implementing RESTful APIs and microservices.
• Strong knowledge of database technologies, both relational (e.g., PostgreSQL, MySQL) and NoSQL (e.g., MongoDB, Cassandra).
• Experience with message brokers (e.g., Kafka, RabbitMQ).
• Familiarity with containerization (Docker) and orchestration (Kubernetes).
• Understanding of cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP).
• Proficiency with version control systems (Git).
• Excellent problem-solving, debugging, and analytical skills.
• Strong communication skills, essential for a remote-first environment.
• Ability to work autonomously and manage time effectively.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.
• Full remote work flexibility, allowing you to work from anywhere in **South Africa**.
• Generous paid time off and holidays.
• Health insurance, including medical and dental coverage.
• Retirement savings plan with company contributions.
• Professional development budget for training, conferences, and certifications.
• Opportunities for career growth and leadership within the engineering team.
• A culture that values autonomy, innovation, and collaboration.
• Regular virtual team-building activities and social events.